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Legalities in Spain

NIE Number (Numero de Identificatión de Extranjero)

If you're from another EU member state you don't need a work visa in order to work in Spain but you do need an NIE number. You need to go to the local Oficina de Extranjeros (Foreigner's Office) to collect an application form, or download the ex14 NIE application form [pdf] here.

The Barcelona Foreigner's Office is in fact a police station and it's on Calle Balmes 192 (it's now moved from Passeig Juan de Borbón, 32), and it's open from 9am – 2pm, Mon – Fri. The nearest metro is Diagonal.

How to apply for you NIE in Barcelona

If you are intending to stay in Barcelona or Spain for a while, it may be just as easy to apply for a residency permit, and an NIE will be included.

Once you have completed the form you need to make sure you have the following:

• Your passport
• two photocopies of your passport
• two passport photographs with your name written on the back
• two copies of the completed application form
• If you are not an EU citizen you must also take proof of your legal entry into Spain.

You used to also have to supply some sort of documentation supporting your application, and this could sometimes be a bit tricky, but this requirement has recently been done away with.

Once you have everything required, take your application to the police station. My advice is to go early as queues start to form before the office opens, and the earlier you get there the less time you will have to wait.

If your NIE application is accepted you will be given a receipt, which you need to keep, and a payment form which you need to take to the bank and pay the fee of approximately €10.

The application normally takes about 10 - 15 days to process. You need to go back to the police station to collect your NIE with proof that you've made the payment at the bank and the receipt that you were given when you made your NIE application.

It is possible for someone to collect your NIE for you, but you must make the initial application yourself with the person who will then come back to collect your NIE. The second person must show their passport also.

It's possible to apply for an NIE before arriving in Spain by going to your local Spanish consulate. Complete the necessary paperwork there and your application will be sent to Madrid to be processed.

For further information visit the website for the Ministerio del Interior (it's in Spanish, but you can translate a website using systranbox.com.

And here is the official website where you can download form ex14, ex16 and various other application forms that you might need.

Empadronamiento or Registering at your local town hall

This is obligatory for anyone staying in Spain for more than a short stay. Each barrio (neighbourhood) has a town hall (ayuntamiento) and you need to register there.

If you have a rental contract for where you are living this is a very easy process. Simply take your passport and rental contract to the local ayuntamiento and you will be registered.

You will be given a piece of paper certifying this, and it's a good idea to ask for a few copies, as you will need to show or give your empadronamiento certificate for many other administration processes and it's good to have extra copies.

You may have problems registering at your local ayuntamiento if you don't have a rental contract. The Ayuntamiento will accept a utility bill in your name such as a gas or electricity bill, and you could also try a mobile phone bill. Basically you need proof of identity and proof that you're living at your address. The main thing that they seem to be interested in, is that all the documents are originals, they will not accept photocopies of anything.

If your name is not on the rental contract – you are sharing a flat with another person, for example, who holds the contract – you will need to ask the person who has the contract to complete a form called Autorización de Empadronamiento, which you must first obtain from the ayuntamiento.

This form requires that the person who is registered at your address (they must be registered at the Ayuntamiento at the same address) verifies that you are also living at that address.

The person needs to complete and sign the form, and also give you a photocopy of either their DNI or passport (in this case a photocopy will suffice).

Take this documentation back to the ayuntamiento together with your passport and you will be registered.

If you are sharing with people who are not registered at that address then you have more of a problem.

You have to show the original copy of the rental agreement to the ayuntamiento (so you have to request this from whoever holds it), together with the completed Autorización de Empadronamiento form, plus a photocopy of the person's DNI, and, it goes without saying, your passport.

Residency Permit (Tarjeta de Residencia)

If you are living in Spain for any length of time, it's best to get yourself a residency card (Tarjeta de Residencia). It makes life much easier. By law in Spain you need to carry some form of photo identification and rather than carry your passport you can use your residency card instead. It's also of great help if you need to open a bank account or do many other administrative things in Spain.

There are two types of residency permit, a temporary one and a permanent one. Officially it is recommended that all people obtain a residency card whether it's obligatory for them or not.

How to apply for residency

Go to the oficina de extranjeros at Avenida Marques de l'Argentera 2 to collect and complete form Ex-16 – you will need your passport and a photocopy of your passport.

If you have access to the internet you can download the form first and complete it before you go: (Ex-16. This is a PDF download). You need to complete two copies.

Once your forms are completed you need to queue at the same office to have it verified and stamped. Then go to a bank and pay 6.70 euros.

British Embassy website

The British Embassy website offers good advice in English on moving to Spain and what you should do before you make the move: British Embassy website.

Using a gestor or lawyer

I found that nobody speaks English at any of these offices, so you need to have some knowledge of Spanish, take a friend who does speak Spanish or use a gestor.

Gestor's are similar to solicitors, but they are less qualified. For a reasonable fee (it will save you a lot of time) you can employ their services and they will arrange all of your documentation, wait in the queues for you and help you to obtain your NIE, residency permit or act for you on any number of issues. If you don't speak Spanish, a gestor can save you a great deal of time and frustration. Even if you do speak Spanish it may be worth hiring a gestor simply because they know the system.

Check the local telephone book, for a list of gestors in your area.

If you need a fully qualified lawyer, I can recommend Eduardo Vilá. I employed his services on two occasions and he was extremely efficient and reasonably priced. He speaks English and Japanese.

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