Hi,

Well I am a british citizen married to a mexican.  My family are living in Spain so we wanted to come and join them and for both of us to be able to work here legally.  And for me also to have my baby here.
Everyone advised us to go to the Spanish embassy in Mexico and obtain an entry visa, unfortunately the embassy was not very helpful and they advised us to do everything in Spain.

So we arrived in Spain last week and went straight to an immigration lawyer my husband just arrived here on the normal 90 day tourist card.  He did not require to obtain a visa prior to entering Spain. The lawyer said he needs to get the family community visa residence card, we had to give her our marrige certificate with apostille, my husbands birth certificate with apostille, certificate of penales, 2 passport photos, certificate of empadramiento which my father obtained in 2 mins at the ayuntamiento and a copy of our passports.

The lawyer told us my husband would NOT have to return to mexico for anything and the process normally takes 3 months, and it will be no problem. The lawyer has only charged 125EUROS which is resonable to do everything including obtaing my husbands NIE number, we only paid half until she has done everything.

Fingers crossed that it could be this easy and then he should have no problem working anywhere in Europe, so for those people who are stressing about visas from what I have investigated so far, its been easier doing things in Spain if the embassy in your country is not helpful at all.

Karen

Hi Karen,

Thanks for the information. Please keep us posted on how it turns out.

Karen,
I found your post to be so helpful!
I am a US citizen (married to a EU citizen - Bulgarian) interested in relocating to Spain (and having my baby there, as well - due in July!).
We are currently in BG and I was wondering what we should do to get started from here, but after reading your email I won’t be frustrated if we run into a dead end at the Spanish Embassy here.
I would love to know what part of Spain you’re in? Also I’m very interested to know what kind of research you’ve done for Spanish hospitals / or home deliveries (which ever way you’re going) if you don’t mind?
I’m quite eager to hear how things turn out for you and your family. I may ask for a reference to your immigration lawyer, depending upon the outcome…AND depending upon where you live!
Biding my (limited) time in BG,
Stacey

Hi there,

We are living in Vera, Almeria (way down south). Im due in about 6 more weeks so I had a long trip getting here from Mexico.!
Im going to have my baby in a hospital here in a place called Huercal Overa, because I am british to get the free healthcare in my name I had to show my NHS medical card from England and it is no problem to set it up, but I have lost my card.  So my mum has her social security because she is working here in Spain so she has put me as a dependant, I only had to take my birth cert and my NIE number to the social security office and I should have it all by next week. i found it difficult trying to find out info about private hospitals here and roughly how much they charge. So im not sure about that. The healthcare is really good here and now im trying to find out about if I am entitled to any child benefits.

Do you have papers in Bulgaria? are you working there?

My lawyer seems really good, I am just praying that everything goes smoothly. The lawyer will probably have an appointment with the foreigners office this week and then she will know for definete the timescales for my husband getting the visa and get confirmation of everything. I have heard that people have to return to their home country to get the visas so I hope that doesnt happen because in mexico they were very adament that they dont issue any visas there except student visas, they said the law had only changed recently.

So fingers crossed.

Let me know if you need any more info, I will definetly let you know how I get on.

Take care

Karen

Hi Karen,
Thanks for a speedy reply! I have done only limited research (internet / emails) on Spain, and only for a few weeks - but I heard about Acuario (it would be a bit of a drive for you, it seems) a private hospital in Alicante (http://www.acuario.org/in/maternidad.asp)
And nearer to you, I found Da a Luz (midwives / birth center: http://www.da-a-luz.co.uk/index.html ). Do you already know of either of these? Both? Care to share your opinions, if so? I am interested in a water birth - they don’t offer in BG.
No, not yet on the papers, I am only on 90-day tourist status in Bulgaria, need to work that out before my time expires, apparently I’ll need to leave the country and file from a BG consulate abroad. (Maybe during a trip to check out Spain?) And no I don’t work here. I certainly hope I odn’t have to return to the States, that would be pretty cumbersome with a toddler and being pregnant! Not to mention the costs.
I’m also interested in rental apartments and finding a neighborhood with a lot to offer a growing family (good library with books in English, ballet classes for my daughter - hopefully at least partially in English until she gets more Spanish vocab!, safe parks and/or places to stroll around, beautiful warm climate…near the Med, can’t go wrong! Plus the mountains to the north, sounds spectacular, I’d like to be able to go to yoga/gym and at least sometimes speak to people in English - looking for a good mix with generous expat community I suppose!
One of my main concerns is smoking - has it been banned in public entirely yet, as it has in Italy, France, etc? I can’t go to restaurants/malls etc, here because of all the smoke!! (even the health spas have ash trays everywhere!?!?)
I’m studying to be a nutritionist / nutritional healer, and a healthy environment is definitely a priority. I’m hoping Spain has more to offer than BG currently does.
Any help you can offer will be great!
Keep in touch,
Stacey

