NIE number and EU residency
NIE- Foreigner's Identification Number
Family members and dependents of EU citizens and Spaniards
NIE- Foreigner's Identification Number
- Applying for a NIE number is essential to purchase a property or car, to accept an inheritance, and for all sorts of everyday tasks like having a mobile phone or electricity supply.
- For some Visas you must have a NIE number before applying.
- We can get your NIE number within a maximum of 7 days from your initial contact with us, either accompanying you to the Police Station or by making a simple power of attorney - even if you are in a different part of Spain or another country altogether.
- You may require a template power of attorney or need someone to communicate with a Notary; just ask us.
- You will receive a digitally signed NIE certificate as a PDF scan.
- Please let us know before 2pm any Wednesday to give us time to book you a NIE appointment for the following week.
EU citizens in Spain
Family members and dependents of EU citizens and Spaniards
NIE- Foreigner's Identification Number
- Applying for residency if you hold an EU passport; we make sure you walk out of the Police Station with your green residents card (strictly speaking, your certificate of residency "CUE") in your hand - first time.
You have two options:
- You can show sufficient funds to support yourself and a comprehensive private health insurance policy
or
- If you are working as either an employee of a Spanish company or as self-employed, you do not need to demonstrate funds or purchase private health insurance.
- You may be required to register first on the padrón of your town; we know which police stations will require the padrón certificate and which do not ask for one.
- After 5 years you should exchange your card for a 10 year permanent card.
- Permanent residents have different rights when it comes to leaving Spain for prolonged periods of time without losing their residency.
Family members and dependents of EU citizens and Spaniards
Family members and dependents of EU citizens and Spaniards
Family members and dependents of EU citizens and Spaniards
- There are three different applications depending on the nationality of the resident of Spain: the specific process depends on whether the resident is Spanish, other EU passport holder, or a non-EU passport holder. The requirements and processes are different in each case, and must not be confused with each other.
- The relationship of the applicant to the EU citizen must be demonstrated with birth or marriage certificates, translated to Spanish by a sworn translator, and - if these certificates come from a non EU country - with Apostille of the Hague.
- We have to demonstrate that the Spanish resident really does live in Spain by presenting evidence of their activities/presence in Spain.
- An application is made electronically via the online system called "Mercurio" to the Foreigners Office. Once the application has been accepted, we can then take you to the police station to apply for your TIE (residents card for non EU citizens).
did you get left behind at brexit?
Residency under the Withdrawal Agreememt
Family members and dependents of British residents of Spain
Residency under the Withdrawal Agreememt
- It is theoretically still possible to get residency via the Withdrawal Agreement, but as every day passes, it does become more difficult.
- In 2024 we have assisted several clients in having their residency approved.
- These applications are complicated because you must be able to demonstrate that you were physically and legally in Spain by 31st December 2020 and have been ever since... so this means demonstrating a pre 2021 private health insurance policy or S1.
- It is always worth trying this route because some provincial foreigners offices are approving applications which would never have passed in 2020.
Arraigo Social
Family members and dependents of British residents of Spain
Residency under the Withdrawal Agreememt
- Many people missed the boat in 2020 and the solution for those of them who have stayed in Spain in an irregular situation since then is to apply for an Arraigo.
- Spain does offer people residing in an irregular situation to the opportunity to legalise their situation through a number of routes.
- If there is no other way to legalise your situation, then an Arraigo may be your only option.
- You do have to prove that you have integrated in your local community, and that you can support yourself. So you either need to show that you could work successfully for yourself, have been offered a full time job, have become eligible to receive a pension, or have sufficient private means.
Family members and dependents of British residents of Spain
Family members and dependents of British residents of Spain
Family members and dependents of British residents of Spain
- Family members - spouse, civil partner, dependent children - may apply to "rejoin" their family member in Spain.
- If the relationship existed pre -Brexit and can be proven, then a process which is similar to that of an EU citizen adding a non EU partner can be initiated.
- If the relationship was formalised or can only be demonstrated to have existed post-Brexit then we have to apply for a Reagrupación Familiar.
