The most important things to do after having moved to Spain:
1.The NIE number – an NIE number or “numero identificacion extranjeros” is issued by your local Oficina de Extranjeros (Office of Foreigners). By law, you must register with the office and obtain this number. Without this number, life will be difficult in Spain. Your NIE number is needed to purchase a house, open a bank account, register for utility accounts etc. It is also your fiscal (tax) number.
To obtain it, you will have to apply at your local Oficina de Extranjeros with two passport sized photos, an application form, your passport and a copy of your passport.
2.Certificado de Registro – The law changed in Spain in March 2008 and now anyone living in Spain for over 3 months has to apply for a Certificado de Registro, the new Residencia. Fines can be levied on people who do not comply.
You now need this Certificado to obtain a Padron from your town hall. To apply for the Certificado, you will need to go to your Oficina de Extranjeros with your passport and NIE number and fill in an application form. Check whether you need any further documentation before you go.
3.The Padron /Certificado de Empadronamiento – The Padron is a register of everyone living in a municipality and registering benefits both you and your local town hall. You will need a certificate proving that you are on the padron to buy a car, to register your children at school etc. and your town hall will get funding from the local government depending on its population i.e. the number of people on the padron.
Make sure that you take all of your documents with you to the town hall – NIE, Certificado de Registro, your escritura and the birth certificates of your children. It is important to register your whole family so that the town hall can benefit from all types of funding.
4.Health Cover – Hopefully, if you have already moved to Spain, you will have sorted out health cover before you left your home country. Pensioners from the EU, and from countries who have an agreement with Spain, will be able to obtain free healthcare. Other people will be able to obtain healthcare by either being employed or self-employed and paying into the social security system, or by taking out private health insurance. Health cover is something you need to research and sort out before your move.
5.Choose good professionals – If you are buying a Spanish property, you will want to hire the services of a good abogado (lawyer) to guide you through the house buying process. Go on the recommendation of other expat property buyers and not on the recommendation of an estate agent or builder.
A gestor is helps to guide people through the bureaucracy of life in Spain. A gestor can help you apply for an NIE number and a Certificado de Registro, help you set up a business and register for social security. A good gestor will make your life much easier.
A tax adviser will give you tax advice and help you with your annual tax return. Remember, if you live in Spain for 183+ days per year, you will be classed as a resident for tax purposes and will be expected to complete a tax return.
Moving to Spain is an exciting time and can be a time of happiness, if you seek good advice and do everything the right way. Being ignorant can cost you money and be stressful.