Hi Stacy,

Well heres an update on my situation.

My husband was trying to find under the table work here and it is very difficult! if an employer is caught hiring someone who doesnt have the correct papers the fine is 70,000 EUROS anyway thats what one of the hotel managers told us. Anyway they recommended someone to do my husbands papers who is very good as we havent heard anything from our lawyer and we have paid her 125 euro so far.
We called this other girl, she is not a lawyer but someone who helps people do all their papers and she told us the papers she would need and then today we met her at the oficina de extranjeros.

It was sooo easy! First I just had to show my passport and a form that we paid 6 euros at the bank for the residence and then they printed off a certificate that bascially says i am a resident. It only took 1 minute! I am sure your husband can do the same. I already had my NIE. Even if you need your NIE they will give it to him straight away.

Then my husband had to show my residency certificate, my NIE number, Certificate of empadronmeinto, marrige cert with apostille, and an original letter from the British Embassy saying that the marriage is valid in the UK.
And that was it, my husband got his NIE number immiediately, they didnt ask about any visas or anything, and it will take 3 months maximum to get everything its a rule it cant take more than 3 months. They said it will normally take between a 4-6 weeks.
We have a website to check aswell and it will tell you the process of the papers and when they are finished. It is definete he will get the papers it just a case of waiting now.  The community residence card will be valid for 5 years.

I had the doctor the other day and he is really nice, he checked everything is fine and I have all my papers to get the free healthcare so a bit more relaxed now.

So which part of Spain are you coming to??

I hope your pregnancy is going well.

Karen

What a pleasant surprise! Thanks for updating me! 
I am so happy to hear about this, and its all legitimate I gather, as its thru the oficina de extranjeros!?
I am hoping for southern Spain, but we’re planning a trip over, in March, our FIRST trip to Spain (ever) to scout it out a bit.
I simply can’t find what I’m looking for in Bulgaria and we can’t make it to the States as a family.
My main interest is in being in a great family environment and in having my baby naturally, in a safe, family-friendly birth environment.
I don’t know if I mentioned it but I’m studying (slowly, now) for my Bachelors (a Major in Nutrition & Minor in Spanish) and living in Spain will certainly help with my Spanish language skills. I’ve taken 3 University level courses, and I took 2 in High School - but without being forced to use it one can’t really become fluent, so I look forward to that!
My young daughter is very interested in Spanish, like mommy (she’s also a huge Dora fan) and she knows a little. I took her to several University activities in the States, some put on by my school’s Spanish Department, and my Prof. was very kind to her, making a big impression. She has a great impression of school and of learning Spanish. She is curious about learning more and I look forward to seeing her do so. I’m sure she’ll be fluent well before I am!
The Birth Center I’ve been reading about is between M?laga and Granada. The hospital I’ve read about is in Alicante. I know what I’m looking for, as far as environment - I definitely need to be around a good family-oriented expat community (at first) so I can communicate and be able to rent an apartment, buy groceries, get Nicole into some activities (ballet, 1/2 day kindergarten where they speak Spanish AND English, so she’ll be understood) and I’d like to, hopefully, have access to a good library with English books. And parks/playgrounds, and of course a healthy natural environment to explore - beaches, mountains, etc. I heard Spain has now banned smoking in public places? Hope so, I can hardly go anywhere in Bulgaria and avoid smoke - the malls are even full of smoke, not great for pregnant women, kids, or people interested in their health in general!
Stacey

Hi there, I am new to this forum but feel I may have to become a regular!  Maybe you can help, I am British but my wife is American and it is her that wishes to work in Spain.  I work at sea for a British company so am not able to work in Spain though am planning on living there when on leave.  My wife is a permanent British resident but not yet a citizen, and won’t be for the purpose of this situation as we don’t want to wait another year.  Is she able to live and work in Spain on her British residency?  If not which route should she apply for a working visa, as an American or as the wife of a British/EU citizen.  If it is the latter then do I not need to be resident in Spain too?  It is all very confusing trawling through the websites, maybe someone here can help me 😊

Hi there,

This forum is really good to find out information so your in the right place.

