thanks, i'll have a look tomorrow

It still made it real easy though Fred and in that price they did everything required for residencia picked us up and did all the translation for both me and OH

Steve

Their actual firm is call Express Legal Solicitors of Albir. English Solicitors in Spain.

They handle all our requirements including sorting our tax payments etc.

Steve

Sounds more like a Gestoria to me.

You may be right Fred. The firm is owned and ran by two very english ladies who are call themselves Solicitors and thats also what it says in the company name.

www.expresslegalsolicitors.com

Steve

My point was that there is no such thing as a "Spanish" solicitor, only lawyers and gestors. I would not want to give the impression to new members that they should try and find a solicitor as they would probably end up with a lawyer, when a gestor would be more appropriate.

There are plenty of English gestors around - I have used one in Nerja. They can call themselve what they like and do not require any qualifications - experience and contacts is what counts. I used a Spanish gestor to sort out the paperwork when I built my house and subsequently with other matters - he has saved me thousands! As you have found, they are brilliant for sorting out things involving government departments as they often have a fast track desk just for them.

Thanks, that looks like it indeed, I’ll have a go when I have all the stuff I need ready [need S1, + taking Padrón, passport, NIE number in case].

..or maybe not; it seems it’s only for NIE, NIF & passport [according to the drop-down menu at ‘Type’]

..so if I can’t make an appointment with the INSS, maybe I’d be better off with ‘plan B’ - go with the S1 to the Policia Nacional [Comisaria/Foreigners' Procedures] in Malaga [with a prior appointment] for the residencia, so that I can go to the INSS with it, just in case they want it.

[i]Plan B part 1: got the Residencia [incidentally, apparently I had filled in the wrong form, the EX18; the woman pointed to a ‘Certificado UE’ on a list as the right one*; but since I had all the right documents, she sorted it out for me, I was lucky. I was given the ‘tarjeta’ there & then; my S1 form didn’t need to be registered. Big thank you to that lady ]

*perhaps this is it: Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión (EX16): http://www.conpapeles.com/formularios4/EX16.pdf]

Also I realized that the drop-down menu on the appointments form is only for what document you will use to confirm your identity - NIE, NIF or passport; so I was able to make a ‘cita’ for next Monday in Coin, for the ‘service’:

International Benefits(Regulations and Agreements) , Presentation of Requests and documents of Benefits and International Pensions (EC Regulations and Bilateral Agreements).

So if I can make it there with the clapped-out Citroen Xantia I bought here, Part 2 will follow!

The form EX16 was replaced with the form EX18 in 2011 - this is for residency

EX15 is just for an NIE

You will need to register your S1 at the INSS to get health care sorted

Well, as far as I understood her, the woman in the Comisaria said the EX18 was the wrong form, & pointed to a ‘Certificado UE’ on a list. Perhaps someone will be able to explain.

At least we know that the S1 form doesn’t need to be registered at the INSS to get the Residencia.

... but it does to get health care.

Form EX18 is what you use to get the "Certificado UE" - the woman is simply wrong.

Michael,

Could I ask you how long it took you to get your S1? I will need to go through this process myself at some point but there seems to be very little information out there about what you have to do to get one, other than telephone the DWP. Can it be done over the telephone or do you have to complete a form? What information do they need off you? Any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks.