NIE, DNI, NIF, CIF, Social Security

Yes I agree - we need ID cards. The UK scheme is now scrapped so that the door is closed (if it was even open). I wrote to Giles Paxman (British Ambassador in Madrid) to complain and make the point.

Hello Algrif,

While it is true that it would solve the problem in the beginning if the British would accept and issue ID cards, this is not the solution. I have lived here in Spain for 8 years and the ID cards have an expiry date. If you are a British citizen, living in Spain, with no permanent address in the UK you would not be able to renew the said ID card. This is the problem which the whole of the EU needs to address, not only Spain. Immigrants from outside the EU are able to obtain ID cards, including the new electronic one which facilitates any and all government related transactions, while EU citizens are left out in the cold, basically being treated like second class citizens.

Hi mlambert
I beg to differ. The problem is that the British refuse to accept national ID cards. If we could have UK ID cards, these would suffice for everything in Spain, just like other EU citizens. It should not be the Spanish who have to bend over backwards to accommodate the Brits because we insist on staying out-of-line.

The removal of the NIE for European citizens is absolutely absurd. There are many places where I can no longer use my credit card because even though the government and the police say the drivers license is acceptable as ID, banks and stores do not accept it. The idea of carrying a passport every day, all day is completely unacceptable. What better way to have your passport or identity stolen? People who come from outside the Europe have the right to carry an NIE card for identification but not European citizens. This leads to more problems and discriminatory practices in an economic and social union which is supposed to be improving the lives of its residents.

Hi Robin

Here are the links:

Form EX-16

Extranjería de Ibiza (3rd office on list)

Empadronamiento de Benidorm

Extranjería de Benidorm (6th office on list)

Your husband needs to go to the Oficina de Extrajeros de Ibiza with 2 completed copies of form EX-16, passport/ID page photocopy and current padron certificate (best to arrive with reading material and drinks an hour before opening). They will give him a replacement NIF certificate.

On resettlement in Benidorm, he should have his NIF certificate reissued by the Extranjería to indicate his new address: this will make life much easier going forward.

First he will need to enter himself on the local padron. Then he will need to take his new padron certificate + two copies of completed EX-16 (indicating change of details), passport + ID page copy + NIF certificate from Ibiza. He will get a new NIF certificate with his new address.

In Spain it's always advisable to review newly issued official documents for errors before leaving.

Links to follow in separate post.

Hope this helps.

Hi Dear,

I am a legal resident in Spain Zaragoza (Ejea De Los Caballeros) with NIE and DIN. But I have left Spain in 2001 and don't have clue if I could renew my card residence.

If you could please help me and let me know what I can do.

Many Thanks.

Hi there,

My Husband has misplaced his NIF. Where can I get a copy of it? Can I do it online?

Thanks

Hi, my hubby was giving a NIF number when we bought our flat in Ibiza, he has lost his number. How do we find out what his number is, as we are wanting to move to Benidorm and try to run our own business. Thanks

Thanks Algrif. In answer to your question, the documents were definitely NIE not Residencia - I'm not in Spain for more than 90 days per year.

I've asked the Bank to go back to the Norario to retrive the NIE documents, but I'm not holding my breath. Expect to see me looking bored in Elche Police Station some time soon....

Hi arkhouse001
I believe the Notario is in the wrong here. You should do one of two things. 1. Go to the office of the Notario and get the document back. Or 2. go to the Police Station and get a new one. You're up against Spanish Bureauocracy here, so don't expect anyone to be particularly helpful. For future reference, you should learn to make photocopies of all official docs. in Spain, and present photocopies rather than originals wherever you can possibly get away with it. Keep the reference numbers in a safe place, too. One question .. Have you got your residency? If not, then perhaps it was simply a temporary document for non-residents after all. -- Algrif

I have never heard of temp. NIE it is a tax number for life and is only issued on a permanent basis whether you are resident or non resident. Request the notary to send you a copy of maybe the bank has one (they should)

Did you have a solicitor? can they help. The actual NIE number will be in the property escritura and mortgage papers.

Hi folks - I am a non-resident property owner, and I recently needed to make a change to my motgage. I got a NIE from the local Police Station (just an A4 printout with an official stamp on it) and took this along to the Notary. The Notary kept this document and the Bank said they would get it back to me when the Notary had finished with it.

Many emails and several months later, the Bank tells me that when they requested the documents back, the Notary told them that this was a provisional document valid for only 3 months and is now of no value.

I can't find any reference to provisional/full NIE documentation, or any idea how I would now get the NIE proper.

