DUMMIES GUIDE FOR NIE AND RESIDENCIA DOCUMENTS

It seems pretty clear that there is still a lot of confusion regarding what is NIE and what is residencia, and what do they look like, so here you have a very simple way to differentiate them:

Lets put some examples, so you can understand me better. Imagine that you call your fridge "freezer". Both fridge and freezer are in the kitchen and have a similar roll, and you can even find them to be part of the same appliance. But a fridge is not a freezer, so even if you would like to call "freezer" the fridge it wont make it true that a fridge is a freezer.

Another example. In Spain we have our DNI (documento nacional de identidad) and our passport. Both documents show our ID number in them, and both can be used to identify yourself. But a DNI is NOT a passport.

It is the same with NIE certificate and residencia documents.

This is the NIE certificate:

And these are the current EU residencia documents. The big green A4 is not longer issued but it is still valid.

The green old residencia A4 document is NOT a NIE certificate, it is your residencia paperwork. NIE literally stands for Número de Identificación de Extranjero (foreign ID number), and it is simply a number that identifies you within the Spanish system.

Having NIE does not mean that you are resident. You are only resident if you have registered with the national police as foreigner living in Spain. They then give you a document commonly known as "green residencia card", which before the current small green card size document it was a green A4 page. 

The residencia card and the green A4 both quote the NIE number, as it is the number that identifies you within the system. But if you check your small green residencia card you will notice that at the back of the card (the laminated part of the card) has a number. That is your residencia card number, and it links the information that it is hold about you in the front of the card with the application that you submitted with the police. And this is why is laminated and why when you are asked to present a copy of your residencia card, you need to photocopy both the front and the back.

Therefore, on your card you have your residencia card number and your NIE number, same as in our ID cards, where we have the ID number and the ID card number, which are not the same. The old green A4 document also has a residencia number, which is located at the top of the page on the right hand corner.

If you are asked to prove that you have a NIE, you can either show your NIE certificate or one of your residencia documents (green A4 or small green card), but if you are asked to prove that you are resident you wont be able to do it if you only have your NIE certificate.

This is the old residencia plastic card with picture, which is not longer valid, and you if never renewed it you will not be considered resident anymore.

And finally, this is the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero), which is the residencia plastic card for non EU citizens. Once the implementation period is over, British citizens will have to exchange their current EU residencia documents for this TIE, or to apply directly for it if you have not gained residencia before the end of the implementation period.

HOW TO LEARN THE LINGO WITHOUT FEELING STUPID IN THE PROCESS

Simply put, you can't. 

I have been there, I know how it is, I know how it feels. I know that when you start speaking in another language you really want to hide yourself like an ostrich, fire coming up from your belly to your face, which lights up in a red color.

Or at least that is what you think is happening. In reality your face is still its normal tone, and the world does not stop spinning because you are speaking in Spanish, and more importantly, nobody starts laughing at your accent hysterically.

On the contrary, the other person appreciates your attitude and your effort, and you are rewarded with big sincere smiles.

The secret to learn a new language is to stop being afraid. You don't need to be afraid of being ridicule, nor of saying the totally wrong thing (quite possibly a funny one for the listener), or getting your verb tense wrong and only being able to use the present.

Be brave, and always carry on trying, every opportunity you have. This will not only allow you to communicate with people and become more independent (and stop needing the services of people like me), it will also allow you to understand our culture a lot better. And this will help you to integrate in the country. 

At the end of the day this is why you moved to another country, to live a different life.

And there is no better feeling like when you use a new word (for you anyway) for the first time in a sentence. No one will light fireworks, but you would feel like they should. You will feel immensely proud, and this feeling will get you to learn more and more.

In summary, you will feel stupid for a while, but be brave as it will be worth it.

BRITS IN SPAIN - SHOULD WE GAIN RESIDENCIA NOW?

After many delays, a lot of confusion and disbelief, Brexit finally happened, thankfully with a withdrawal agreement in place which will allow Spanish citizens already living in UK and British citizens in Spain to keep their rights as they are now.

However this will only happen for those citizens that are already register as EU members living in Spain, which is commonly know as residencia.

In a word, we don't know what is going to happen afterwards, but we do know that any agreements will be reached base on reciprocity.

UK government has recently announced a points system for people wanting to move to UK from Jan 2021, after the implementation period. Anybody wanting to relocate there will have to prove a high English level, a desirable skill or profession, and/or a work contract for at least 31.000€ per year. This will mean the borders will closed for anybody that would like to go there to learn the language and work in a bar, or any other unskilled job.

