Upon Arrival

 

Immigration procedures

Mandatory formalities for foreigners upon arrival vary depending on nationality and length of stay. Contact the Euraxess Welcome Office (contact information in the Euraxess Welcome Office section) so that we can offer you personalized advice.

If you are a citizen of an EU member state, the EEA, or Switzerland

Stay of less than 3 months:

For short stays of up to 3 months, no registration at the National Police Station is required; you only need to be in possession of a valid ID card or passport. 

If you are coming with your family, they will not need to register either, but you must bring documentation proving your family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.).

Residency of more than 3 months:

If you are going to reside in Spain for more than 3 months, you must obtain the EU Citizen Registration Certificate (CUE), which includes a Foreigner Identification Number (NIE). To do so, you must register at the National Police Station in the city where you will be residing within 90 days of your arrival.

If you are coming with your family, they also must apply for an EU family member residence card at the National Police Station.

Procedure

You must register in person at the National Police Station in the city where you will be residing within 90 days of your arrival. To do so, you must request an appointment in advance. Please note that it may take more than a month to get an appointment, depending on the municipality.

You can request an appointment at this link (only available in Spanish).

Vigo National Police Station: Álvaro Cunqueiro, 6, 36211 Vigo
Ourense National Police Station: Mestre Vide, 4, 32004 Ourense
Pontevedra National Police Station: Joaquín Costa, 17, 36001 Pontevedra

Documentation to be submitted

- Application form to be filled out and signed
- Proof of payment of the fee
- Original and copy of your passport or identity document
- Proof of employment or sufficient financial means
- Medical insurance
- Certificate of city registration (more information in the City Registration section).

You can find all the information in the following link (only available in Spanish). 

•  When leaving Spain, it is recommended to notify the National Police Station of your departure.

If you are not a citizen of an EU member state, the EEA, or Switzerland

If you are going to carry out transactions of a tax nature or with tax implications (regardless of the length of your stay in Spain) and you do not have a Foreigners’ Identity Number (NIE), you must apply for one at the National Police Station in the city where you are going to reside.

If you have obtained a visa or authorization to stay in Spain for a period of more than 6 months, you must obtain a Foreign Identity Card (TIE), which you must apply for within 1 month (30 days) of entering the country. The TIE application must be made in person at the National Police Station in the city where you will be residing. If you are coming with your family, they must also apply in person for the TIE within 1 month (30 days) of entering the country.

Procedure

You must register in person at the National Police Station in the city where you will be residing within 1 month (30 days) of your arrival. To do so, you must request an appointment in advance. Please note that it may take more than a month to get an appointment, depending on the municipality.

You can request an appointment at this link (only available in Spanish).

Vigo National Police Station: Álvaro Cunqueiro, 6, 36211 Vigo
Ourense National Police Station: Mestre Vide, 4, 32004 Ourense
Pontevedra National Police Station: Joaquín Costa, 17, 36001 Pontevedra

Documentation to be submitted

- Application form to be filled out and signed.
- Proof of payment of the fee.
- Passport or travel document with the entry stamp.
- A recent, colour, passport-size photograph with a white background.
- Visa or work/residence permit.
- Certificate of city registration (more information in the City Registration section).
- Proof of affiliation and/or registration with Social Security, if applicable.

You can find all the information in the following link (only available in Spanish).

• When leaving Spain, it is recommended to notify the National Police Station of your departure.
• UVigo is not responsible for any possible modifications that may occur in Spanish legislation after the publication of this information. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you duly check your obligations at an Immigration Office (Oficina de Extranjería).

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City Registration

The Padrón municipal, or empadronamiento, is the official registry of residents in a city and is mandatory for people residing in Spain. It serves to certify the residence and address of individuals in a given location and allows access to essential public services (healthcare, education, public transportation, social benefits, and other services such as access to public libraries, public swimming pools, etc.), as well as administrative and legal procedures (opening a bank account, renewing documentation).

Procedure

To register in the city, you can do so in person by requesting an appointment at the Concello (City Hall) of the city where you live. The time it takes to obtain an appointment varies depending on the city and can take more than a month in the case of Vigo, so we recommend that you book an appointment in advance.

• Request an appointment in Vigo (only available in Spanish and Galician)
• Request an appointment in Ourense (only available in Spanish and Galician)
• Request an appointment in Pontevedra (only available in Spanish and Galician)

Documentation to be submitted:

- Application form filled out and signed.
- Identity document or Passport or NIE with photo or residence card or TIE (valid and original).
- Rental contract with your name or utility bill with your name (electricity, water, gas, internet, etc.) or signed authorization from the - owner of the property + copy of their ID card. 
- If you are going to live in a home with other registered persons: written authorization from an adult who is already registered (owner or contract holder) and signature on the registration form.

Registration of minors

- Family register or birth certificate
- When registering a minor with only one of their parents, the other parent's authorization for registration must be presented or, failing that, a sworn statement signed by the person making the request that they have custody of the minor and sufficient legal capacity to carry out the registration.

All the information for registering in Vigo in the following link (only available in Spanish and Galician).

All the information for registering in Pontevedra in the following link (only available in Spanish and Galician).

All the information for registering in Ourense in the following link (only available in Spanish and Galician).

• When leaving Spain, it is advisable to deregister from the city at the Concello (City Hall).
• People from outside the EU without permanent residence permits will have to renew their registration every two years.

UVigo is not responsible for any possible modifications that may occur in Spanish legislation after the publication of this information. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you duly check your obligations at the Concello (City Hall).

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Bank Account

On the Vigo campus, you will find ABANCA and Banco Santander offices (Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, s/n - Loc. B1 - Cidade Universitaria, 36310, Vigo).