I recommend that your wife goes to the Spanish embassy in England the one closest to where she lives because she is a resident there. Lots of people have told me that she would have to apply for an entry visa into Spain and then when she arrives here in Spain she will have to go to the nearet oficina de extranjeros and apply for the familiar residential community visa which she will be able to work and live in spain with. She will have to go to the oficina de extranjeros as soon as possible when she arrives.
My husband just came as a tourist here and didnt get a visa prior to coming here because the embassy in Mexico was not helpful at all, but fingers crossed it looks like it will all be ok. We just have to wait maximum 3 months for him to get the community visa.
When your wife gets this visa it will be valid for 5 years and with that visa she can work in any of the schangan countries no problems. Because England is not a schengan country it is a bit different.

When you come here you have to legally apply to be a resident if you are planning to stay more than 3 months a years here. All you need to do is pay 6,80euros (your wife will have to pay for this aswell( I will try and find the link to the forms that you can print off or you can get them from the oficina de extranjeros.  And then you just have to take your passport with the payment receipt to the oficina and they will print off a paper that basically says you are a resident and give you your NIE number it is very fast for you. For your papers dont let a lawyer persudade you do pay them to do it because your papers are sooo easy, we had a lawyer who did my residency for 90euros!! and my husbands for 125euros! i wish i had done my papers on my own because its not rocket science but im glad we had her for my husband because she knew wht she was talking about.

I hope this information is helpful to you.  let me know if you need any more info. Just make sure you get your marrige cert apostilled and it has to have been apostilled within 3 months of you handing your papers in, and also if you got married in the USA registered in a british embassy.

karen

Hey Stacy,

how are you doing?? I went into Murica last weekend and bought the baby so many outfits they were all so cheap in the sales!!! Only 4 weeks left for me!

the papers we handed in are definetly legitimate because we went to the oficina de extranjeros and I have even checked them on the net aswell and it says the papers are being transmitted and it has my husbnads name and everything.  Hes got some painting work this week 50euro a day helping a friend of mine so at least it is something, but other work is very difficult until he gets the papers no companies want to take the risk. And if he did get caught they would decline his residency visa and I cant work so he may have to babysit when i have the baby and then I can work. He is fluent at spanish and english so he will have so many job offers when he gets his papers.

In spain they havent started to total none smoking rule in all public places. If a building is under 100 sq feet then people can smoke inside, but if it is over 100sq feet then there has to be a seperate designated smoking area.
It seems silly to have a smaller place that everyone can smoke in!
Also the spanish people are big big smokers, we have been to a few small bars and places and I have to leave because of the smoke. I use to be a heavy smoker butnot anymore.

Alicante is very pretty my husband wants to move there, its about 2 and a half hours from Vera which is where I am, on the coast lots of extranjeros a very pretty place.  I think that would be a good choice for you. When are you planning on coming here permanently?
I flew when i was 33 weeks pregnant from mexico to canada but immigration wouldnt let my husband in because he didnt have a return ticket to mexico, our ticket was to London, then London to Spain so they sent us back to Mexico. Then we had to buy a direct flight from Mexico to Spain and it was about 10 hours on the plane! i was a bit nervous because i couldnt get any travel insurance being pregnant and flying but it was fine!!
Anyway let me know if you need anymore info.

take care
karen

Thanks Karen for the info, just one note for clarification, does my wife need to have a job offer for a schengen visa?  We were kind of looking to relocate then look for a job rather than the other way around (as my job can support us in the interim).  I have looked at a lot of websites and it talks of perspective employers proving they couldn’t fill the job locally etc.  Is my wife being treated as a British resident or an American citizen?

hi,

Your wife has the same rights as you because you are british.  She doesnt need a job offer, when she gets her visa she will be able to work and live freely with the same rights as spaniards and you. 

