Laws

The rule behind each procedure, in a few sentences. The link is the consolidated gazette text, which is informative: a court uses the official publication.

• BOE-A-2000-544

  Immigration act

  Ley Orgánica 4/2000, de 11 de enero

  This is the act on the rights and freedoms of foreign nationals in Spain. The 2024 regulation implements it. It holds the framework for entry, stay, residence and work, not the detail of each form.

  In force. The consolidated gazette text shows a last update published on 19 March 2025.

  Checked on November 4, 2026

• BOE-A-2024-24099

  Immigration regulation

  Real Decreto 1155/2024, de 19 de noviembre

  It replaces the previous regulation and details authorisations, arraigo, reunification, fees and the card. It is the rule to read next to the procedure’s information sheet.

  In force since 20 May 2025. The gazette shows a consolidated text with a last update published on 22 September 2026. That consolidation is informative: check each article’s note in case of annulment or amendment.

  Checked on November 4, 2026

• BOE-A-2007-4184

  EU citizens’ regime

  Real Decreto 240/2007, de 16 de febrero

  It regulates entry, movement and residence in Spain of EU and EEA citizens. The registration certificate rests on its Article 7, which is the one the Police cite.

  In force. The consolidated gazette text shows a last update published on 9 November 2015.

  Checked on November 4, 2026

• BOE-A-1889-4763

  Civil Code, nationality

  Real Decreto de 24 de julio de 1889

  Articles 17 to 28 deal with nationality: who is Spanish by origin and how nationality is acquired by residence, among other paths. The periods of ten, five, two and one year are in Article 22.

  In force. The consolidation shows a last update published on 3 January 2025.

  Checked on November 4, 2026

• BOE-A-2015-7851

  Nationality-by-residence procedure

  Ley 19/2015, de 13 de julio

  Besides other justice reforms, this act turns nationality by residence into an electronic procedure and requires, with exceptions, a language test and a test of constitutional and sociocultural knowledge. The fee to pay is the one on the current form, not necessarily the historical figure in the original text.

  In force. Final provision seven orders the electronic procedure and the Instituto Cervantes tests.

  Checked on November 4, 2026

• BOE-A-2015-10565

  Common administrative procedure

  Ley 39/2015, de 1 de octubre

  This is the act on how deadlines are counted, how notice is given, what silence means and how to appeal an act of any administration. It does not replace each procedure’s special rule: if SEPE or immigration say otherwise, the special rule prevails.

  In force since 2 October 2016. The consolidation shows a last update published on 6 November 2024.

  Checked on November 4, 2026

• BOE-A-1985-15171

  Local government act

  Ley 7/1985, de 2 de abril

  It requires town halls to keep the register of people who live in the municipality. The 1986 regulation details registration. Renewal of some foreign nationals’ entries rests on this act and on the town hall’s letter.

  In force. The municipal register is in Article 16. Read the consolidated text, not an old version.

  Checked on November 4, 2026

• BOE-A-1986-21944

  Population regulation

  Real Decreto 1690/1986, de 11 de julio

  It implements management of the register: registrations, removals, certificates and how to prove the address. The town hall applies this rule together with its own e-office.

  In force. The consolidation shows a last update published on 7 February 2024.

  Checked on November 4, 2026

• BOE-A-2018-16673

  Data protection

  Ley Orgánica 3/2018, de 5 de diciembre

  It regulates how an administration or a company processes personal data. In MiCitas, the NIE does not leave the device. The subscription email and the form email are processed, as the privacy policy says.

  In force. It adapts Spanish law to the European data-protection regulation.

  Checked on November 4, 2026

• BOE-A-2013-10074

  Entrepreneurs act

  Ley 14/2013, de 27 de septiembre

  Besides business-support measures, it creates residence authorisations for investors, entrepreneurs, highly qualified professionals, training and researchers. It is not the self-employed registration guide or the arraigo guide.

  In force. The consolidated gazette page responded on 4 November 2026. It includes residence authorisations linked to investment, entrepreneurship, training and research, which are different from arraigo.

  Checked on November 4, 2026

• BOE-A-2015-11724

  General Social Security Act

  Real Decreto Legislativo 8/2015, de 30 de octubre

  This is the consolidated Social Security text: affiliation, contributions, the self-employed scheme and protection. The affiliation number and RETA registration rest on it. Unemployment benefit also has a title here, although SEPE manages it.

  In force. The consolidated gazette page responded on 4 November 2026.

  Checked on November 4, 2026

• BOE-A-2015-11722

  Traffic act

  Real Decreto Legislativo 6/2015, de 30 de octubre

  It regulates traffic and driving authorisations. Exchange of a foreign licence rests on this act and on the drivers regulation, and the DGT handles it.

  In force. The consolidation shows a last update published on 26 June 2026.

  Checked on November 4, 2026

• BOE-A-2009-9481

  General Drivers Regulation

  Real Decreto 818/2009, de 8 de mayo

  It implements driving licences, tests and exchange. The country list and the fee are not copied into the guide: they are checked on the DGT e-office.

  In force. The consolidation shows a last update published on 6 December 2023.

  Checked on November 4, 2026

• BOE-A-2022-17045

  Recognition of university degrees

  Real Decreto 889/2022, de 18 de octubre

  It sets homologación to a regulated profession, equivalence to Bachelor’s or Master’s level, and partial recognition of studies. Equivalence does not qualify you to practise the regulated profession.

  In force since 8 November 2022. The gazette shows the original text published on 19 October 2022.

  Checked on November 4, 2026

• BOE-A-2020-14046

  Electronic trust services

  Ley 6/2020, de 11 de noviembre

  It completes the European electronic-identification regulation. It is the Spanish framework for the qualified certificate. Getting a natural-person certificate in practice is on the FNMT site and the Justice page, not only in this act.

  In force since 13 November 2020. The consolidation shows a last update published on 9 May 2023.

  Checked on November 4, 2026

• BOE-A-2006-20764

  Personal income-tax act

  Ley 35/2006, de 28 de noviembre

  This is the income-tax act. Who must file and the campaign amounts are not copied here: the tax agency publishes them each year.

  In force. The consolidated gazette page responded on 4 November 2026. Allowances and deductions often change through other acts.

  Checked on November 4, 2026

• BOE-A-2007-13409

  Self-employed workers’ statute

  Ley 20/2007, de 11 de julio

  It defines self-employed work and its rights. It does not replace the tax-census registration or RETA registration, which are different steps and both are required.

  In force. The consolidation shows a last update published on 1 March 2023.

  Checked on November 4, 2026