Hi again

There has been some very useful information in the last couple of posts. I think it does depend upon personal preferences and in some cases the place where you find yourself living. In Lanzarote, where I have been living we could not get away with photocopies of documents to prove our identity. .. so it is a case of either carrying a passport (which is not always useful ) or producing the resedencia. The latter only proving expensive if you have to pay some agency or other to do the work for you. Thank you so much for the enlightening information in different parts of Spain.

Hi Everyone,

Good thread...Just one point on minarets statement that having a residencia card can reduce your capital gains tax on the sale of your property....Beware...Just having a residencia card is not enough, to avoid having the 5% capital gains tax retention you must also now provide a “certificado de residencia fiscal” from hacienda , which basically proves you have been paying your taxes as a resident for the required period of time...and are therefore considered by hacienda to be fiscally resident.

People who apply for a residencia card just prior to the sale of their property (hoping to avoid the capital gains) will not get a certificate of fiscal residence from hacienda, and will have to pay the capital gains.

Dun Marching

Dear All

I have been truly fascinated (and slighlty scared) by the amount of information that you all know with regards to Residencias and NIE’s. As a lady who’s family is just about to upsticks and embark on a life in the Spanish sunshine, all this information is greatly received. I would, however, like to ask you learned lot one thing… Do I need to get Residencias and NIE’s for all the family, kids included? I have just printed out NIE forms for myself and my husband, but if our two kids need one I’ll have to print out a couple more. We are flying over to finalise arrangements in January. Can we do our queuing up then when we don’t have the kids with us, or do we have to wait until we are in proper residence and can I get our NIE numbers from the Spanish Consulate in Manchester before we come over in January???? All these questions… it’s a minefield isn’t it?!

Any help regarding these matters will be much appreciated.

Loopyloula

Woo! Woo! I have just had the letter from the Dpt of Foriegners with a form to take to Banco Caja to pay the 6.57 euros. Another stage done. Next we have to queue in the office again (to have our fingerprints done I assume). Is that it do you think?  I cant believe it was all so easy! Really the only taxing thing, has being the long wait in the queue and not quite knowing what was going to happen. How can these paperwork agencies justify their charges?

Thinking of the last post, I assume children dont need Resedencias ? As I dont have dependent children I cant really comment.

That’s a critical point Dun Marching! Thank you for reminding us to look at our financial affairs.

Off to get my fingerprints done!

Procedures for the renewal of the Spanish residency id card (Tarjeta de residencia)

Documents needed

REQUEST APPLICATION
In duplicate fully filled in and signed
The application form is available in Internet under the name of:
Autorización de residencia y autorización de trabajo y residencia (EX-01) The WEB address is: http://extranjeros.mtas.es/

VALID PASSPORT, not expired
And copy of all its pages

RESIDENCY PERMIT (Tarjeta de residencia), not expired
And two copies

CERTIFICADO DE EMPADRONAMIENTO
And copy, needed only if you have moved or changed address

TWO COLOUR PASSPORT SIZE PHOTOGRAPHS
3,5 CM wide x 4 CM high, Computer printed photos are not admitted

HOW TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION AND THE OTHER DOCUMENTS
Request an appointment (date and time) at: 91 322 85 70 or FAX 91 322 85 29
If you do not have access to Internet: the application, the FAX form and the list of documents needed are available at the: Brigada Provincial de Extranjería y Documentación
(Metro Aluche) Avenida de los Poblados (the old Carabanchel jail), be prepared for long lines and waiting periods

All the documentation should be presented on the day and time of the appointment at:
Calle Luisa Fernanda 18 (Metro Ventura Rodríguez)

Once the documents have been submitted at the above address, the wait period for the letter specifying the day to deliver the rest of the documents, the photos plus the fingerprinting process (greasy ink) will take approximately a month or more.

You will be told to wait 40 days to pick up your new residency card.

On the appointed date you should go to Carabanchel with you valid passport and the old residency card. If for some reason you do not have the old card you must present a copy of the police report indicating the loss of the card. The old card or the police report are mandatory to obtain the new residency card.

I strongly advise you to begging the renewal process about 130 days prior to the expiration date on your current residency card. The reason for this is to set an overlap between the expiration of the old card and the issuance of the new one.