It is enough that the two of you are married.

Karen

I would love some help. I have read the thread and everything seems to be so easy but people has been scaring me out.
My wife is Italian and I am Brazilian/Canadian. We got married in Canada and live in Canada currently.
We are in the process of moving to Barcelona soon (april 4th).
As the consulate here has told us that everything needs to be done in Spain we are moving and were expecting to get everything done over there BUT I was told that we will be asked a NIE for Rental, electricity and all other utilities…

I checked with a couple law firm in Barcelona. One is charging 1200 Euros and the other 2000 Euros to get the paperwork done.
We have registered our marriage in Italy but don’t have the registration with us.

Here is what we were charged and I was wondering if I should go ahead or look for alternatives.

-      For applying for the registration of your wife at the Central Foreigners Registry, our fees shall amount to 350 euros because she is member of the European Union and therefore the process is shorter and more simple than in your case.

-      For applying for your NIE number, our fees shall amount to 350 euros.

-      For applying for your residence permit, our fees shall amount to 600 euros.

If anyone here knows of a good “gestor” in Barcelona that can execute the paperwork fast I would love to have the contact.

Hey there,

wow that is really really expensive to do that paperwork!! If you read what I had written previously and look at how much I paid. I am a citizen of the EU and I thought 90 euros was expensive to do my papers because I went to the oficina de extranjeros and I saw how easy it was to do it ourselves.

I personally think it is easier to do yourself, we started with one lawyer and she was charging 125 for my residency and 125 for my husbands papers (hes mexican) and we gave her 125 at the beginning, she told us she needed an appointment with the oficina de extranjeros before she could hand in the papers, 2 weeks later she hadnt even done anything, and luckily we found someone who would do mine for 90 and my husbands for 120euros and the next day we were at immigration and did all the papers so fast, we didnt even need an appointment. we were lucky finding the second women but still to do it on our own it would have only been 6,80 each and its easy enough.
We tried to get our money back from the first lawyer but she refused. My point is that sometimes when you go through a lawyer they charge a lot, and its like an extra person to go through to do the process and some lawyers take their time and put your case to the bottom of the pile, but if you go and do it yourselves you can get the correct and accurate information there.  You have to submit all your papers in person anyway even if a lawyer does your papers so you will have to go to the oficina de extranjeros.

Karen

sorry forgot to say that your wife will get her NIE immiediately when they give her the residency, and when you hand your papers in you will also get your NIE aswell the same day,  but you are unable to work until all the papers have been approved.
When they give you your NIE at the oficina de extranjeros and stamp all the papers it is definete you will get your residency no problem just a case of waiting which is guarenteed to be under 3 months, then you will just have to go back and give fingerprints.  You can check the process of the papers on the net also which is really good.

Hi Karen! I forgot to ask some questions…(and by the way, did you get my pm?)

Residency Clarification Questions:
1. I noted that you said your husband presented both his original birth certificate with apostille AND your marriage license with apostille, are both necessary? Did they specifically ask for both? (I have my original birth certificate, but not with apostille. I only have until Apr 30th because my marriage license was apostilled on Jan 30th, and you mentioned a 3-month validity window from time of apostille to time of application for residency)
2. Where do you obtain certificado de penales?
3. You said you had a form form the bank for 6,80 Euros which shows you’re a resident - must we first have an account at the bank? And to get an account do you first need a rental contract?
4. To get certificate of empadronmiento, since we don’t have family in Spain, we will need a rental contract / deed to property we’ve purchased, correct? And in order to rent a property, you must have NIE? So how does this work out?? (I assume my EU husband can get his NIE and rental contract, then we can get the certificate of empadronmiento, and THEN do all of my paperwork (non-EU, USA).

And just to clarify, I know you already had your NIE, but to get it, my husband will need his passport or EU residency card, along with the filled out form, present it and copies (of passport? photos?) to Spanish Embassy here in Bulgaria, and he can have it before arriving, but I can’t have mine before arriving because I need residency based on my husband, right?
I hope this wasn’t confusing, I tried to be clear, but this is all new to me. THANKS for all your help, again, Karen!
Stacey