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obtaining an NIE while still in the UK

obtaining an NIE while still in the UK

Postby daz » Sun Dec 11, 2016 10:40 pm

hello, new to this, apologies if this question has been raised before. I am intending to buy a property in Spain, I have returned home to the UK, and have no intention of going back until a sale has been sorted and finalised.

I am right at the beginning, I need to find everything, bank acc, lawyer, notary, and before any of these, is the NIE.

But, to get an NIE, do I have to go back to Spain to get it?
Is it something a lawyer / solicitor can do as part of the package I will be paying them for?
If I need to do this my self, then can I do it all while I remain at home (in the UK)? if so, then how do I do this please?

any tips greatly appreciated. thanks, Daz.
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Re: obtaining an NIE while still in the UK

Postby marcliff » Sun Dec 11, 2016 11:21 pm

You can get an NIE from a Spanish consulate in UK in London or Edinburgh. You have to attend in person.

Applying from Edinburgh
Applying from London

They also explain how to get one if you come to Spain. Note that your lawyer can arrange it but they can charge 70 to 120 euros for doing it and you still have to attend in person.

(You used to be able to give Power of Attorney to the solicitor (for an extra cost) but I believe they stopped that, may be wrong because the systems change so often here).
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Re: obtaining an NIE while still in the UK

Postby PeteKnight » Sun Dec 11, 2016 11:52 pm

When an NIE number is issued it stays with you for life, but the NIE certificates that are being issued now are only valid for 6 months. You need to have a valid certificate at the point when the property purchase is completed and if you don't have one then the notary may refuse to complete the purchase.
The process for getting a new certificate is almost identical to the process for getting an NIE issued in the first place.

Getting an NIE is very quick if you use a 'fixer'. We obtained ours the next day and we're in and out of the police station within 20 minutes. We then opened our bank account the same day.

My advice would be to wait until you're over here.

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Re: obtaining an NIE while still in the UK

Postby manxmunk » Mon Dec 12, 2016 12:38 am

Hi daz, I got my NIE from the Spanish consulate in Manchester, you can download the forms on line, but as has already been stated you have to attend in person, but remember to take your passport and all other relevant documents. ( only took us about 30 mins to finalise)
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Re: obtaining an NIE while still in the UK

Postby Swallow » Mon Dec 12, 2016 1:44 am

PeteKnight wrote:When an NIE number is issued it stays with you for life, but the NIE certificates that are being issued now are only valid for 6 months. You need to have a valid certificate at the point when the property purchase is completed and if you don't have one then the notary may refuse to complete the purchase.
The process for getting a new certificate is almost identical to the process for getting an NIE issued in the first place.

Getting an NIE is very quick if you use a 'fixer'. We obtained ours the next day and we're in and out of the police station within 20 minutes. We then opened our bank account the same day.

My advice would be to wait until you're over here.

Pete.


Pete, you are wrong, for non residents see https://www.citizensadvice.org.es/faq/d ... ie-number/
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Re: obtaining an NIE while still in the UK

Postby scubydoo » Mon Dec 12, 2016 8:54 am

Swallow wrote:
PeteKnight wrote:When an NIE number is issued it stays with you for life, but the NIE certificates that are being issued now are only valid for 6 months. You need to have a valid certificate at the point when the property purchase is completed and if you don't have one then the notary may refuse to complete the purchase.
The process for getting a new certificate is almost identical to the process for getting an NIE issued in the first place.

Getting an NIE is very quick if you use a 'fixer'. We obtained ours the next day and we're in and out of the police station within 20 minutes. We then opened our bank account the same day.

My advice would be to wait until you're over here.

Pete.


Pete, you are wrong, for non residents see https://www.citizensadvice.org.es/faq/d ... ie-number/


Hi the rules on this have changed yet again the NIE cirtificates that are issued now do not expire and the NIE is for life and if you have one with an expiary date it can be used to purchase a property the only problem you have with one that has an expiary date is at Trafico for transfering a car everything other is no problem
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Re: obtaining an NIE while still in the UK

Postby daz » Mon Dec 12, 2016 11:31 am

sincere thanks for the replies and info people, I appreciate you taking the time. but, sadly for me I'm still no further on.

one of you says there is a consulate in Manchester but after an internet search, I cant find them.

one of you says use a 'fixer' but what is a fixer? and where would I find one?

while I only intend to be there in Spain for 3 winter months each year, some other info says I need to provide evidence that I will pay for Spanish health insurance, as part of my application, other web pages are not clear, suggesting I might not need it.

I must have read half the pages on the gov.uk site, yet I cant even find conclusive info on what documents to take, to an office I haven't even found yet, lol.

I can see thousands of you have sussed this out, and living the dream, so clearly it is do-able.