This overlap will afford you mobility in and out of the country without having to endure the long lines and wait periods at the Gerenal Pardiñas police commissary to obtain a re-entry permit document every time you leave the country.

Jorge that is fantastic information, thank you. I’m sure lots of people on this forum will benefit from that advice.

Jorge
Thanks very much for all that info… I am totally prepared now for what is in store. You didn’t mention though, if I need to do this for the children....

Best Regards

Loopylou

Hi

Under EEC rules Residencias are not now required. The Spanish govenment has agreed to comply. You only need your copy of the padron as proof of residency now.

Alan

More info http://www.ukgovabusesexpats.co.uk

Dear Nudger

Sorry to be blonde (I am by the way) but what is a Padron.....?

Loopyloula

Padron? Refering to the slip of paper you receive when you empadronarse, read: register at your local council.

Anything that refers to the EU as the EEC is lacking in credibility from the outset. It’s only about 15 years behind the times.

However, I thought this was all resolved now given the earlier debate? Either way, the Spanish govenments web site (the link is shown above on a previous post) shows that the residence requirements depend on your status here eg retired, self-employed , communitario or ex-communitario. So to me the ‘abuses’ website’s claim is a bit false victory when it claims abolishment of the residencia in Spain. It just ain’t true!

I have written in a earlier post that if you intend to live here permanently than it is best to have a identity card like every Spaniard has because the system is set up for it, and often requires proof in the form of that card. For instance I rent several apartments and carry insurance to cover me for non-payment of rent, legal fees and damages. However I only get cover if I submit a photo copy of the tenant’s identity card.  A copy of your padrón is not sufficient.

minaret - 15 November 2006 11:14 AM

Hi again

There has been some very useful information in the last couple of posts. I think it does depend upon personal preferences and in some cases the place where you find yourself living. In Lanzarote, where I have been living we could not get away with photocopies of documents to prove our identity. .. so it is a case of either carrying a passport (which is not always useful ) or producing the resedencia. The latter only proving expensive if you have to pay some agency or other to do the work for you. Thank you so much for the enlightening information in different parts of Spain.

I looked at the form recently which appears to have changed slightly and now it seems that it is impossible to apply as an autonomo. To that end, the original point I made still stands that the recidencia is VERY MUCH dependent on circmstances. This is well known by the Police everywhere (they certainly are not a bunch of country bumpkins with no knowledge of the outside world as some have made out on this thread) and in my experience only the lack of Spanish on the part of (too) many foreigners (especially the Brits amongst us) causes this confusion as it should not even be a point of debate.

When you have completed everything necessary, you will go and do your fingerprint for the Residencia at the Police Station.  Here you will be given a paper, which you take to the Bank, and it tell you to pay approximately 6.80 Euros. (I can’t remember the exact amount).  You have to pay this before you collect your Residencia Card , because you take the stamped payment form with you to collect the Residencia Card.

For other Residencia information look on:

http://www.extranjeros.mtas.es

This lists the various Forms.

http://www.extranjeros.mtas.es/en/general/ex16.pdf

This is the Residencia Application Form.  This is where you start.  Fill it in, print it and make 3 copies.  You need 3 copies of your Passport, 3 copies of your Padron and 3 Photos.  Take this to the Gobierno in Alicante (or your nearest Gobierno).  Here they will give you a paper certifying that you are applying for your REsidncia and this is valid.  Eventuallym, you will receive a letter telling you to go to the Extranjeros Police Station in Alicante (near the Football grounds) - or your Local Extranjeros Police Station.  This is when you do your Fingerprint and they will give you the paper telling you to pay the money to the bank before collecting your Residencia.  You collect your Residencia from the Elche Police Station - or your other local Police Station.

I hope this is of help.

Regards

Spanish-Eyes

Hi! I am thinking of renewing my residence card. I have had one since I arrived in 1989. I’ve never had any problems renewing my residence cards especially when I got married about 10 years ago and all I needed was my “Libro de Familia”. I have read that I don’t need to renew it and that all I need is my “empadronamiento” (hope I’ve spelt it correctly!). I have printed off a “Solicitud de Certificado de Registro como Residente Comunitario” because that is what I thought you needed. Could someone clear up this doubt for me? Thanks in advance!