We
have
listed
below
a few
of the
documents
needed
to live
in Spain.
N.I.E. NUMBERS The
Numero
Identidad
Extranjero
(N.I.E.)
is an
important
document
for non-Spanish
people
living
in Spain. It is in the form of an A4 size document and your original issue will be very important in the execution of all official business. Without an (N.I.E.) you will not be able to buy a house, car or start up a new business. You cannot get a job without an N.I.E. (the only jobs given without N.I.E's will be on the "black market").
Interest
rates
and the
choice
of services
offered
to those
banking
with
their
passport
number
also
vary
to those
using
their
N.I.E.
RESIDENCIA If
you have
lived
in Spain
for more
than
6 months
and intend
to live
here
for much
longer,
you are
entitled
to become
resident.
This
means
you are
then
given
a Spanish
I.D.
number
and do
not have
to use
your
N.I.E.
number
anymore.
You will
be given
more
favourable
conditions
in your
banking
choices
and if
you buy
or sell
a property,
you are
subject
to far
smaller
rates
of capital
gains
taxes,
although
this
is due
to change
in January
2006.
CLINIC
REGISTRATIONThe Spanish state social security system provides free healthcare for Spanish nationals and for those E.U. members, that provide the paperwork for registration.
Healthcare
can be
obtained
by producing
your
E111
form
and I.D.
(or your
E121
if you
are retired).
These
documents
are only
to be
used
as a
short
term
measure.
They
must
be date
stamped
within
a local
post
office,
at the
time
when
you left
the UK.
If you
are intending
to live,
or have
lived
in Spain
for longer
than
the 6
months
entitlement
this
forms
gives,
you will
need
to register
correctly
and provide
all the
necessary
documentation.
Alternative
treatment
can be
given
by private
medical
clinics
and hospitals. These
are available
to everyone
and will
also
offer
specific
treatment
/ medical
cover.
UK CAR ON SPANISH PLATES If
you are
driving
your
UK plated
car in
Spain,
you must
legally,
have
an up
to date
Tax disc,
MOT and
insurance.
If you
do not
have
these
and you
want
to keep
the car
in Spain,
you should
apply
for the
vehicle
to have
Spanish
Plates.A
lawyer
can easily
do this
for you,
alternatively
if you
have
an old
V5 Form,
or the
new V5C
Form(+2004),
you can
do it
yourself.The
procedure
is explained
fully
(as far
as the
UK side
of its
is concerned)
in the
DVLA
website.Once
you have
completed
the UK
part,
you are
then
required
to put
the vehicle
through
the I.T.V. (Spanish
MOT)
stages.
When
you have
successfully
obtained
the I.T.V.
certificate
you take
this
and the
export
papers
to a
Local
Government
office
for their
verification. Afterwards
you will
then
need
to take
it to
the traffic
office
in order
to then
apply
for your
Spanish
License
Plate
number
).
DRIVING
LICENSE If
your
UK driving
license
was issued
in or
after
1990,
or have
a photocard
which
was issued
after
1991
both
oh these
are officially
valid
within
Spain.
If your
driving
license
is pre
-1990
you should
apply
to the
Spanish
embassy
in London
for an
official
translation,
which
you can
keep
with
your
UK license.
If you
are living
in Spain
already,
this
translation
can be
obtained
from
the 'REAL
Automovil
Club
de España'.
However
if you
have
been
living
in Spain
for more
than
6 months
you are
eligible
to apply
for a
Spanish
license.
Just
in case
the license
was lost
of stolen,
you can
then
apply
for another,
whereas
you cannot
re- apply
for a
UK license
as you
no longer
live
in the
UK.
LEGAL
MATTERS It
is advisable
to enlist
the help
of a
good
lawyer
to help
with
all or
any of
the matters
detailed
above. We
can recommend
legal
companies
to assist
and advice
you in
most
legal & financial
mattersThere
are many
beauracracies
within
Spanish
law. Lawyers
can help
to explain
these
laws
and work
on your
behalf
to make
life
easier!
SETTING
UP IN
BUSINESS Starting
a business
in Spain
can be
a minefield
of paperwork.
To begin
with
you need
an N.I.E.
you can
then
register
to operate
as self
employed
and register
as a
business.
To do
this
you have
to register
with
the "Social
Seguridad" as "Autonamo" (
self
employed).
If more
than
one person
owns
a business
this
this
would
be a
Social
Limitado
(S.L.)
which
means
a Limited
Company.
Either
way a
lawyer
or an
Accountant
should
be consulted.
*
This
infomation
is meant
as a
guide
only,
please
consult
the relevant
departments
for further
information.