Based on this information, it is quite possible that the Spanish government will follow the strictest requirements for new British citizens wanting to move to Spain. 

At present you need to prove earnings of 550€ a month per person, as a 3rd country citizen you will need 2200€ per month per person, and this just an example. We don't know if a good level of Spanish will be required, but this could be a problem for many people.

If you are already living in Spain and have not yet registered as resident, you should do it as soon as you can, even though you will have to re-register in the future after the implementation period. This way all your right will be protected. If you don't do it you risk not complying with whichever future requirements are asked for in the future and having to go back to UK. 

You will always be able to come back to UK whenever you would like to do so, but do not leave this big decision out of your hands.

If you are thinking about relocating to Spain in the future, I would suggest you do so before the end of the year, so you will have the time to register as resident in Spain as per current process.

BUSINESS IDEAS TO START YOUR NEW LIFE IN THE SUN

On the subject of what to do workwise when you relocate to Spain, I strongly suggest that you create your own business so you don't have to relay in finding a job in a very difficult market, mainly if you don't speak the local lingo.

If you are in any of the expats Facebook groups, you will see that every now and again there is always someone asking what is missing in your area. Apart from some funny suggestions (like a sex shop), there are some business ideas/niches on the market that would be actually achievable.

So If you are looking for a new business oportunity at the time than moving to Spain, here you have some ideas:

- A buy in bulk food shop "compra a granel". This is a very popular idea, as nowadays everybody is gaining conscience about out environment.

- It seems there is a large demand for healthy vegetarian, vegan and bio food/products, shops/restaurants/bars. Although we Spanish don't really believe in not eating meat (sorry!), there is more and more people wanting to at least have the option to eat out regularly without having to face us meateaters. And even Spaniards will go there, same as we go every now and then to all types of different restaurants. I really think this is a great option.

- Home delivery service similar to "deliveroo" but for local restaurants that might not be on the big apps like "just eat" etc. There are plenty of lovely tapas bars/restaurants that might prepare your preferred sandwich/tapa/racion but they don't deliver. If you offer to do that for the small places you might be able to make it a go.

- Online working: English online teaching for Chinesse children. Easy to do (albeit hard work), and you can even start while you are still in your country. Or Virtual Assistant, which is also a very popular option.

Even in a saturated market (such as estate agents or hospitality) every business will always depend on your personal mark and attitude, so you might flourish where others failed.

These are just some suggestions, but I am sure there are plenty more business opportunities waiting for you. Just take the plunge!

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NIE AND RESIDENCIA

I have been helping people to sort out their paperwork in Spain for a while now, and often the same questions keep coming up. I have noticed there is a lot of confusion between what a NIE is, what is it for, what residencia is, which one do you need and when do you need to do each one.

First of all, Facebook and other social media sites can be a great way to find information, but at the same time this information is not always accurate, or it is not explained properly, or simple the same process is done in different ways in different areas of Spain. I know that sounds crazy, and if you are applying for the same thing the paperwork required should be the same everywhere in Spain. The reality is that I use 3 different national police stations to sort out paperwork for my clients and in each of them the officers ask for different documents to prove the same things.

So my first piece of advice is that you find someone that does the service within your area and ask them directly. If you prefer to deal with paperwork yourself, then go directly to your closest national police station and ask them what they want you to bring. This is the only way to avoid having to come back 3-4 times to do just one application.

For NIE and residencia, often people think that if they have a NIE they also have residencia, or they have residencia but think they only have a NIE.

NIE stands for Número de Identificación de Extranjero, which means foreign ID number. When you are in Spain and you need to deal with bureacracy, you need a number to identifiy yourself within the Spanish system. That is your NIE.

In order to be able to get one you need a real reason for it, for example: you have been offered a job, you are becoming self employed, you are buying a car, you are applying for a loan/mortgage ... Simply saying "I am moving to Spain" it is not enough of a reason, there are some police stations that will ask for confirmation in writing of your need for NIE, such as letter from the bank, car sale agreement, job offer, etc.

The NIE comes in a white A4 paper, and it doesn't expire, the number is forever. The actual piece of paper where the number is written (the NIE certificate) used to have an expiry date of 3 months from the date of issue, but this is not the case anymore. Your NIE does not expire.

Having NIE doesn't mean that you are resident in Spain, it means that you have a number that identifies you within the Spanish system. Nothing more. So if you have been living in Spain for 5 years, you have your NIE, and a job and you pay taxes, none of the above means that you are a resident here. It means that you live here, nothing more.

