for one reason or the other we applied to the spanish consulate in london for our numbers. all the paperwork done etc. 100% perfect. paid our money, few days later, got a receipt etc via the post from the consulate . people there said 4 to 6 weeks took this with a pinch of salt, but other people said done the same thing and got their numbers within this timescale. you have to give an address in spain for them to go to, so gave the abogados address. this was back on the 1/04/06 nothig to date . any simple ideas to chase them up?or do you know a gestor near ronda? the abogado is otherwise o.k. but naft on this.
Happy bank holiday to you all, and thanks for the good advice i hope i am gonna get.

Hi Mitch

I think the timescale is probably about right but........ we have had numerous public holidays with Easter etc, so take these into account and it brings the working weeks down somewhat.
I would at this stage not be too concerened.

ps not a bank holiday here, but we do get more than you do in UK.

re Gestor sorry cannot help you with that one but I am sure there will be someone on the board that can.

Also, welcome to the board.

pwwm

hi yer pwwm
That is reassuring thanks and thanks for the welcome.

mitch

Hi just starting the process - have only just identified our property - they have not hurried us to sign a contract having paid our initial deposit to reserve - coming out to sign the contract in June and had hoped to obtain the NIE then directly in the town - too far away from London to do it (although that could be arranged if it is easier to do it this way). I have also read in one of my books that I cannot open a bank account without this - is this so? Is it not possible to open a Spanish account from the UK? I wanted to do this at the same time as getting the NIE number - thought it was just a matter of queuing up and getting it there and then?

What do you need to present to obtain the NIE number - my book again says 'certified copies of your passport' What on earth does that mean?

It all seems such a minefield - I think we need to meet people who have been through it all when we come out to Ayamonte in a couple of weeks - just to get it all explained simply.

Carol

Hi Carol Elizabeth,

Yes you can open a Spanish bank account in UK all you need is your passport and a photostat of the picture page. You will need to choose a bank with a branch here but most do have one in London.

If you want to get your NIE whilst you are in Spain you will have to go to the relevant Foreigners office. If you are buying in Ayamonte that is in Huelva. You should leave early to be there when the office opens and allow the full day. It probably won't take all that but just in case and Huelva is a nice place and full of history call at the tourist office next to the bus station near the FO.

Regards,

John.

Can't help with all your questions but a certified copy of your passport, refers to a photocopy of the relevant pages (the one with your photo), this/these photocopy(s) together with the passport need to be taken to a solicitor who then stamps and counter signs the copies as a true copy of the original. These are then as legal as the original passport.

When I got mine I just had two ordinary copies of passport, passport, NIE form and copy.
But things have apparently changed cos people keep insisting they needed photos for theirs ?.
It doesn`t mention photos here

HOW TO FILL IN THE N.I.E. APPLICATION FORM
1 DATOS PERSONALES means PERSONAL DETAILS

1er Apellido: Surname
2º Apellido : (second Surname) Write three chiffons instead (---)
Nombre : Christian Name (make sure to use same as in passport)
Fecha de Nacimiento: Date of birth (use two digits for day and month)
Lugar de nacimiento: Place of birth
Sexo : Gender “H” for Male (Hombre) and “M” Female (Mujer) . X cross the one applicable
Estado Civil: Status. S for single C for married. V for widow and D for divorced
País de nacimiento: Country of Birth
País de nacionalidad: Current Nationality
Nombre del padre: Father´s name
Nombre de la madre: Mother´s name
Domicilio en España: Address in Spain (if you have one, otherwise leave blank) - Localidad: Town, CP: Postcode, Provincia: Province

SECTION 2
Reasons for application:
Economic, Professional or Social (Tick professional for work reasons or social for house purchase)

3) DOMICILIO A EFECTOS DE NOTIFICACIONES
Leave blank

Sign the form at the bottom, under 'firma de solicitante'.

Complete the form and take it back to the National Police station, along with a photocopy. You also need to provide your original passport and a photocopy. That's it ! You will then be told to return in approx. 4 weeks time when your number will be ready to collect. You need this number to do anything fiscal in Spain such as open a bank account [this can also be done with your passport number].

Hi Carol Elizabeth,

See the attached file for how to do it in Huelva and have fun.

Regards,

John.

Or just get your solicitor to do it all for you. It should be part of their service.

Hi
Thanks John and Kath Amanda and Charles jdr and Kevray for your advice. I need to bookmark this bit. At least I now have a better idea of what needs to be done.
I assume my solicitor will charge for this service but it might be better than losing a day of my holiday in June.Our solicitor does not seem to be in a great hurry to respond to our request to meet when we come over in June, but the questions are increasing, and I think you are correct - we need to limit the things we have to do to those we are forced to do. I can think of much better things to do than queuing up knowing my Spanish is not going to be good enough. Need some convincing John that it will be worth the day in Huelva even if we do get some time. Judging by all the issues that have surfaced we will need lots of energy to sort out the things we are not expecting.
l shall be checking out lots of things before I sign any contract. l think we have been in a very lucky position in that Fedesa messed up our original choice of Rago apartment and agreed a price and apartment on an unreleased bloque. It has just been released so we plan to go out and sign well armed with lots of knowledge from all of you.I wonder if it will make a difference! Can I guarantee my doors open outwards?
Thanks once again - back to work! Carol

Only if you pay for it

What a useful article John! I am pleased to see there is a Manchester address. We might consider doing it ourselves. Just one question - do both partners have to be there or can just one of you go with the forms for both of you? I know you you are going to say we both have to be there!
Cheers Carol

Its a risk I would not take because they study the picture on the PP, but on the other hand a hesteria can do it for you, so perhaps that`s where the certified PP copy comes in.

Hi Carol Elizabeth,

When we did it in Huelva we took 5 applications, one for each family member buying the villa and just me and Kath were there in person.

They accepted the lot but did study the photographs to make sure they matched the original passports that we also had with us and then processed them.

So you may get away with a shopping trip on the Trans Pennine and leave hubby at home.

Regards,

John.

Our solicitor says that she will open a bank account for us and get our NIEs - all part of the service for which we pay 1%.