A New Passport or ID Card When Living in Spain

If you move to Spain and need to renew your passport or ID card, it’s helpful to know how the process works. In this blog, we explain how to arrange it. Always remember to check the Netherlands Worldwide (Nederland Wereldwijd) website for any updates on procedures. Applying for or renewing a passport or ID card as a Dutch resident in Spain requires careful planning and preparation. By following the correct steps and scheduling an appointment in time at the appropriate institution, you can ensure that your travel documents are renewed smoothly and on time.

We will explain step by step how you can renew an ID card when living in Spain. As a Dutch citizen residing in Spain, it is essential to know how to apply for or renew a passport or ID card. Below, you will find an overview of the steps to follow, the locations where you can go, the procedures involved, and the associated costs.

Step 1: Gather the Required Documents

For your application, you will need several documents. By completing the questionnaire on the Netherlands Worldwide website, you will receive a personalized checklist with the exact documents you need to bring to your appointment.

Step 2: Make an Appointment

Once you have gathered all the required documents, you can schedule an appointment at one of the following locations:

• Embassy in Madrid: You can book an appointment online at the Dutch Embassy in Madrid.

• VFS Global in Madrid and Barcelona: This company works for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and offers the possibility to apply for a passport or ID card. Please note that urgent applications can only be processed at the embassy in Madrid.

• Pop-up Locations: The Dutch embassy’s consular team periodically visits locations such as the Balearic Islands, Alicante, and the Canary Islands. For these locations, an additional fee of €26.30 per document applies. Availability is limited, so be sure to book your appointment well in advance.

Step 3: Attend Your Appointment

You must be physically present at your appointment, including for minors. Bring all the required documents, including your old passport or ID card. If you still need your old document, you may keep it until your new one is ready.

Costs

The costs for a passport or ID card vary depending on the location and type of document:

• Passport for adults: €165.70

• Passport for minors: €144.40

• ID card for adults: €164.35

• ID card for minors: €126.15

For applications at temporary locations, such as pop-up locations, an additional fee of €26.30 per document applies.

Alternative Application Locations in the Netherlands

If you are planning to travel to the Netherlands soon, you can also apply for a passport or ID card at a border municipality or at Schiphol Airport. This may be a convenient option if you were already planning to visit the Netherlands.

Checklist for Applying for a Dutch Passport or ID Card in Spain

This is your personal checklist. It lists the exact documents you need for your Dutch passport or ID card application. You must print this checklist and bring it to your appointment.

✅ Application form
✅ Proof of legal residence in Spain
✅ Birth certificate
✅ Passport photo
✅ Parental consent (if applicable)
✅ Dutch passport(s) and ID cards

Application Form

To complete the form, you will need an account. If you are making multiple applications, for example, for yourself and your children, you can use the same account.
Create an account here, fill out the form, print it, and sign it. Bring the signed form to your appointment.
If applying for a passport for a minor, both parents or guardians must sign the form.

Proof of Legal Residence in Spain

You must prove that you legally reside in Spain. This can be done with one of the following recent documents (not older than 3 months):

• Certificate of registration with the local municipality (certificado de empadronamiento)

• EU citizen registration certificate (certificado de registro de la Unión)

• Valid Spanish passport or ID card (if applicable)

Are you applying for a passport or ID card for your child? In that case, you can use their birth certificate as proof of legal residence.

Birth Certificate

You must provide the original, full birth certificate. It should include the child’s place of birth and the full names of both parents.

• If the child was registered in a Dutch municipality and their birth is recorded in the Personal Records Database (BRP), you do not need to present a birth certificate.

• If you have a Spanish birth certificate, request a certificado literal de nacimiento. You do not need to translate or legalize this document.

• If the birth certificate is from another country, check whether it needs to be legalized or translated.

Passport Photo

You need one recent passport photo that meets Dutch requirements. You can have this taken in Spain by an authorized photographer.
See the passport photo requirements here.

Parental Consent for Minors

If you are applying for a passport for a minor, you need permission from both parents. Ensure that both parents bring their original ID card to the appointment.

If one parent cannot attend, you must provide:

• The application form signed by both parents.

• A colored copy of the valid ID card of the absent parent, including their signature and the date the copy was made.

• If the application form is not signed by both parents, a consent declaration signed by the absent parent (valid for 3 months) is required.

Dutch Passports and ID Cards

You must bring the original of all passports and ID cards issued in your name, even if they are expired.

Important Information About Applications via VFS Global

Applying for an ID card via VFS Global involves additional costs. If you have scheduled an appointment with them in Madrid, carefully read the confirmation email for location details.

• Morning appointments take place at the Dutch Embassy in Madrid.

• Afternoon appointments take place at the VFS Global office, which is not at the embassy.

Make sure you go to the correct location at the right time.

Locaties:

Dutch Embassy Madrid

Emperador Castellana Tower

Address: Floor 36, Torre Espacio, P.º de la Castellana, 259-D, Fuencarral-El Pardo, 28046 Madrid

Phone: 913 53 75 00

VFS Global Madrid

Address: C . de Cardenal Marcelo Spínola, 2, Chamartín, 28016 Madrid

Telephone: 917 69 37 41

VFS Global Barcelona

Cloudworks Sagrada Família | Coworking y oficinas privadas

Address: Carrer de Sardenya 229,3rd floor, office, Carrer 1, 08013 Barcelona

Phone: 917 69 37 41

Source: Nederland Wereldwijd