Resident application

Firstly you do not apply for Residencia in a Town Hall. The oficina de extranjeria is in Almeria city.

The rules have changed over the last few years and the best thing to do is going to a professional consultant who specialises in this ( unless you speak fluent Spanish then you could try to do it yourself), they will know all the up-to-date legislation. 

I suggest contacting Carmen Guerra, based in Mojacar. [email protected]

That’s great thankyou for that, people have told us so many different things especially about the finance you need, we’ve just got back from San Juan & have been to       Mojácar over the weekend to pick up    buildings / contents insurance & funnily enough the guy recommended her so an email will be on its way as we speak, thanks again much appreciated 

Sorry to bring your hopes down but your income means nothing you need an assured income.which is a pension.My friends rent two cases but the income is not guaranteed if the tennents leave and they were turned down

I completed my Residencia in March and am assisting a work colleague with Hers.  After several trips to the Oficina de Extranjeria in Almería, I am by no means an expert, but can give you several pointers as to what will be required.

1) Income.  You need to be able to prove income from a job by means of a contract or have a proven income by pension OR — you need to be able to provide a Certificado Saldo Medio anual from a Spanish bank showing an average yearly balance of 9.725,00€ Per person applying.

2) Padrón.  This is obligatory, there is no way round this.  Before applying for Residencia, you MUST have a Padrón from your local Ayuntamiento less than 3 months old.  Please don’t let anyone - even a supposedly knowledgeable Gestor - tell you either that it’s not necessary or that the proof of application for Padrón is sufficient.  I can give you a guarantee that you will be turned away - I speak from personal experience.

3) Health cover.  Either by means of paying Autónomo and being on Spanish health system or having private health cover.

4) Documentation. Copies of passports, NIE and if familial application, marriage certificate. Originals required as well - don’t just take certified copies - even if certified by notary public as true copies, without Extranjeria sighting the originals, they will not be accepted.

5) Translation(s).  If any translations are required; i.e. wedding certificate (if needed), ensure translations are provided by a judicial translator here in Spain and who is recognized and registered - again, personal experience. I got married in Gibraltar and my marriage certificate was translated by a Spanish Judicial Translator ... but in Gibraltar.  The translation was not accepted, I had to get it redone by a recognized translator here in Spain.

6) Taxes. You will be given a form by your chosen Gestor / Asesoria that you have to take in to a bank and have stamped, for which you pay a nominal fee.  This stamped form is then provided to Extranjeria at time of application.  Please note, fees have recently risen from 10,82€ to 12,00€ - please ensure your chosen representative has put the correct fees on the form as the change is recent and the information doesn’t seem to have filtered out to many of the representatives yet.  If you turn up with the wrong fee on the tax form .... even if it is only 1,18€, you will be turned away.

My most recent trip there was last week, soooo I’m pretty up to date ..... hope this helps

Saludos, Darío

Dario got it all quite well described, just forgot one important thing: Bring loadsa patience! And don't get depressed if you have to return one, two or three times. Whenever you go bring a book or anything that serves you for passing time while waiting.
Anyway, if you don't speak spanish, I can recommend to get the job done by a gestoría.

Ohhhhh yes - LOADS of patience and even if you DO speak Spanish, you’d be well advised seeking the assistance of a Gestoria to help you navigate the bureaucratic nightmare!!

Thankyou for all the information Dario it is so much appreciated 👍have to say feeling a little apprehensive as to whether we will be accepted purely down to the finance    although the amount you said we both need isn’t a problem, It will come from our        savings every year until we reach             retirement age which then our state pension will kick in. Not sure what to do regarding ‘regular income’ as neither of us will be working & have no assets in the uk as we have sold our property & moving into       rented. Have even thought of buying a property in the uk to rent out to show an income but as said in previous messages that isn’t always acceptable so here we sit very confused, however we have made an appointment to see a financial advisor in     Mojácar on our next visit end of this month 

Best thing you can do; don’t worry Toooooo much about the finance - as I said, a Certificado from a Spanish Bank showing an annual average balance in the last financial year of 9.725,00€ per person applying will do the trick

Great will get on to as we speak & make sure funds are shown in the account,      feeling slightly uplifted after hearing that thanks Dario 👍