Hi Folks,

Move-to-Spain countdown enters final 16 weeks - aggh!

OK, I know we need to get NIEs.  What I am wondering is, how easy or necessary is it to do this in advance from the UK.  Specifically will we be able to get a rental contract and register with a school and local medical services on arrival without one?

I have found a firm that can sort out the whole thing for us from the UK, by post, but at a very hefty price compared to queing up once we’ve moved (or even using a gestor I am sure would be less than that!)  I was wondering how everyone else did it, did you try and get it in advance, or wait till you’d arrived, and did it affect anything about moving in without the number?

Thanks everyone,

Mx

You can get a rental contract with just your passports,for state schools you need a NIE.
It depends on where you are going to live on how long to get your NIEs.You need to make an appointment at the police station.
Once the app has been made it only takes 1 hour at the most.
You have to pay a small fee one day before hand,i cannot see someone doing this from UK(i might be wrong ) there are a lot of con men out there
so be very careful.
You dont need a gestor here as it is easy.

Thanks for the advice Pepsi, I think we will leave it then - we can hopefully enrol in international schools without it, rental contract was a big concern. I don’t think the company doing by mail were con artists as the service was comprehensive and involved notary visits etc.  But for 2x NIEs it would cost nearly ?500!  So we will wait until we land I reckon!
Maya x

To enrol in an international school you do not need an NIE,so you will have no probs with that.
To get a NIE will only cost you 6.30 euros each,so you will be best to wait.
Good Luck

get in spain , do not try to get in th UK as will problem 3 - 4 week at most police stations

I applied for my NIe @ the spanish embassy in Brussels.

Had to wait 2 or 3 months, but they send it to my home near Madrid.
This was really easy.

Thanks for that I will try to get in touch with Spanish embassy or HC or whatever in London!
Maya