Any ideas?

My wife and I renewed our residencia in Palma, Mallorca. We have added a special page to our website with links to relevant website that will assist you in making the process as easy as possible. We found that by having the correct information it makes the renewal process less stressful. The only documents that you require now are
1 Old plastic card -1 photo copy of the front and rear
2 Passport -1 copy
3 EX-16 - 3 copies
4 Modelo 790 receipt.

The clerk then completes the new residencia and they will ask you to check the details. Please review the screen carefully as my parents details where wrong and if you do not correct them you could have problems when you apply for your pension as this information is required by the Spanish Government when they apply to the UK for their contribution.

For complete details and map for directions please visit our website at:
http://www.welcome-2-mallorca.com/residencia-renewal.html

Regarding Passport with Residencia papers? I went to a photography store here in Calpe, as they are advertising copying your passport on both side into CREDIT CARD SIZE for €5. They also did the green Residencia paper in reduced form, but not able to get it in credit card size. So far the Post office has accepted this, because they don´t know if this card was issued by the Government concerned.
However, the other option for not wanting to carry your passport is to copy the page with your picture, go to the Local Police, show your passport and the copy of your passport en they will stamp and sign this copy and you are set to go. having dual Citizenship being Dutch and Canadian, These countries allow the Post office stamp. Of course a real passport is always needed at the Airport and where officially requested like City Hall.

I think the loss of the "tarjeta de residencia" is a tragedy. Ive been here for over nine years now and Ill be damned Im I going to carry round my passport every time I leave the house! How many times a day do you use your ID in spain...

I have a spanish driving licence and I usually get by with that but there are some places that refuse to accept it as a form of ID. For example as of last week ALCAMPO now only accept DNI or passport as proof of ID. I personally welcome the return of the "Tarjeta de residencia" which there are already murmurs about. What a complete waste of time and money.

Hi mary-gb

If you lose your NIE paper, you can go to the National Police station closest to you, tell them that it's lost and they'll tell you to come back a week later and they'll give you another copy. I don't think you can apply for another new number because that would mean you'd be registered under 2 different numbers and could cause problems.

This was the procedure I had to do, all be it a few years ago. As long as you have your passport as ID, they can find your records, also, if you know your NIE number that helps too.

Hope you found this useful.

Hello all,

At first congratulations for this site.

It is very useful for us... foreign people.

I would like to have your opìnion regarding one matter. I seem to have lost my original NIE (the green paper). I think it has been a long time since the last time i have seen it. What should i do, just go again do the same procedure and apply for a new one?

From the below comments i understand that there should not be any important problem if anyone has tried to use it, since it does not confirm my ID without my passport.

What is your opinion?
Which is the procedure i should do now?

Thanks a lot!

Brits resident in Spain who hold full UK Driving Licences can, in practice, get round the passport-carrying requirement if they are willing to exchange their UK licence for a Spanish one. This is because the photocard issued by the State bears the holders NIF (DNI/NIE) as the Spanish licence number.

Though not valid as a travel document beyond Spanish territory, a Spanish driving licence should also suffice for flights etc within Spain. The fee is €26.00 You’ll need:

1. A form (http://www.dgt.es/was6/portal/contenidos/documentos/oficina_virtual/conductores/hojas_informativas/2.40-Castellano.pdf );

2. required documents (http://www.dgt.es/was6/portal/contenidos/documentos/oficina_virtual/conductores/hojas_informativas/CANJE_DEL_PERMISO_DE_CONDUCCION_DE_PAISES_CON_CONVENIO.pdf ), and;

3. a prior appointment: https://canjes.dgt.es/CANJES-DGT/canjes/index_canjes.jsp?consulta=estado

It's amazing what a little research can teach you. It seems that Brits who are licensed drivers have a way round the passport-carrying burden within Spanish territory once they have obtained their NIE: a 'Permiso de Conducción' bears the driver's NIF (DNI or NIE) as the licence number and, under Spanish law, is deemed to be an acceptable 'medio de identificación'. (However, a driving licence is not an international travel document and so intra-Schengen travel beyond Spanish territory should NEVER be attempted without a valid UK passport.)

Of course, an €85.00 fee and an extra layer of Spanish bureaucracy are involved in obtaining your permiso but any sane individual would probably consider the ability to carry an ID card at all times in Spain (instead of one's full passport) to be definitely worth the one-off hassle. Especially given that replacing a lost Spanish driving licence (€26.00) seems to be a better option than a lost UK passport (£72.00).