Losing your green residency card in Spain can feel like a total disaster—especially when a bank, notary, employer, or town hall suddenly asks you to show it. The good news: in most cases, you can get a replacement, and the process is usually straightforward once you know which document you actually lost and which procedure applies.
This guide is written for people who hold the EU green certificate (often called the “green NIE” or certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión). I’ll explain exactly what to do after a loss, how the replacement works, what forms and fees you’ll need, and the critical difference between a “white NIE” and a green certificate—because they are not the same thing.
I’ll also show how www.mynie.co.uk can help you reduce stress, avoid common mistakes, and get your replacement sorted faster.
1) What “green residency card” are we talking about?
In Spain, the phrase “green residency card” usually refers to the Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión Europea—the green paper/card that proves you are registered as an EU/EEA/Swiss resident in Spain. The official Policía Nacional procedure for this certificate references form EX-18 and the 790-012 fee.
Uk passport holder? Change your Green card to a TIE CARD today
What it looks like
Depending on the province and the year it was issued, it may be:
- A small green card (credit-card-ish size), or
- A green A4/green paper format.
Either way, it’s the EU registration certificate, not a TIE.
2) First: confirm you didn’t lose a TIE instead (important!)
Not everyone in Spain has the “green EU certificate.”
- EU citizens (and some family members) typically have the green EU certificate (EX-18).
- Non-EU citizens usually have a TIE (plastic biometric card).
- UK citizens post-Brexit often have a TIE under the Withdrawal Agreement, not the green EU certificate.
If you’re not sure what you had:
- If it was a plastic biometric card, that’s TIE (different process).
- If it was green paper/card with your NIE, that’s the EU green certificate.
This article focuses on the green EU certificate replacement route.
3) What to do immediately when you lose your green card
Step A — Search smartly (because you might not need to replace it)
Before you dive into appointments:
- Check bags, car, jacket pockets, scanner trays at work, home printer area.
- Call places you visited (cafés, gyms, banks, gestorías).
How to find something that is lost
Step B — Report it (recommended, often requested)
For a lost or stolen green certificate, it’s common to provide a police report (denuncia) for loss/theft when applying again. Some legal guides list denuncia + EX-18 + fee as the standard pack for a “duplicate/replacement” application.
Even when not strictly mandatory in every office, a denuncia:
- Protects you if the document is misused
- Helps you explain why you’re applying again
You can usually file a denuncia at a police station. (For theft, do it ASAP.)
Step C — Keep your NIE number somewhere safe
Your NIE number does not change just because you lost the certificate. What you replace is the proof document, not the number itself.
4) The big confusion: “free NIE”, “white NIE”, and “green NIE” (explained clearly)
People use these phrases loosely, and that’s where the problems start.
The “white NIE” (white A4 NIE letter)
A white NIE usually means an A4 paper certificate showing your NIE number (asignación de NIE). It’s often used for administrative or economic purposes (buying property, opening certain accounts, paying taxes, etc.).
What it is:
- It’s essentially proof of your NIE number assignment
- It is not proof of EU residence registration
What it is NOT:
- It is not your “green residency”
- It does not prove your EU right of residence in Spain beyond what your underlying status provides
The “green NIE / green residency card”
Your green certificate is the EU registration certificate (EX-18 process). It proves you are registered as an EU resident in Spain and shows your NIE on it.
“Free NIE” (what people usually mean)
When people say “free NIE,” they often mean:
- “Just getting the number” (a basic NIE assignment)
- Sometimes they mean they didn’t pay a service/gestoría fee (but there can still be official fees and travel costs)
Either way, the key point is:
✅ A white NIE letter = a number certificate
✅ A green certificate = EU registration (residency registration)
They are different documents with different legal purposes.
5) Can you get a replacement green card if it’s lost?
In practice, most people apply again through the same official procedure as the certificate itself (EX-18 + fee + documents), and many offices treat it as a fresh issuance because the certificate is issued “on the spot” once approved.
