Irish passport, 90 days?

You don't apply for residency as an EU citizen. You apply to go on the register of EU foreign citizens residing in Spain and get a little green card. You can then stay longer than 90 days providing you can show you have sufficient funds and medical cover to last your stay.

Be aware that if you exceed 183 days in one year you will be classed as a tax paying citizen. As you have to sign on the padron to get the green card, make sure you cancel the padron when you leave or you may be asked, in future, why you haven't filed a tax return. 

Plus, that is how it should happen. In days of yore when UK was in the EU, no checks were made on entry or exit so we just stayed as long as we liked. This, however, could all change when the new electronic registration of travel comes in. (possibly September next year). 

Hi thanks for reply! 

Can you just clarify that the little green card you mention in your first paragraph is different to the one in the second paragraph?? 

Also, where do you apply to go on the register of EU citizens? 

Thanks again! 

It's the same little green card.

You have to make an appointment at a National Police station in the province you are going to stay. You will need an NIE number which can be obtained at the same place.

The system and how it works plus the application form is on this site https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/pagina/index/directorio/icpplus

Or you can ring 060 to make an appointment but English is pretty non existent when they answer.

You select the province, then the procedure under National Police which allows you to get an NIE and the foreigner's card.

All very helpful! Thanks, 

As long as you do not need to carry out legal transactions there is no need to wake up sleeping dogs. No one will know if you are here vor 9, 90, or 900 days if you don't tell  'em.

A EU/EEA national can live in Spain as a tourist without residency for a maximum of 90 days. After those 3 months, you need to either obtain a residence permit, or leave the country. 

It is always best to follow official guidance. The following link contains information issued by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs for all Irish Nationals:

https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/spain/our-services/new-to-spain/residency-and-entry-requirements/

I don't know what you mean by "legal transactions".

It's perfectly possible to say buy a property or a car, both arguably legal transactions, which can be carried out without any reference to how long you may or may not have been in the country.

I agree that ETIAS and EES may well change things for some EU passport holders in the future, particularly those who don't live on mainland Europe, e.g. Ireland, who at some point will need to engage with border controls to enter or exit the Schengen area as opposed to those who can simply drive around within the EU crossing borders as they will.

Just be aware that by signing-on on the Padron registers you in the municipality/area and this in turn brings federal  financial benefits to the ayuntamiento. Easy to sign onto, but when you want to sign off, no one understands what you want, nor do they speak english anymore.

If you are only going to be holidaying in Spain you shouldn't sign on the Padrón. The Padrón is a count of permanent residents which you don't intend on being from reading your post. You just want to be a swallow or a snowbird  like  tens of thousands of other visitors to Spain with EU Passports :)

Bee