- Working on such applications can be some of the most satisfying work we do, purely because although this is a complicated application, it is an emotional moment when the approval is received and a couple or family is reunited.
VISAS
Visas are normally applied for at the Consulate of Spain in your current country of residence
- All non EU applicants must apply for a Visa unless they can prove that they have the necessary link to a current resident.
- Visas that can be applied for within Spain are the Golden Visa, Digital Nomad Visa and Student Visa. Applications to modify residency type are also made from within Spain.
- Please read on for more information about visas for Spain.
WHICH VISA IS FOR YOU?
Non Lucrative Visa
Autónomo Visa - Cuenta Propia
Non Lucrative Visa
This is the most popular visa, and is best suited to retirees or people with passive income.
The NLV is exactly as it sounds; you cannot work in Spain if you are here with this visa.
The application has to be made in the consulate in your own country (or country of residence) which has jurisdiction for your area.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they do not currently work and that they can support themselves through savings, investments, rents, pensions or dividends.
They must be able to show that they are of good character, and that they have full health insurance cover.
This visa has to be renewed after one year, and again two years later. Your funds must be demonstrated again at each point - and there are strict limits on how much time you can spend outside Spain each year.
Fiscal residency is not something you can choose to have or not have with this visa; if you want to continue residing in Spain you will have to show that you have fulfilled all fiscal obligations in Spain.
We suggest that you always have a consultation with a tax expert before making a decision about your visa application. A simple consultation face to face or by video-call costs only 80 euros plus IVA and a tax simulation costs only 80 euros plus IVA.
Just get in touch and we can set this up for you.
Golden Visa
Autónomo Visa - Cuenta Propia
Non Lucrative Visa
The Golden Visa sounds like everybody's dream. First of all you invest a lot of money and then you can do whatever you like. You can work or not bother; you can spend as much time as you like in Spain each year (one day is sufficient) and you do not have to pay taxes in Spain if you do not spend more than half of the year here.
Be careful though, as if investing in property there are some pointers to remember:
- Each applicant must make the 500.000 euro investment - a married couple cannot "share" the ownership of a property of that value in order to apply together. Unless investing over one million euros, one spouse must be the owner of the property and the other has to apply as a family member.
- Applying from the UK is extremely costly; consulate fees are very high. Applying from Spain avoids those costs altogether.
- If you sell the property or investment that you used for your application, you must reinvest or you will be unable to renew your visa.
By far the most cost-effective and fastest way to get a Golden Visa is to apply from Spain. You must be legally in Spain on the day of the application, so you cannot have overstayed your 90/180 days. You will completely avoid consulate fees amounting to thousands of pounds. Most applications are approved within 3 weeks.
Click below to read about applying for a Golden Visa from Spain.
Autónomo Visa - Cuenta Propia
Autónomo Visa - Cuenta Propia
Autónomo Visa - Cuenta Propia
Many people are excited by the thought that they could get a visa to set up a business in Spain, and are disappointed and put off by comments they read online about these visas being "impossible" to get. This is not true at all. However many English speaking lawyers have had very limited involvement in such visas because their client base has always been exclusively European or just British.
We have been assisting clients with these applications for many years and well before Brexit, so we are well aware of what makes a good business plan (called a "project") and what does not, how to write a winning project and how to get it approved ready for your consulate appointment.
In addition, we know exactly what needs to be done once the visa has been granted; we will arrange your autónomo registration with the tax office and Social Security, as well as communicating this to the relevant immigration authorities to fulfill the obligations of your visa.
It is a great pity that this visa application can take many months to be approved. You need to enter this process with your eyes fully open. We will give you the facts in plain English and advise you of the waiting times.
We would like to offer you the opportunity to run your business idea past us, in complete confidence. Our simple questionnaire will give you the chance to see whether your plan would fulfill the basic requirements and would be worth making into a project.
Please contact us if you would like to see if your plan has what it takes or how you could tweak it to turn it into a successful project.
Working Visas
Digital Nomad Visa - self-employed
Autónomo Visa - Cuenta Propia
Have you been offered a job in Spain?
Only an employer can apply for a work visa if they want to employ you.