Officially, the Policía Nacional guidance for the certificate points you to:
- EX-18 (application form)
- Tasa 790 código 012 (fee)
- Supporting documents depending on your situation
And the Ministry of Interior also describes issuance using official models (EX-18 / EX-19) and payment of the relevant fee.
Bottom line: yes—you normally resolve a lost green certificate by booking an appointment and re-applying with the correct docs, commonly including a loss/theft report.
6) Where you apply: appointment (“cita previa”) in Spain
Appointments are typically done through Spain’s official cita previa extranjería system.
You’ll usually select something like:
- Certificados UE / Certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE
- Or similar wording depending on province
Tip: appointment categories vary by province and even by police station. If you pick the wrong category, they may refuse you at the desk.
7) Forms and fees you’ll need (the essentials)
Form: EX-18
The Policía Nacional’s EU certificate procedure references Formulario EX-18.
You’ll complete it with:
- Personal details
- Address in Spain
- The basis of your EU residence (worker, self-employed, sufficient funds, student, family member, etc.)
Fee: Tasa 790-012
The certificate procedure requires the Modelo 790, Código 012 payment proof.
You typically:
- Fill in the 790-012 form online
- Pay (online if available, or via bank)
- Bring the stamped/paid receipt to your appointment
Important: the 790-012 includes many different options. Choosing the wrong option is one of the most common reasons people get delayed.
Download NIE Number forms in Spain
8) Documents you’ll normally bring for a replacement after loss
Exact requirements vary by your situation, but a strong “replacement pack” often includes:
Core documents
- Passport/ID (valid and in date)
- EX-18 completed
- Paid 790-012 receipt
- Denuncia (loss/theft report)
- Proof of address (sometimes requested depending on office)
Plus: documents that prove you still qualify as an EU resident in Spain
This is the part people forget.
Many offices will not just “print a replacement” unless your file clearly shows you meet the conditions (or they may ask you to show current proof). Expect to bring evidence based on your category:
If you are employed (worker)
- Work contract and/or latest payslips
- Social Security registration proof
If you are self-employed (autónomo)
- Proof of autónomo registration
- Proof of activity/income
If you are not working (sufficient funds)
- Proof of funds (bank statements)
- Health insurance coverage
If you are a student
- Enrollment proof
- Health insurance
- Funds proof
(The exact mix can vary, but the principle is consistent: you must show your basis for residence registration.)
9) Step-by-step: replacing your lost green EU certificate
Step 1 — File a “denuncia” for loss/theft
Keep a copy (paper or PDF printout).
Step 2 — Prepare EX-18
Fill it neatly and consistently with your ID and address.
Step 3 — Generate and pay the 790-012 fee
Use the Policía Nacional tax form portal, then pay and keep proof.
Step 4 — Book the correct appointment
Use the official cita previa portal.
Step 5 — Attend with originals + copies
Many offices want originals shown and copies submitted.
Step 6 — Issuance
If approved, the certificate is often issued quickly (sometimes on the same visit). If anything is missing, you may be asked to return or provide additional documents.
10) Common mistakes that cause delays (and how to avoid them)
- Trying to use a white NIE letter as a “replacement green card”
Banks and ayuntamientos often want the green certificate because it shows EU registration status, not just the number. - Wrong appointment type
You arrive with the right paperwork and still get turned away because the appointment category is wrong. - Wrong 790-012 option
The form includes many procedures. Pick the incorrect one and the desk may refuse it. - Out-of-date passport/ID
If your ID is expired, you may need to renew it first. - No proof of qualifying status (work/funds/insurance)
Some offices will insist on current evidence even if you previously qualified.
