Moving to Spain

While living in our home countries, in the course of every day life, most of us don’t have to consider the complexities of registration for services as these were often done automatically or many years previously. However upon arrival in Spain it is the most important thing you must do before all else.  We will deal with the four most important documents that along with your passport will be indispensable should you decide to live in Spain.  

Please remember that, should it be necessary, Spainwide can assist you with expert advice in English in the following matters:

Residency Spain/NIE Number 

The NIE (Spanish id number) is perhaps akin to the UK national insurance number or the Irish PRSI number and it would not be stretching the matter too far to suggest that unless you are have a number assigned to you then you more or less don’t exist. If you don’t exist you cannot receive health care, or buy anything like a car or property or start a business or get a bank account or a job or rent an apartment long term etc. etc. etc.  

Therefore it is vital to have the NIE arranged as soon as possible. Once assigned the NIE number does not expire. However, in the past the certificate on which the number is printed did expire and needed to be renewed. This will in most case be superseded by the new rules relating to residency in Spain.  

How to apply for a NIE 

You should bring along your passport (valid of course) as well as a couple of photocopies. This, by the way, is always a good idea in Spain. Always bring a couple of photocopies of any and all documents that are necessary to carry out the procedure as it can cause you to be told to return the next day (even though nothing was mentioned about it before hand).

You will be required to fill in form EX-14 You will also have to pay a fee which is payable at a bank. So you will have to take the ‘fee form’ to the bank, pay the fee, get it stamped and return to submit the application form together with stamped proof of fee payment.  

It may be that you have to face long queues and will need to arrive extremely early in the morning to be able to be processed on that day. But this will depend on the time of year and where you are making the application.  

It is possible to avoid the queues and any language difficulties by hiring a local gestor. 

Back to Top

Certificate of Residence 

After six months spent living in Spain it used to be the case that a all foreign persons had to apply for residency which involved obtaining a credit card sized Tarjeta de Residencia or Residency Card (similar to those carried by Spanish locals).

However since 2007 this has been overruled by Brussels which has insisted that a EU Passport is all that is required. 

That said, on grounds of practicality it is probably to be recommended that you should go through the process of obtaining the new Certificate of Residency as otherwise you may well have to wade through the Spanish bureaucracy explaining at every level that it is not required due to European law. For example it seems that you will require the Certificate of Residency if you are applying for a Spanish driving licence.  

How to apply for a Certificado de Residencia 

You can do this once again at the same Oficinas de Extranjeras and you should fill-out form EX-16 as well as pay the fee. Once again the fee needs to be paid at a bank so you will need to return with the form stamped by the bank before the application can be submitted. 

 Back to Top

Empadronaciacion (Registry with local Council) 

Another very important document to arrange is the Documento de Empadronaciaci?. This is a document obtained upon registering with your local council and is carried out at the local town hall or ayuntamiento. It is proof that you are resident in a local council area and will allow you to vote amongst other things such as registering with your local doctor as well as when registering a car in your name.  

How to apply for Documento de Empadronaciaci? 

You just simply go to your local town hall and with your passport/Certificado de Residencia/NIE as well as any bill or deed that has your name on it as well as the address to which you wish to become ‘empadronado’.  

So your rental agreement, deed of your house or any utility bill will all serve as proof that you reside at the address.  

It is also possible in limited circumstances where the address is jointly rented and it is not possible to put the utility bills in your name, to be sponsored by the person whose name is on the utility bill. 

Back to Top

Social Security Number 

In order to work in Spain it is necessary to have a social security number. A social security number is also necessary in order to obtain a medical card and to begin making contributions that allow you to receive unemployment benefit and eventually a pension.   

How to apply for a Social Security Number 

You can obtain this by filling in form TA-1 at the local Social Security Office and you will be required to bring your passport.

It used to be you would receive a small yellow card but this has been changed and you now receive a print-out immediately at the time of application. 

Back to Top

Medical Card 

One of the first things it would be advisable to do is to register with your local health centre. Even if you intend to use private health insurance there are circumstances where you could be required to visit the public health doctor e.g. where you are required to obtain a ‘baja’ in order to have the state pay a proportion of your salary while you are unable to work. 

How to apply for a Medical Card 

In order to obtain your medical card you just need to call into your local health centre with your Social Security Number and your passport (some may ask for a certificate of residency but strictly speaking this is not necessary). 

You will also be asked for your NIE number and details such as your address etc.

 Back to Top

F.A.Q's

Back to Top