Residence and NIE No coupled with Buying Home - Page 2

Hi Albert,

My partner and I moved over on 30 November last, having sold our property in the UK. Since then we have set up the legal aspect of a business, got our Tax number, got on the Padron, got our Residencia and Spanish driving licence. 

We used Ana and Alejandro at Salvador Tax & Legal here in Mojacar Playa. Alejandro is based in their Almeria city office. Both have been excellent, and have got everything done for us very quickly and efficiently despite the Christmas/New Years break.

In order to apply for Residencia, you will need to already be on the Padron. For Padron, you will either need a rental contract of no less than 6 months remaining at the time of application/ or written authorisation from the owner (the town hall have a form) or proof of ownership of a property, and it will take approx. a week to come through. Residencia can be started by Salvador but you will need to go to the Extranjeria office in Almeria in person. Salvadors have a very efficient lady from their Almeria office accompany you. She is fabulous and had us in and out in 35 mins flat, Residencia cards in hand. 

You will as others have mentioned have to at least apply for Residencia before 29 March. There are 4 key criteria - Padron, NIE, Proof of income and proof of medical cover. The new business set up (Autonomo) was sufficient to prove income/medical cover. Otherwise, you will have to buy private medical cover (or get a S1 from UK NHS if you are pensionable age) and provide proof of funds (though UK bank statements are now sufficient - you don't need to move a large sum into  Spanish bank account if you prefer not to).

You can apply for your NIE in the UK either at the Spanish Consulate in London or Glasgow, person. We did this before we came and it turns out this was the easiest and fastest route, approx. 10 days. 

The remaining time is tight, so a good Gestoria like Salvadors is the most assured route, though I would not leave it any longer to be honest. 

Best of Luck, it might seem daunting, but Salvadors will navigate you through it.

Jennifer

Just an amendment there - NIE is not a prerequisite.  Your NIE is granted at time of obtaining Residencia; further note. As far as I am aware, you can no longer obtain NIE from Embassy / Consulate

Just a point - this may only apply in Roquetas though - we got our padron certificate on the day we turned up at the town hall (ayuntamiento) with our rental contract and passport. We did not have to wait a week.

Actually - another point. Translations. Some papers have to be translated by officially accredited translators for the Extranjeros office. For us these were the DWP pension income statement and the occupational pension P60 statement. We also had to have our marriage certificate apostiled in the UK and translated - these documents may not be required for all applicants.

very recent update to the regulation, apostille no longer necessary

Although post whenever-if-ever-Brexit-occurs I imagine Hague Apostille will again become relevant

Partner got her NIE during the process of buying her villa, tho I didnt get mine, because partner was sole buyer I got mine when we applied for our Residencia. Partner got her Spanish driving licence after roughly 6 months, I'm having to go thru the medical procedure because I let mine lapse, seems theyre only valid for 3 months.

Friends/neighbours applied for driving licence in December and are still waiting such is the backlog.

Do you really want to surrender your U.K. DRIVING LICENCES

If you live here (with residency card) it’s not a question of choice - it’s a legal requirement.

It’s also a U.K. govt recommendation that you do so by 29 March as U.K. is possibly no longer a member of the EU from that date and your U.K. (EU driving licence) in the event of No Deal will no longer be valid - even if you are a visitor here rather than a resident, unless as a visitor you also have an International Driving Permit from a UK post office.

We exchanged our U.K. licences in Almeria exactly a month ago and were given temporary Spanish (paper) licences. The Spanish plastic credit card style photo licences arrived yesterday. In the meantime we had picked up a €100 speeding fine on the motorway so were glad we had all the necessary documents (inc passport) with us! Had we not already exchanged our UK licence we might have been fined again.

Seconded - have also swapped UK for Spanish licence.  As Chrisso so rightly points out, it’s not a matter of choice - if you are resident here, then you are obliged to take a Spanish license.

It’s exactly the same as going to UK with a foreign licence - ok to use if accompanied by IDP whilst on holiday, but once you take up residency, you would be obliged to get a UK licence.  Getting it underway before 29/3 is going to be a very good idea if you have not yet done so.  I don’t imagine Guardia Civil will accept excuses after 29/3 for not having proper license - either Spanish or UK with IDP if on holiday

Yes thank you all for your advice. We have decided to buy and of course we'll get an NIE number as part of this process. I will obtain an international driving license next week. We will travel as tourists with a visa if necessary and won't be staying any longer the 90 days in any 183 days. We believe we then comply with all the regulations without seeking residencies.