Bank account for residency

Hi, I need to put a sum of money into a Spanish bank account for 3 months prior to applying for residency. Is it ok to open a Santander account in the UK, bank the required amount and show this as proof of 3 months banking with a Spanish bank.

I do not think so. I have accounts in Banco Santander here in Quesada and in Santander UK. They are two separate accounts,there is no connection between them.

Although Santander UK is owned by Banco Santander it cannot be classed as a Spanish bank.

Brewingdog wrote:Hi, I need to put a sum of money into a Spanish bank account for 3 months prior to applying for residency. Is it ok to open a Santander account in the UK, bank the required amount and show this as proof of 3 months banking with a Spanish bank.

no, Santander UK is a separate entity to Santander Spain, both owned by Santander Banking.

Cheers. Thanks for the replies.

Ginger wrote:

Brewingdog wrote:Hi, I need to put a sum of money into a Spanish bank account for 3 months prior to applying for residency. Is it ok to open a Santander account in the UK, bank the required amount and show this as proof of 3 months banking with a Spanish bank.

no, Santander UK is a separate entity to Santander Spain, both owned by Santander Banking.

Correct.....

Brewingdog wrote:Hi, I need to put a sum of money into a Spanish bank account for 3 months prior to applying for residency.

Who is telling you this?

Brewingdog wrote:Hi, I need to put a sum of money into a Spanish bank account for 3 months prior to applying for residency. Is it ok to open a Santander account in the UK, bank the required amount and show this as proof of 3 months banking with a Spanish bank.

Are you sure that it needs to be in a Spanish bank?

If applying for the NLV, as UK passport owner, your initial application would be to the Spanish consulate in the UK nearest to your UK address. I would expect that funds held in a UK bank would be acceptable.

As an aside, if you have a UK Santander account you can withdraw cash from Spanish Santander ATMs on the mainland. Fee free and at the visa bank rate, direct from your UK Santander account. Well worthwhile looking into, we've been using this for the last 7 years.

Darro wrote:

Brewingdog wrote:Hi, I need to put a sum of money into a Spanish bank account for 3 months prior to applying for residency.

Who is telling you this?

Hi, I'm an Irish passport holder. Have recently been visiting solicitors in the area, getting a wide variety of advice on what we need to to gain residency as my wife is English. Some of it head spinning. Finally made an appointment with SGM and advice seem to all fall into place (still confused over some things) One of the tasks on the list is opening a Spanish bank account which for each of us must show a sum of €7000 in the account for 3 months. A joint account with €14000 seems to be acceptable. This amount has varied depending on which legal outfit you speak to. I have to say that each place I visited the advisors did not seem to fully understand the rules on Irish/English married couple seeking residency.

Would it not be easier for your wife to get an Irish passport as married to you ..or is this not possible. ?

Full details on how to apply for the green card EU citizens register residing in Spain and residency for a non EU spouse is explained here:

EU and non EU citizens card

The rules, unless they've changed, do not say you have to have a Spanish bank account as proof of pension income above the IPREM (about €7,000 a year) can be shown.

There are, of course, other things to think of. You don't say if you are an Irish citizen living in Ireland or if you are a UK citizen living in UK with an Irish passport.

You'd have to think of exchanging your driving licence if you have a UK one, getting an S1 from Ireland in your case or, if your wife gets her residency, getting an S1 from UK and having you as a beneficiary.

Probably other things as well.
I bring those points up as you would have an EU citizen card but, if stopped by the police, showing a UK licence (which is currently not exchangeable whereas an Irish one is) or, if you get an S1 from UK, showing the EU citizen card when applying for health cover.
Just a couple of points.