11) How www.mynie.co.uk can help you get a replacement green card
Replacing a lost green certificate is one of those processes that sounds simple until you hit the “Spain admin reality”:
- Appointment confusion
- Paperwork mismatches
- The wrong tax option selected
- Being told “come back with X” after waiting weeks for a cita
www.mynie.co.uk can help by:
- Checking which document you truly need (white NIE vs green certificate)
- Ensuring your EX-18 is completed correctly for your category
- Guiding you to the right appointment type for your province
- Helping you avoid 790-012 payment mistakes
- Giving you a clear checklist so you don’t get bounced at the counter
If you’re trying to replace your green card quickly—especially because you need it for a bank, house purchase, work contract, or padrón-related admin—getting the prep right the first time is what saves the most time.
12) Special notes (to avoid mixing up processes)
If you’re a UK national with a Brexit TIE
If your residence document is a Brexit Withdrawal Agreement TIE, your replacement route is generally different (TIE duplicate, fingerprints, etc.). Don’t follow the EU green certificate process unless you truly had EX-18.
If you only ever had a white NIE
If you never registered as an EU resident, losing the “NIE paper” doesn’t mean you can request a green certificate replacement—you’d need to qualify and apply for EU registration properly.
FAQs: Replacing a Lost Green Residency Card in Spain
1) Is the green residency card the same as a NIE?
No. Your NIE is the number. The green certificate is the EU registration document that shows your NIE and proves EU registration.
2) What’s the difference between a white NIE and a green NIE?
- White NIE: A4 paper confirming your NIE number assignment.
- Green NIE: EU registration certificate (EX-18), showing you’re registered as an EU resident in Spain.
3) Do I need a police report (denuncia) to replace the green card?
Often it’s requested and strongly recommended, especially for theft/loss, and many guides list it as standard supporting evidence.
4) Which form do I use to replace it?
The EU registration certificate is processed with EX-18.
5) Which fee do I pay?
The procedure references tasa modelo 790, código 012.
6) Can I just walk into the police station and get a new one?
Usually no—you typically need a cita previa and the correct paperwork.
7) Will my NIE number change if I replace the green certificate?
No. Your NIE number stays the same; you are replacing the certificate document.
8) How long does it take to get the replacement?
It depends mainly on appointment availability and whether your file is approved the same day. Some stations issue quickly once everything is correct; delays happen when documents or fees are wrong.
9) What if my passport is expired?
Renew your passport/ID first. Many offices require valid ID at the appointment.
10) What if I don’t currently meet the requirements (no work, no insurance, no funds)?
That can be a problem. Replacement is typically handled through the same certificate procedure, so you may be asked to show you still qualify. If your situation changed, get advice before your appointment.
11) I only have a white NIE—can I apply for a green certificate as a “replacement”?
Not as a replacement. If you never registered as an EU resident, you’d need to apply as a first-time registration and meet the conditions.
12) Can www.mynie.co.uk help if I’m confused between the white NIE and green certificate?
Yes—this is exactly the kind of confusion that causes wasted citas. A guided checklist and correct form/fee setup is often what prevents delays.
Quick checklist you can copy/paste (replacement green card)
- Police report (denuncia) for loss/theft
- Valid passport/ID + copies
- EX-18 completed
- 790-012 paid receipt (correct option)
- Proof you qualify (work/self-employed OR funds + health insurance OR student docs)
- Correct cita previa booked
- Copies of everything (plus originals)
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How to replace a lost TIE card
For official government guidance and downloadable forms related to replacing a lost green residency certificate in Spain, see the following trusted sources:
🔹 Spanish National Police – EU Registration Certificate (EX-18)
Official information on the Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión Europea, including required documents and legal basis.
🔹 Modelo 790 Código 012 – Official Fee Payment Portal
Generate and pay the correct administrative fee required for EU registration certificates and related procedures.
👉 https://sede.policia.gob.es/Tasa790_012/
🔹 Official Cita Previa (Extranjería Appointments)
Book your immigration or EU certificate appointment through Spain’s official government portal.
👉 https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/icpplus/
🔹 Ministry of Interior – EU Citizens Residency Information
Legal framework and official explanation of EU citizen registration certificates in Spain.
🔹 Spanish Immigration Law (BOE – Official State Gazette)
Full legal publication of Spain’s immigration regulations and EU residency framework.