What's this NIE all about?

Hi all

Whilst over in Spain a couple of weeks back we visited our "solicitor" who completed the form for us, we agreed to go to the Notary office (half mile away) within 10 mins had the legalised copies of the passports which we then took back to the "solicitor" to process.  This cost us 6 euros and less than 1 hour.

No problems at all (if you're visiting Spain), although not sure if it depends on your obagado

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HI Nuflow it most certainly does depend on your abogado - POA can also be set up in the UK and sent to your abogado - two clients in the last 2 weeks with problems having applied to Spanish Consul in Manchester and London within the last three months and no delivery of NIE - still seems hit or miss and luck of the draw

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Hi All,

Just out of interest,if anyone is intending to do there one day NIE at Alicante the office has moved to near the bus station as of Monday 8th,Oct.

Also if you are applying there and intend to buy in San Miguel do not put a San Miguel address on the application as it will be refused.

Regards

Georgia

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Hi everyone

We are buying in spain, in my partners name , can i apply for a NIE number as i hope to move out there but the property will be my partners ?

Thanks in anticipation of your valued advice,

Stephen

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Yes - anyone can and you would be advised to. Unless you need it urgently, then best to wait until you come here - otherwise you apply either via consulate in the UK or by power of attorney which can be arranged from the UK - but it all costs!

Enjoy the move

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Just applied for my NIE(s) in Denia...queued for about an hour...no problems...presented forms for the whole family (5) and job done and dusted...have paid a local company to go down and pick them up and hold onto them for me until I'm back in February to get them from them...they charged €100 for this service which I thought was reasonable. I also got to chat to some real nice folks in the queue and also learned more about the Resedencia application etc...

All in a lot more simple than sending it off in the post

Only 7 months to Move date....weeeheeey

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And as long as the people collect it for you probably a whole lot more reliable.

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So, I know I'd need to apply for an NIE as soon as I got to Spain, but didn't realise it was a several week process. I know, I know, it's Spain, right. Everything takes a little longer. (The missus will be pleased ;¬D)

So, are you barred from the purchase of any major item in that period, or does the application receipt allow a little latitude?

Only ask as I was looking to move out there permanently in February and was wondering whether it would be worth doing the application over here or even popping over to get the ball rolling. I need to purchase a car fairly quickly, so any clarification would be appreciated.

Many thanks.

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Hi HybridAnglo

As far as I'm aware it is the God document...next to its smaller cousin the Padron....and then the other family members the Resendencia, the SIP...the list goes on

You cannot buy a car without an NIE number it seems....but you can open a bank account...though they do want it pretty sharp afterwards

I have sorted mine out in advance as I know that so much paperwork does onlyone thing slow you down from enjoying your immediate time. I am trying to make sure I get everything done before I arrive....as much as possible to make the transition easier...you can apply by post for your NIE but it seems to take an age

I popped over last week for 48 hours and I must admit it was nice to be in spain out of summer season...you get so much more of an idea as to what its like when you live their...I also went on my own and that helped me to bomb around and see more as well

Hope all goes well with you

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We gave our solicitor power of attorney to get our NIE. We had to open a bank account in Cartagena to have a reason to apply in that region. The solicitor then sent in the documents and collected them one week later.

Mark

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Bit oif chicken and egg situation - you have to have a reason to apply and you need one to make any significant purchase such as a car. The reason for application sholuld be compra coche - you may be required to take copy of an invoice for the car purchase to submit with the application - different police stations seem to have different attitudes to how they will process things. 

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Thanks for the responses, chaps.

It is as I thought. Oh well, looks like I have another excuse for a long weekend trip (or two) over there before the move.

As it is, we're looking to buy a friend's apartment and have a letter to that effect for the NIE. The car situation, while urgent, was more about reducing the amount of time spent in a hire car.

Hope you're all well and not too put out with the inane questions of a future ex-pat.

Mark.

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Before booking a long weekend over purely to get your NIE, check out when the offices are open to actually do this.  Our one in Orihuela was only open Tues/Wed/Thu during the winter although it did open Mondays as well during July and September.