In order to be legally registered as resident in Spain you must apply for your residencia card. For non EU countries this is a must, and it has to be done within certain time period after your arrival to Spain. 

However, for EU citizens, even though it is also a requirement to register as a resident, the system is a bit more lenient, and many people has never registered officially as residents in Spain. 

Now Brexit has shown us the importance of being registered as resident. Our government has already agreed to grant residencia to all UK citizens that are residents here. But this means the ones that are registered as residents officially, not the ones living here but are not registered. 

When you move to Spain you might need a NIE straight away, or perhaps you can apply directly for residencia if you comply with the requirements. If you have not received a NIE by the time you apply for residencia, you will be allocated one there and then. So if you are in a position to wait until you can apply for residencia, then you will be saving yourself time and money by applying only for residencia instead of a NIE and residencia.

This is quite a complex subject, and I could be speaking about it for hours, but I hope that I have managed to clarify some of your doubts.

OBTAINING RESIDENCIA - ABOUT BANK STATEMENTS

I have been helping people to obtain their Spanish residencia card as EU citizens for a few years now, and something strange has happened in the last couple of weeks.

For the first time 2 clients in a row have tried to gain residencia showing UK bank statements that were overdrawn due to the overdraft facility that they have approved in UK.

Having an overdraft facility with your bank in UK is pretty common, and you don't even need to apply for it. For the majority of customers, after a while of being with your bank and being a good customer, the bank just sends you a letter confirming that you are now entitled to an overdraft facility to make your life easier, and if you keep being a good customer the limit keeps being increased.

Whilst this is perfectly normal in UK, in Spain this is an alien concept. Our banking system is totally different, and in here if you are right now thinking in going to the bank they have already charge you 5€. 

Our banks do not offer overdraft facilities to us regular mere customers, maybe big companies will have it, or if you need one you would really need to beg for it, give the bank huge guarantees, and it will be really expensive to keep.

Even if you are just 1€ in red in your account you will be receiving phone calls from your bank, and if you don't put the account back in black within a fashionable period of time, you will get charged quite a steep fee by the bank.

For residencia purposes it doesn't matter if you have an income of 5000€ a month, if you are receiving that income in a bank account with an overdraft facility of 7000€, because in our mind you are 2000€ in debt. If you are 2000€ in debt you are not able to support yourself or your family.

I totally understand that might not be the case, and that in your country it is normal, but you are not going to be applying for residencia in your country, you are doing it in Spain. Therefore you CANNOT use as proof of enough economical means bank statements from a bank account that is overdrawn, even if you earn thousands of € a month. 

Each country is different and different rules apply. You can't take for granted something just because it is normal where you are coming from. If you have doubts about anything your best bet is to ask someone that deals with Spanish paperwork: your solicitors, your gestor, your friends, directly asking the police ...

Nothing worst that having all paperwork in place and being sent back for a simple misunderstanding!

HOW TO ADJUST TO YOUR NEW LIFE IN SPAIN

One of the things that you might notice when you move to Spain is that at first everything is amazing, lovely, good, and you are ever so happy to spend so much quality real time with your family ...

And then a few weeks later you might come to the conclusion that you are fed up of being on each other's pockets.

Because you might still not know many people, you end up doing everything together, which at first is a novelty and you like it, but then you start needing your own space back!

Picture from http://trucosdemamas.com/cronicas-una-madre-estresada/

If you are working and have work colleagues it will be an easier transition, but if you are retired or looking for a job can be definitely challenging.

And this is why it is so important to find new things to do: join a club, start practising sports, learn new skills. And do it alone. Let your partner/offspring to find their own hobbies. If you don't know where to start looking, join your local Facebook group, and ask other expats, or go to your local town hall as they normally have loads of activities for people all ages. And if you are registered in the padrón, the majority of them will cost you next nothing or they will be free.

I am Spanish, and I came back from UK nearly 3 years ago. Even being from here we found ourselves feeling lonely as we were missing our friends. We had to start from scratch having to find new ones and our space again. But now we are back on track, and we don't have enough time in the day to work and to enjoy all the activities we have joined!

Just be patient, don't give up if it takes you a little while to find your feet. There is a lot of people on your situation that would love to meet you! In my case, I joined Manilva Netball Club, the drama club and started learning flamenco dance. Thanks to this now I have my own friends' group and I am enjoying my life a lot more.