Hi all,

I am having some problems signing up as self-employed in Spain and wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience and/or has a solution.

My original plan was to obtain an NIE number using the EX-15 form, then sign up at the Hacienda, Social Security, etc, before returning to the Comisaría to submit the EX-18 UE Certficate form.

I submitted the EX-15 form but it came back a week later as rejected. The reason was that if I wanted the NIE to do anything related to work then as an EU citizen I had to complete the EX-18 form. The problem, of course, is that I can't comply with the conditions of the EX-18 form because without an NIE it is impossible to sign up as self-employed with the Hacienda.

I went to the Hacienda to see if they had a solution but they weren't able to help. If an NIE application is in process (i.e. submitted but not yet received), then they can provide a temporary NIF to get things moving. But as my application had been rejected and wasn't therefore "in process," they couldn't.

So I am now a bit stuck and unsure how to proceed, as I can't really afford to pay for a year's medical insurance just to meet the conditions as a person without work but with sufficient means to support myself. And, even if I could, there must be a better way of doing it given that such insurance will be unnecessary once I'm signed up with Social Security and contributing.

My only idea is to return to the Comisaria with the EX-15 form and put down a reason other than anything work related as to why I want the number. The problem is that I know I will be required to provide evidence as to the reason I give. Is wanting to open a bank account a strong enough reason given that it is possible to open one without a NIE (with a passport, for example)? Does anyone have any recent experience with this kind of thing?

Sorry for the essay! Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi and a warm welcome to the Spanish forum on BE. Myself and Fred James are the moderators for the Spanish forums whilst BEVS moderates Europe. Moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. This is so that members gain the information that they are looking for and find their experiences on the forums to be friendly and worthwhile.

Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderator who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are usually friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge about the issues of living in Spain. I hope that you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Hello,
strange nobody asked us why we wanted the NIE.

as stated elsewhere () there is no such thing as a temporary NIE or temporary NIF (to my knowledge).

Your NIE is your NIF - they are not separate numbers.