SPAIN - NIE/NIF FORMS
To buy property, a car, a house or a boat etc. you will need an NIE number. You will also need it, along with your bank details to get services such as water, electricity or a telephone line. It is also needed for other goods and services, the purchase of insurance, for signing on purposes at the National Social Security and to start work.
This number is required by everyone in Spain who has any official business to conduct. This number identifies them on all documents.
The NIE and NIF are the same number. The NIE confirms your identity but when you use the number for any fiscal function it is called an NIF.
To obtain a number you apply in person to the police or have your lawyer apply for you. If your lawyer applies for you he must have your power of attorney and your completed NIE form ex14/R.D.2393/2004 with section 4 completed.
If your Spanish is good you can complete the form at the police station and queue again to hand it in or if you are going to have problems filling it in order an English Translation of the NIE form. It comes complete with instructions and a list of other documents you will need to take with you. Each person then returns to the police station, signs it there and hands it in. Or if your lawyer is handling it he will complete your application.
You will also need your passport with a photocopy and two coloured passport sized photographs.
Once you have your NIE Registration document keep it safe. If it is required at any office give them a photocopy but take care of your original copy.
SPAIN - APPLYING FOR RESIDENCY
Anyone wanting to stay in Spain for more than 90 days needs a Residencia. Without one you must return to your home country or apply for a Temporary Residence Permit. After 6 months you need a full Residential Permit which is good for 2 years initially and thereafter lasts for 5 years.
Residencia Application
“Go to the Comisaria de Policia in any main town Police Station and say you wish to apply for Residencia and would like:-
A current list of the documents needed for making an application.
An application form called Solicitud de Tarjeta en Regimen Comunitario (it is in triplicate.)
Form No.790
Take the Form 790 to your Spanish bank for completion. This form confirms your Spanish Bank account number and money held there (for this service you pay a small fee.) If you are a Pensioner you must also ask the bank for a Certificado Bancario which confirms the amount of your pension and frequency of payment. You then return to the Police Station with:-
Completed Form 790 together with a photocopy
Certificado Bancario together with a photocopy. (Letter from your bank re income.)
Medical Form 121 or your Spanish medical registration card, plus a photocopy of each side
Certifica de Empadronamiento. This is a card sent to you by the local Town Hall which proves that you are on the Electoral Register
Passport and one photocopy
Four passport size photographs.
Each individual must apply personally with all the relevant documents. Once applied for, it can take several months to process. Once it is issued it is good practice to carry it with you.
Who doesn’t need to apply for a residence card?
UK nationals who are Employees, Self-employed, Students.
Dependants of an EU or Spanish national.
Pensioners who receive their pension from the Spanish Social Security system.
Who must obtain a residence card?
UK Pensioners who have retired to Spain.
Non Pensionable Persons of independent means residing in Spain.”
This is the current information for applying for Residency as with all countries requirements change and Travel Advice Pages will try to keep you updated with any changes.
Source Living in Spain
SPAIN - A QUICK OVERVIEW
Spain is located on the Iberian Peninsula, to the southwest of France. It is separated from France to the north by the Pyrenees and on it’s western side by Portugal. It borders the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. The Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands are also Spanish. Spain is a beautiful country with it’s mountains, central plateau, forests and of course it’s many beaches.
Spain has two distinct climates. Northern Spain is much cooler. There is little temperature variation between summer and winter. It is mild and more likely to be rainy than the south of the country. Southern Spain is quite dry, with little rain fall. Hot sun and bright blue sky. You can get quite fierce thunder storms but they don’t last long and the hot sun usually dries everything quickly.
Spain is known for having a fairly relaxed pace of life, compared with many other European countries, and the Spanish are known for their enjoyment of life. There are a wide range of hotels, restaurants, clubs, pubs and bars along the coasts in the many resorts, also in the lively cities of Madrid and Barcelona. Madrid and Barcelona are also culturally sophisticated cities with many museums, theatres and galleries.