I have been to Spain last week, found the property I want in Quesada. The only thing that stood out from listening to the 3 property agents I saw, was the need to pay 3k up front for an offer to be binding, (thankfully not paid a penny yet), and to get a lawyer. no mention of an NIE.

I'm now back in the UK revved up ready to wade through the process. yet after hours of trawling through web pages, I'm drowning here at the first hurdle, and I haven't even got my feet wet yet.

maybe I will figure it out one day. if you can offer any other info then great, no probs if not. cheers folks.
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Re: obtaining an NIE while still in the UK

Postby scubydoo » Mon Dec 12, 2016 11:57 am

The Manchester consulate closed some years ago, you do not need private insurance at the moment for three months in Spain, the best way is to get a solicitor that will deal with everything for you and they can hold your deposit for the property they can also arrange your Nie application for you they will also tell you exactly what documents you need without trolling the internet, so to cut through the crap speak to someone who knows and they don't normaly charge for a coversation or you can email them you will find loads of recommendations from members on the forum.
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Re: obtaining an NIE while still in the UK

Postby marcliff » Mon Dec 12, 2016 12:03 pm

1. The consulate in Manchester closed down a while back
2. You won't need health insurance if you are only staying 3 months and you only need to prove health insurance if you are becoming a permanent resident in Spain. Your EHIC will cover you for that period.
3. A "fixer" is someone who applies for, and fills in the forms, for your NIE. They will charge you for it and you will still have to attend a pre-arranged appointment in person. Once they have made the appointment, you attend a National Police station (either Elche, Torrevieja, Orihuela or Alicante) and it will take about 20 minutes to complete. You can also attend a foreigners department like Orihuela Costa but you won't get the NIE straight away.
4. The system changes quite regularly. The NIE number is valid for life but the certificate can expire. Originally for life, then 3 months, then back to not expiring, then back to 3 months and now back to no expiry date. This was so people could confirm their status as resident (and get a resident card valid for life) or non-resident and get a non-resident card valid for 2 years. The NIE certificate then becomes just a non-required piece of paper as the NIE is listed on both cards.
5. You will need a passport, a completed NIE application form and a reason for the issue (eg, purchasing property).
6. If you pay a deposit on a property, it will be non-refundable if you pull out. If the seller pulls out they must give you double the deposit but you will find the agent keeps most of that. Don't use an agent that asks for money up front unless they give you a bank guarantee that your money is safe.

It really isn't that difficult. We got our NIE by sitting at the Orihuela Costa office for several hours (even with a pre-booked appointment) and then had to go back the next week to collect the certificate.

Edit; Looks like I've repeated scubydoo advice. Posted the same time.
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Re: obtaining an NIE while still in the UK

Postby Baldy dave » Mon Dec 12, 2016 12:18 pm

you need to find yourself a Spanish lawyer...don't be silly and use the one the estate agent uses..it may be cheaper but they are operating for all parties you wouldn't do it here in uk so don't do it spain.. I'm sure many on here can offer you advise on a good lawyer...I use david ortez garcia of alone in guadamar(David Ortiz García, colegiado nº 1623
Plaza de Abastos, nº4 – Entresuelo A
03140–Guardamar del Segura (Alicante)
Telf. 96 672 74 52 – 639 007 914)
however if you don't want the whole hog you can use a legal rep Sunshine Costa Blanca Denise Ulendorp (Calle Pilar Miró 34a ,
03178 Benijófar
Tel y fax: 966 71 37 75
E-mail :[email protected]) they speak lots of languages and deal with all your yearly legal stuff including getting you a Spanish bank and do it for a fixed fee.

but in all cases you need to get them a power of attorney.
essentially you need to find a Spanish authorised notary in uk..Spanish empassy site has a list. go see the nearest one to you and then get it certified which they will tell you how. then
the Spanish solicitor or legal rep can do ...however it does cost its far simpler to do a cheap 2 day flight out 1 day back next at cheap time and seeing lawyer in spain...david Ortiz can arrange at a moments notice ( which is why I use him he personal friend of guadamar notary) most others cant and have to arrange time slot with notary.

hope this helps... but as said above protect yourself all estate agents are keen to use just 1 solicitor it may be slightly faster and a bit cheaper but you have zero protection which is basically why the property market in spain has so many problems. also note the buying price may not be the tax price...hacienda (Spanish tax office) now look at all property transactions after they have been done and decide if the sale price on documents was legit. if they decide it was sold cheap you get another bill for what they decide the correct price is. you need good bullet proof documentation to stop them ripping you off. and don't do brown envelopes under table it is still popular and you will be caught....
another thought you can buy the property as a company costs a little extra as you have to pay for accounts each year. but you can then sell and transfer easily without paying extra tax..
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