Residence and Required Documentation
EU citizens who plan to reside in Spain for more than three months must register with the Central Register of Foreigners. This procedure is carried out in person at the provincial Foreigners’ Office or at a police station, and gives rise to the EU Citizen Registration Certificate, which includes the name, nationality, address, and the NIE (Foreigner’s Identity Number) assigned to them. This document is indispensable: without it, you cannot open a bank account, sign contracts, or register for utilities. It is issued immediately upon presentation of a valid passport and proof of financial means or situation (work, studies, pension, etc.).
Non-EU foreigners must obtain the corresponding residence visa from the consulate of their country before arriving in Spain. There are different visas depending on the purpose: non-profit residence, studies, family reunification, employment or self-employment, etc. It is essential to prepare the documentation in advance: sufficient funds, private medical insurance with no co-payments, an apostilled criminal record certificate, etc. In addition, it should be noted that Spain abolished the Golden Visa programme (Golden Visa for real estate investment); the last date to apply for this visa was 3 April 2025. In practice, this means that buying a property in Mallorca no longer grants an automatic residence permit. All initial formalities (visa, provisional NIE) must be handled outside Spain. Once in Palma, the Foreigners’ Office or Police Office will proceed to formalise the Foreigner’s Identity Card (TIE), which is necessary to reside and work legally in the long term.
Registration and Access to Public Services
It is compulsory to register at the Palma Town Hall as soon as you take up residence (with the rental contract or deed of purchase in hand). The empadronamiento is a municipal “residence certificate” that allows access to basic services. For example, it is a requirement to obtain the public health card: without being registered, you cannot register at the health centre or ask for medical appointments. Specialised sources remind us that “this procedure is essential for accessing public health care, even if you are not legally resident”. It is also required to enrol children in public or state-subsidised schools, and usually entitles you to municipal discounts on public transport and cultural facilities. In short, registering promptly avoids delays: “Register as soon as possible” so that the municipality can issue the necessary registration form for all these procedures.
