| Obtention of N.I.E.

Due to recent Money laundering regulations it has become compulsory for all foreigners who carry out any transaction in connection with immovable property to produce their NIE numbers on completion. In the past, the system was more flexible and it was usual someone bought a property without having obtained the NIE.

At present, if you wish to buy, to sell or even to inherit any real estate property in Spain, you must show your NIE number.

The NIE number is a tax number assigned by the Home Office (Ministerio del Interior) to any foreign person who owns properties or interests in Spain. It is compulsory and it will not change along the years even though you sell your present property and buy another one or even if you do not buy anything for many years.

To obtain this number the owner must present the application in person either at the Police Station where the property is located or at your nearest Spanish Consulate at home.

Each Police Station has their own way of functioning so it is worth asking your solicitor to find out about office hours, scheduled appointments, documentation….

At MAM we can assist you in obtaining your NIE number so, please don't hesitate to contact us.

 

 

| Certificate of Registration as an EU Citizen

Since April 2007, the need to obtain a residence card for nationals of an EU Member State has been suppressed. That card has been replaced with a certificate that provides evidence of being inscribed in the corresponding Foreigner’s Central Registry.

Unlike the old residence cards this certificate is not an identification document so you still need your passport to identify in case of need. The certificate has no expiry date and you must apply for it within 3 months of entry in Spain if you wish to reside in this country for more than 3 months.

The procedure must be carried out in person, it is not allowed to use a representative.

The certificate is obtained from the National Police Quarters corresponding to your home address.

 

 

 

 

| Health Care

We can diferenciate between permanent residents and temporary residents:

PERMANENT RESIDENTS:

In general terms, European citizens who have residency in Spain are entitled to receive public health care. The Health Insurance Card, which must be obtained in order to be able to benefit from such services, is an individual and personalised document that accredits an individual’s right to receive public healthcare. Each member of the family must have their own card.

The Spanish Health Insurance Card is obtained when a person decides that Spain is to be their normal place of residence which means that the Spanish authorities will inform authorities in their country of origin about this.

However, if you are a Spanish resident with a private health insurance card and you want to use the Spanish public health system, you must be included in it as beneficiary of aforesaid system. This means that as an EU citizen you must first prove that:

• either you are covered by the public health system in your country of origin (with the document issued by the competent authority in aforesaid country).
• or you are working in Spain.
• or you are dependant on someone who is covered under the Spanish system.
• or, you are registered on the municipal census but do not have enough economic resources.

If none of these aforesaid cases apply, you cannot benefit from the system.

Once this has been established, all those who wish to be covered by the system must apply for and process the Spanish Health Insurance Card (Tarjeta SIP) in order to have access to the health services and assistance.

To apply for this card and find out what documentation is required in each case you should go to your local health centre and ask.

TEMPORARY RESIDENTS:

The temporary residence forms, being the E-111 and E-128 were replaced by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) on the 1st of June, 2004.

This card is valid for one individual and entitles them to receive the necessary medical health care when they are temporarily residing in one of the countries that forms part of the European Union, the European Economic Area, (Island, Liechtenstein, Norway) or Switzerland, taking into account the type of service and expected length of the stay. The period of validity is written on the European Health Card.

Card holders receive the same health care as anyone else from the country of residence. The European Health Card is not valid however if the reason for going to another country is to receive specific medical care.

Anyone entitled to health care coverage according to Spanish law can request this European Health Card in Spain, when they are going to another country in the EU, European Economic Area, or Switzerland for a temporary period.

On the other hand, if it is a citizen from another EU country coming to Spain temporarily, they should apply for this health care card in their country of origin before their arrival. These individuals will receive the same health coverage from the Spanish social security health care system as any other person.