The EU-Citizen Registry Card is a mandatory paper document for EU/EEA citizens residing in Spain for over three months. It confirms your legal residency status.

The City Council Registration (Certificado de Empadronamiento) is a local administrative certificate that confirms you are officially registered as living at a specific address within a Spanish municipality. This is required for accessing local services (like schools or certain social services).

The Spanish Residency Visa/Permit is the official authorization granted by the Spanish government that allows a non-EU citizen to legally live in Spain for an extended period. Issued by the Spanish Consulate abroad (visa) and later formalized by the TIE card in Spain, it is the fundamental document that establishes a person's right to residency based on their purpose (e.g., work, study, investment, digital nomad).

The Foreign ID Card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero or TIE) is the physical, credit-card-sized residence permit issued to non-EU citizens residing legally in Spain for longer than six months. It includes the holder's photo, fingerprints, and their NIE (Foreign National Identification Number), serving as their primary proof of legal residence and identity in Spain.