Could I just also point out that they do things very differently in different areas....... on different days of the week! Where I live, you get an NIE number and a residencia on the same form, BUT, if you dont have the residencia, just the NIE then its only valid for three months and you must return to renew (and pay) for it! Theres also a thing to sign if you're a foreigner and lets not forget the padron - I think???

BUT I STRESS ALL AREAS SEEM TO BE DIFFERENT

If, as the OP, you are starting your own business you need to declare yourself automono and have an NIF number????????????????????? thats my understanding of it all!? Right or wrong, I've no idea


Jo xxx

Surely it is important to discuss things in the open forum so that other people can read and learn. Gaining different peoples experiences and opinions is after all the reason behind joining, reading and contributing to forums. We do not have to take one person view and decide that it is 100% correct but can take what everyone says and try to find a middle road.

I defy anyone living in Spain to say that they know the whole system inside out because so many things vary from area to area. I know that there is legislation which dictates certain things but it is still down to the people in the various departments to make their own interpretation of the legislation.

Rosemary

...... and also just one other thing, back to the original post, can you get mobiles in Spain without an NIE number???

Jo xxxx

I am not totally sure but I do not think so. Even the BIC ones have to be properly registered with Orange and they need all your details to do this.

Rosemary

Whilst all pay as you go mobiles in Spain must be registered, I think one needs to only prove their identity and thus a passport is probably sufficient.

I understand that it is an anti-terrorist measure ( Terrorists don't know they can use the internet ! )

They wanted my name, my address, my passport, NIE number (with relevant photocopies of course) and the colour of my knickers when I got my last one!

Jo xxx

Apologies if what I said was wrong !

I thought you did not know about the NIE requirement and that was why you asked, "can you get mobiles in Spain without an NIE number???

yes - or you could a year ago, with a passport

No, that is incorrect, well it is different from our experience when we had to register ours. We had to provide passport, NIE and Residencia Certificate for registration.

Rosemary

that just goes to show how things vary from shop to shop

OH got me a new phone last year

I told him he'd need everything in triplicate plus show his knickers like jojo had to

he of course left home with none of it - showed his driving licence & that credit card sized laminated copy of his passport that he carries - & got a phone no problem

logically they should need everything - but at the movistar shop here, they didn't ask for it

I know things change and that probably where you live in Spain is different from where I live !!

but when I registered mine, that was when it first became a requirement, I did so with my Residencia Card, which may even have been beyond its validity date.

Didnt the rules change November 2009??? Cos I was supposed to register one of my old PAYG mobiles and forgot, so it got cut off!!

Jo xxx

around about then yes - we just got in with my old one

they had been saying they were going to do it for ages - then all of a sudden the date arrived!!

No so much changed the rules but implemented a new law in 2009, after the use of mobile phones in the Madrid Bombings.

(Sorry Moderator for me going off thread)

It is a legal requirement if you are in the country for more than 3 months.