If you have been offered work, and your employer is unsure of the process to obtain the work visa, this is the time to speak to an immigration lawyer who knows what is required for this application to be successful.
While the initial application is made in Spain, once the approval is received, there is an additional process to navigate at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence.
Entrepreneur Visa
For people who can bring a business which shows great technological novelty or potential social benefit to Spain, this could be the Visa for you.
Inter company transfer
Another route to residency is for a company to transfer you to its entity in Spain.
Digital Nomad Visa - employed
Digital Nomad Visa - self-employed
Digital Nomad Visa - self-employed
Do you work from home and will your employer support your application to continue working for them from Spain?
The teleworkers visa was launched in 2023 and has been hugely popular.
Employees who are able to demonstrate that their employer will accept and support their application can apply for this visa either at the Spanish consulate or from Spain.
Successful consulate applications result in a one year resident permit, while applying from Spain has the advantage of obtaining a residents permit lasting up to 3 years.
Significant tax reductions can be applied for - these can make this visa incredibly attractive for people who earn more than approximately 60.000 euros per annum.
To see the requirements, please click on the following link or contact us for an assessment :
Digital Nomad Visa - self-employed
Digital Nomad Visa - self-employed
Digital Nomad Visa - self-employed
Are you a contractor who can demonstrate that you will be working for your corporate clients for the forseeable future?
For self-employed contractors with corporate clients, this visa offers the opportunity to continue working remotely, but to change your physical location to Spain.
Since it was launched, this visa has been incredibly popular.
Unfortunately there will be no "special offer" when it comes to beneficial tax regimes, but unlike employed "digital nomads", self employed teleworkers will be entitled to free public healthcare in Spain (and can add their dependents as beneficiaries) and will start to build up a pension entitlement in Spain.
To understand the requirements, please click on the following link or contact us for an assessment:
Tax Planning
Before you apply for a Visa or residency, it is essential to get tax advice
If selling a property in another country, taking 25% tax free lump sum from a UK pension, or simply wondering what your tax obligations will be in Spain, you should take advice before arriving in Spain.
How your income and sale of assets will be treated in Spain is a crucial consideration. You need to be prepared for tax and reporting obligations in Spain and you should also consider timing very carefully if you are selling property to ensure that you will not be liable for capital gains tax later on.
A simple consultation, either face to face or by video call could resolve al your doubts and help you to plan more effectively.
A tax simulation will enable you to see what your tax liability in Spain would be.
A meeting with José Bengoechea will resolve your doubts and give you a wealth of information for a very reasonable cost. Please get in touch to arrange an appointment.
Important issues for visa holders
Visa renewals
Registering an S1 or applying for the Convenio Especial for healthcare
Registering an S1 or applying for the Convenio Especial for healthcare
Renewing your visa, especially a Golden Visa or Non Lucrative Visa may seem daunting.
However, there is no need to return to the consulate as everything can be handled in Spain without the need to surrender your passport.
Renewal applications can be made electronically.
We will assist you in collating the required documentation and arranging low cost sworn translations of any documents which are not in Spanish, advising you of the financial requirements, and submitting the application.
Not everyone becomes a fluent Spanish speaker during their first year in Spain, so if we can, we will accompany you to the Police Station to order your new TIE card.
Registering an S1 or applying for the Convenio Especial for healthcare
Registering an S1 or applying for the Convenio Especial for healthcare
Registering an S1 or applying for the Convenio Especial for healthcare
If you are entitled to an S1, we can register this for you.
An S1 is a certificate which you get from the country which pays your pension, or in some cases a disability benefit (or covers the social security for a displaced worker). S1s are provided by all EU countries as well as the UK.
Once the S1 is registered, you will have access to the Spanish public health system, free of charge and paid for by the country which pays your pension.
The "convenio especial" is available to any non-Spaniard who is not eligible for an S1 (for example early retirees and people from non EU countries) and who has lived legally in Spain for longer than one year.
The successful applicant may access the public health system in Spain by paying a monthly fee which, especially for those who have pre-existing conditions, can work out less expensive than private health insurance.
Health Insurance
Compare prices for health insurance quickly and easily using this link. Speak to an agent in English.