Spain is a modern and sophisticated country with an excellent infra structure and a high standard of living. But, at the same time it is a land of infinite contrasts. Beautiful modern buildings, stylish abstract architecture along side Moorish and beautiful medieval and Renaissance architecture.
British expatriates are the fourth largest group of foreign residents in Spain,. They range from retired people and families to those who commute on a weekly basis to jobs in the UK.
Spain is popular with expats of all nationalities because of it’s good infrastructure, high standards of living, relaxed lifestyle, low house prices, low cost of living and a stable economy. The expats integrate well in the Spanish communities opening a wide variety of businesses.
The Spanish people are very friendly and welcoming to visitors and expats alike. I would advise learning some Spanish just to be polite at the very least and if you can, learn enough so you can get to know your new Spanish neighbours. It really is appreciated by the Spanish and it will make your time there much more enjoyable.
SPAIN - CURRENCY
In 2002, Spain adopted the Euro as its currency (1 Euro = 100 Euro cents). Notes and coins are available in Spain in the following denominations:
1/2/5 cent coins - depicting Santiago de Compostela cathedral
10/20/50 cent coins - featuring the author Cervantes
1 and 2 Euro coins - bearing an image of King Carlos I
5/10/20/50/100/200 and 500 Euro notes (there are no Spanish designs on Euro notes - all notes are the same throughout Europe)
Spain is considered to be one of the less costlier of the European countries to visit or to live. Property is still less expensive although it is catching up. Day to day living expenses are less than in the major European countries. Of course the coastal resorts are more expensive for hotels and restaurants than those inland but that applies to most countries.
LIVING IN SPAIN - RESIDENCE CARDS
Residence Cards: Not compulsory for EU Nationals but advisable, they are necessary for everyone else.
Those needing a Residency Card are: Pensioners retiring to Spain, anyone with independent means not intending to work there, a non EU national dependant of a Spanish or EU national.
Temporary Residence Cards- for visits of 3 months to 1 year
Ordinary Residence Cards- For those staying between 1- 5 years. Valid for 5 years and can be renewed after that.
Applications for Residence Cards - get the form from the Foreigner’s Office (Oficina de Extranjeros). Complete it and submit to the office or the local Provincial Police Station (Comisaria de Policia). You will also need 3 passport size photographs, your passport and a photocopy of it.
If you are not a fluent Spanish speaker or not good with dealing with officialdom look in the Spanish Yellow Pages for the Gestorias office. The Gestor will help you through the process for a fee. Settle on the fee before you engage him or her to do the work for you.
LIVING IN SPAIN - ADVICE ON TAKING YOUR PET
If you are relocating to Spain or going on a long Spanish holiday you may want to take your pet with you.
At least a month before departure your pet needs to be vaccinated against rabies so that he will be admitted on to an airliner. They also require the pet to have been examined by a vet and declared free of contagious diseases and fit to fly.
If you are not flying but travelling to Spain by other means then at least 15 days before departure have your pet vaccinated and issued with a health certificate from your vet.
You should have an EU pet passport. You can get details from the European Union Website: www.europa.eu.int
Once in Spain those pets residing permanently have to be micro-chipped by a local vet.
It is advisable to take out pet health insurance as treatment can be expensive. This would apply in all countries.
SPAIN - GETTING THERE
Getting to Spain from almost anywhere in Europe is quite easy. You can drive, go by train, ferry or fly. From elsewhere in the world you can fly or go by sea.
There are 30 international airports in Spain. The main ones are near Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante and Malaga. You can use the international Spanish airline Iberia or many other national or international airlines. For those on a budget there are many low cost airlines which also fly into Spain.
Travel times in Europe are good. For example: from London to Madrid about two and a half hours. From the United States of course a longer flying time: for example from New York to Madrid it would be about eight and a half hours. From Sydney, Australia to Madrid about thirty hours.
Spanish motorway links to the rest of Europe are excellent as are the rail links. The internal motorways and roads are good and the rail connections between various towns and cities again good.
For those who like to travel by ferry, there are frequent ferry services between the UK and Santander and Bilbao.
Latest Images
-