If you are a citizen of an EU member state, the EEA, or Switzerland

If you are a resident (residency of more than 3 months), you can open a bank account in Spain by presenting your national identity card or passport and your Foreigner Identification Number (NIE). If you are a non-resident (stays of less than 3 months), in addition to your national identity document or passport, you may need a certificate of registration as an EU citizen (CUE) and a Foreigner Identification Number (NIE) (more information in the Visa and Residence Permit and Immigration procedures sections). In both cases, and depending on the bank, you may also need a certificate of city registration (more information in the City Registration section), so we recommend that you check with the bank beforehand.

If you are not a citizen of an EU member state, the EEA, or Switzerland

To open a bank account in Spain with a visa from a non-EU country, you will generally need your passport and a Foreigner Identification Number (NIE) (more information in the Visa and Residence Permit and Immigration procedures sections). Some banks may request additional documentation, such as a certificate of city registration (more information in the City Registration section), so we recommend that you check with the bank beforehand.

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Tax obligations

Please check the Tax Agency website (available in English) for more information on personal income tax and tax returns.

You will also find information on tax obligations in the EURAXESS-Spain website: EURAXESS - Information & assistance taxes in Spain

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Digital Certificate

A digital certificate is an electronic document that validates the identity of a person or entity on the internet, allowing secure transactions and communications with public administrations and other organizations. It functions as a digital signature, authenticating the identity of the holder and guaranteeing the confidentiality of the information exchanged. It is very useful and recommended to obtain one, as it allows you to carry out various administrative procedures and transactions online in a secure and agile manner, avoiding trips and waiting times.

To apply for it, you will need a Foreigner Identification Number (NIE) (more information in the Visa and Residence Permit and Immigration procedures sections).

Procedure

First, you must request the certificate on the website of the Spanish National Mint (FNMT) (only available in Spanish).

A request code will be generated. Then, you must go in person with your documentation and that code to code to an accreditation office. Find your accreditation office at the following link (only available in Spanish). 

In addition to the previous offices, the following UVigo registration offices are also accreditation offices (it is recommended to make an appointment in advance by telephone or email):

Once at the registration office, you will proceed to identify yourself before the authority's agent, civil servant or other public employee, by providing the required documentation:

a) Non-EU citizens: Spanish Identification Document for Foreigners (where the NIE is recorded), along with your passport or ID of your country of origin. EU Citizens: Eu Citizen Registration Certificate-CUE (where the NIE is recorded), together with your passport or ID of your country of origin.
b) Request Code
c) Completion and signing of a “Declaration of Intent”

After verifying your identity, you will receive an email to download the digital certificate from the same computer from which you made the request.

More information about the digital certificate: FNMT - Certificado digital (only available in Spanish)

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Language courses

UVigo offers face-to-face, blended, and online Spanish courses (from beginner to advanced levels) through the Language Centre (Centro de Linguas) at reduced prices. Visit the Centro de Linguas website for more information.

Free introductory courses in Galician are also offered through the Linguistic Normalisation Area (only available in Spanish and Galician). Visit the Linguistic Normalisation Area website for more information.

Other languages such as English, French, German, Chinese, Italian, Persian, and Japanese are also taught at the Centro de Linguas.

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Housing

The Euraxess Welcome Office will advise you on finding accommodation that suits your needs. We recommend that you contact the Euraxess Welcome Office (contact information in the Euraxess Welcome Office section) as soon as possible.

If you plan to come with your family, start looking for accommodation as soon as possible. The allocation of places in schools or nurseries usually depends on the location of your home.

For short stays

UVigo has its own residences or agreements with residences that offer all the services that you need to pursue your academic and professional career. Here, you will find the list of residences in Vigo, Pontevedra, and Ourense, as well as the list of hotels that have agreements with UVigo.

For long stays 

If you are staying for several months or the entire academic year, you may want to consider renting an apartment or room on the private market. 

The real estate market in the province of Pontevedra has seen an increase in housing prices in recent years, with limited supply in certain areas and varying levels of affordability. The average rent in Vigo for a two-bedroom apartment is around €1000 per month. Areas such as the centre of Vigo tend to have higher prices than other more remote areas. In the cities of Pontevedra and Ourense, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is around €750 per month.

To look for accommodation, you can contact a real estate agency (Inmobiliaria). These agencies can help you search for apartments, houses, or rooms that match your needs and budget, charging a commission, which is normally equivalent to one month’s rent. You can reach out to them directly by phone or email or visit their offices in person. Many also advertise available properties on their websites and through housing platforms. The main housing platforms are IDEALISTA, FOTOCASA, and HABITACLIA.

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Family

If you are moving with your family, we recommend that you contact the Euraxess Welcome Office as soon as possible (contact information in the Euraxess Welcome Office section) so that we can offer you personalized advice.

To arrange schooling for your children, you will need to provide legal proof that you are their mother, father, or legal guardian. Therefore, it is important that you obtain official documents such as birth certificates and family registers (or their equivalent) from your country of origin before traveling.

The allocation of places in schools or nurseries usually depends on the location of your home, so it is important to register in the city as soon as possible (more information in the City Registration section).

In general, the period for submitting applications for admission to public and state-subsidized private schools takes place between March and April, before the start of the new school year. In Galicia, the academic year usually begins in early September and ends in late June. In the province of Pontevedra, procedures related to official schooling are managed by the Xefatura Territorial de Educación de Pontevedra, which is responsible for coordinating the entire administrative process. It is recommended to consult the website of the Consellería de Educación, Xunta de Galicia (only available in Spanish and Galician) for detailed and up-to-date information on the process and specific deadlines for each stage of education.

More information about the procedures for enrolling in school (only available in Spanish and Galician).