We had no problems getting one, just went about 8:30 on a Tuesday (people had been queuing since 6 o'clock, so I'm told), got a number and went away for a coffee.  Came back at 11:30 and waited about half an hour.  We were told to come back in "about 3 weeks" to collect the certificates.  We actually couldn't go back for about 8 weeks but this time had to go twice as the number of East Europeans (this was January last year when these countries joined the EU) absolutely swamped the place and they had run out of numbers to give out.  Next day, got in the queue at 7 o'clock, got a number and again disappeared for shopping for a couple of hours.  We were almost the last to be seen as they closed the office smack on 12 o'clock despite another dozen or so people with numbers.  It's all fun and part of the learning experience.  Can't wait to sign on the padron and queue again as the lady who deals with the NIE also does the padron.  Great non-system but essential to maintain a sense of humour.  Some of those waiting were in a really agitated state which couldn't have done much for their blood pressure.  Go with the flow.

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Oh well, make that a really long weekend, then.

And, being as one of the main reasons for our move to Spain is for a more relaxed way of life, I can't really let something like a queue wind me up. It'd defeat the whole purpose of the move.

Small price to pay, I suppose.

Mark.

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Hybrid Anglo have just looked at your profile - assuming you will be living in San Pedro Alcantara and that is where you plan to visit when applying for NIE best thing for you to do would be to stay in Estepona borough - only 10 minutes down the road and apply at Estepona police stattion - open every day from 9 til 2. Best to get there at about 8.20 and you will be at the front of the queue and out of the station by 9.30 - if you stay in S P de A technically you should apply at Marbella police station and queues there start at about 6am the last I heard and little or no system at all - you can apply either in the borough where you are staying OR in the borough where you are buying property - dont forget a copy of each passport and a copy of each NIE application - they will give you the temporary number on the copy of the application as a "receipt" take that back 2 to 3 weeks later and the certificate will be given to you - generally they will keep the certificate for up to 6 months. For some reason the least busy day seems to be a Wednesday - I know its middle of the week but still much demand for NIE so the actual day shouldnt make that much difference but it does.

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Thanks for the response, Smiley. It would appear, in the brief time I've been reading EoS, that your moniker does you credit - very helpful and friendly.

Unfortunately, we will be staying in SP de A, so it looks like we'll be lumbered with a Marbella application and all that entails. We stay at the apartment we're considering buying. It's a friend's place and he lets us use it gratis when he's back in Blighty. As a result, our letter explaining the need for an NIE states the address, so it rather puts the kibosh on the Estepona plan.

Oh well, I suppose one has to accept that there will be one or two minor inconveniences in the whole process.

Could be worse. I could support Sheffield Wednesday. Oh damn! I do...

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Someone gotta support them - they really do need it!

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Hi can anyone give me some advise please. We tried in November 07 to get on the Padron at Orihuela Costa but were turned away because the only bill we had was the SUMA (paid for 2 years). We were told they would only accept a water or electricity bill or contract. We have just recently come off builders supply & armed with our first electric bill & photocopies of everything else we went back yesterday, waited for nearly an hour and was then told it had all changed, to get on the Padron you need to be a resident. Now I am totally confused because If my understanding is right you need to be on the Padron to apply for Residency!. Can anyone clarify what we need to do next??

Many thanks

Val

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I know a member of another forum has often spoken of same problems with Orihuela town hall, Val. She was still on builder's water & they wouldn't let her sign on.

In Guardamar we had no bother. We are non residents & were actively encouraged to sign on The Padron & we were, at that time, on builder's water, mains electricity.

Seems Orihuela town hall is a law unto itself. I'll PM you with details as we are not allowed to post direct links to other forums.

This message was last edited by morerosado on 1/12/2008.

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 Hi ValandGef,   We went to the town hall last March to get our Padron we had our NIE number and address of where we lived,  their was no problem at all.   Do you not have an N IE number?   I do not know if this is any help to you but can only speak  about what happened to us.  Anyway welcome to the forum.  Pat  

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