M. Carlos Alberto, lodged an application for international protection in Ceuta and has received a resolution issued by the Ceuta Police Headquarters, by delegation of the General Police Station for Immigration and Borders of the Ministry of the Interior, which certified his status as applicant for international protection and mentioned the document’s validity as “only in Ceuta”. The applicant contested the registration “valid only in Ceuta” as interfering with his freedom of movement within national territory but the General Directorate of the Police dismissed his complaint. The case was further brought before the Supreme Court.

The Spanish Supreme Court ruled that an applicant for international protection in the autonomous city of Ceuta (or in another case, Melilla), whose request was admitted and while being processed, has the right to ejoy free movement in Spain, even on a provisional basis, regardless of his/her location or without limitation to a part of the national territory. Despite their freedom of movement, an applicant for international protection keeps the obligation to communicate to the authorities any changes of address.

The Court further ruled out that the registration that limits the validity of the documentation issued to an applicant for international protection, to Ceuta (or otherwise, Melilla), is not in accordance with the law.