Spanish Police begin issuing smaller residence certificates for EU citizens

The National Police are reported to have started issuing new, smaller European Union Citizens’ Registration Certificates, easier to carry than the A4 size document which has replaced the previous residence cards for EU citizens in Spain.

These certificates, while certifying the holder’s NIE number and the date from which they have had permanent residency in Spain, state that they are ‘only proof of inscription in the Central Registry of Foreigners’ and are ‘not valid as proof of either the holder’s identity or nationality’.

This new system which has been in place since March 2007 means that EU residents in Spain should now always carry with them another form of identification. The British Embassy in Madrid says on its webpage, ‘We are aware that this caused inconvenience to British Citizens living in Spain. We can assure you that we have raised the matter with the relevant authorities both in the UK and Spain, however ultimately this is a matter for the Spanish government. At present the only legitimate form of ID for British Citizens that is recognised by the Spanish authorities is the British passport’.

The Embassy however notes that a photo driving licence or a certified copy of your passport may be accepted as identification for making payment in shops, but there is no obligation to accept either of these forms of ID.