“Sufficient resources” for non-workers and non-pensioners seeking Certificados de Registro

[Janet]

As I posted HERE early last year, new rules from 25 March 2012 require EU nationals who wish to remain in Spain for more than 3 months to comply with certain conditions before a Certificado de Registro will be issued. There is no problem, effectively, for those who are employed or self-employed, nor for those who are pensioners, because they can prove they will have sufficient resources to avoid being a drain on Spain, in terms either of unemployment benefit or using the health system, but there was uncertainty about those who fell into neither category.

As I said at the time, anyone not working would have to have private health cover, and show sufficient resources, but there was no clarity as to what sufficient resources actually meant. No fixed amount was given, but the authorities said they would take the personal situations of EU member state nationals into account on an individual basis. I have heard today, however, from a reliable source, of two EU nationals who independently assert that they have been required to deposit €50,200 per person as financial guarantee in order to be considered as having sufficient resources.

I have no further details as to how or where this security is supposed to be lodged, and I stress that this is second-hand hearsay, albeit from a source I respect. I decided to post about it because firstly I hope that anyone who has a recent experience in this category of applicant for a Registro will provide some information either to corroborate or contradict the reports, and secondly to flag the possibility that, if true, this is the sort of sum that might be required in order to acquire a Registro for those thinking of moving over. Needless to say, I'll update as soon as I have anything further to say. Hopefully it will be incorrect. It's fearsome if true.

JA

[Guanche]

Is this even legal Janet?

[Janet]

 

Depends where the "requirement"  originates, I suppose ... 

It's possible that there's an error in translation somewhere along the line, G. Some others are now saying €5,200. Hopefully at least we'll get clarity one way or another after this!

[Nova]

But whatever happened to "freedom of movement" for EU citizens between EU member states?? 

[Guanche]

I must admit I don't know much about it, but I would have thought that any barrier to free movement within the EU by EU citizens is illegal. The requirement of a 'Bond' of 5,000€ or 50,000€ which ever, must be construed as a barrier? But I am sure better minds than mine have decided on this action.

[Janet]

I understand it's been confirmed that any EU state can require EU nationals, who are freely able to move there, to prove that they're not going to be a drain on their new country ... 

[Nova]

What about those of us who already have our CdR then?  Will we not be required to produce anything?  Are the sufficiency conditions only for new issues?

[Janet]

These are new rules from March last year. Only those who apply for a Registro after that are affected. That is evidently all new applicants, but also those who had Registros before but which were only valid for 5 years, as some were.

[Guanche]

I understand it's been confirmed that any EU state can require EU nationals, who are freely able to move there, to prove that they're not going to be a drain on their new country ... 

Ah! this must be the rule that only applies to 26 countries of the EU, the 27th one being the Uk!

[Janet]

I think Cameron is seeking to change this in view of the expected influx next year (later this year?) of millions of Romanians and Bulgarians. His problem will be running the risk that this will be deemed discriminatory ... unless he makes it's clear it's not a rule specifically against certain nationalities ...