Entry and Residence > EU > EU Researchers

EU Researchers

Royal Decree 178/2003, of 14 February, describes the official procedures required in order to be able to exercise rights of entry and residence in Spain. This law applies to nationals of EU member states and to nationals of other states in the European Economic Area (EEA) and of the Swiss Confederation.

Since January 2007, the European Union (EU) is composed of 27 member states.

In 1950 the EU was founded by six states:

Twenty-one more states joined in a series of enlargements:

Royal Decree 178/2003 also applies to relatives of Spanish nationals, irrespective of their nationality, as also to the relatives of nationals of other countries covered by the Royal Decree, provided stable and ongoing links are maintained with relatives (Article 2), as follows:

• Spouses, provided there is no legal separation.
  
• Children, and children of the spouse, provided there is no legal separation, including dependent minors aged under 21 and dependent older children.
  
• Parents, and parents of the spouse, provided there is no legal separation, and excluding the parents of students and of their spouses.

Click below for information on what to do in order to:

Enter and stay in Catalonia
Obtain residency rights
Obtain a tax number (NIE)
Obtain an EU residence card for family members

Updated October 2008