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Information on residing in Spain
Residence Permit –
EU Citizens
If you intend to live in Spain permanently or to stay for more than 3 months at
a time, you need a Residence Permit (permiso de residencia – commonly referred
to as Residencia). The application for Residencia can be made to the Immigration
Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) of the province where you will live or to the Provincial
Police Department (Comisaria Provincial de Policia). Alternatively, you can use
the services of a business agent (Gestor) to handle your application for you.
The period of validity will vary according to your length of stay in Spain as well
as your category, i.e. short term employment contract. However, the normal temporary
permit is up to a maximum of five years and a permanent residence permit obtained
after this expires.
Dealing with Spanish bureaucracy can sometimes be frustrating, but is no different
to many other European countries. Perseverance and patience are pre-requisites!
There may be slight variations to the
local interpretation of the rules, but these are the documents that you will definitely
need:
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A valid passport (plus photocopy)
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Birth Certificates
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Marriage licence (plus photocopy)
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Evidence of adequate financial means – There is no
official figure, but as a ‘yardstick’ an EU retirement pension is usually
acceptable as means of support. You will therefore need – pension details
(plus photocopy) if you are in receipt of pension income, or – evidence of
income from other sources or details of capital (this may need to be translated)
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3 passport sized photos
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Proof of permanent address – usually a utility bill
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Evidence of medical insurance – pensioners and those
in receipt of invalidity benefits must obtain Form E121 from the Department of Works
and Pensions (previously DSS) prior to leaving the UK. This should be presented
to the nearest Social Security office in Spain who will then issue a Spanish Social
Security card (cartilla). Retired persons living in Spain and receiving a State
pension from the UK are entitled to free State health benefits. If you are not entitled
to public health benefits through payment of Spanish Social Security or in receipt
of a UK State pension, you must have private medical insurance which meets the Spanish
requirements. You will need to produce the original policy plus a photocopy.
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Application form requesting a residence permit.
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One last point – Having established the
location of the Oficina de Extranjeros or the Comisaria Provincial de Policia, ring
to check if there are any special office hours, as it can be quite infuriating to
travel a distance to find they are closed for the siesta or only deal with Residencia
on certain days of the week.
Health and Social Security
When moving to Spain or even anywhere in the EU, it is important to remember that
the healthcare rights of Nationals living in states other than their country of
birth or passport, are governed by European convention. Under these conventions,
a National of any state visiting or resident in any other state where rights are
transferred by any means are not entitled to healthcare as they would be in their
native country. They are entitled to that level of care better or worse which is
provided to a National of the state visited or in which they are resident.
In addition, on becoming resident, it may not be possible to return to the UK for
anything but accident and emergency treatment.
On the brighter side, in a recent World Health Organisation report, Spain was listed
in the top 10 countries in the world for healthcare (the UK was listed 18th). The
rating was based on a comprehensive assessment of medical treatment, including factors
such as availability of medical insurance and pharmacies and included the overall
level of health of the population.
However, in reality, although there have been big improvements in the last few decades,
the public health service is hugely over-burdened and there are long waiting lists
to see specialists or have non-emergency operations. If you are unable to qualify
for the public system, then it is essential to have private medical insurance and
this will almost certainly be required to obtain a residence permit (Residencia).
Over 90% of the population in Spain are covered by the Instituto Nacional de la
Salud (INSALUD). This is the equivalent of the National Health Service.
If you are working in Spain, either employed or self-employed, you must pay Spanish
Social Security (Seguridad Social) and this will entitle you to free or subsidised
medical and dental treatment much in the same way as in the UK. If you are of retirement
age in receipt of a State pension, you can apply for an E121 and once you obtain
a Residencia you will also be entitled to this cover. Any enquiries relating to
an E121 should be addressed to the DSS Overseas Branch, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NE98
1YX.
On being registered as a member of INSALUD you will be given a social security card
(Cartilla) and then assigned to a general practitioner (Medico de Cabecera) at a
health centre (Centro de Salud) in the area where you live. You will also be given
a list of hospitals and general information about services and charges. If you are
receiving an invalidity pension or other social benefits on the grounds of ill health
you should establish how living in Spain would affect these benefits. There may
be some reciprocal agreements regarding invalidity rights but the onus is on you
to confirm they will apply in your case.
It is important to note, however, that whilst it may be possible to elect to change
the GP you are assigned will depend on their availability. A number of doctors do
not speak good English and any that do will very quickly have their patient list
filled. When you do visit a public health doctor no payment is made and all you
have to do is produce your Cartilla. There are large number of foreign doctors practising
in Spain but these tend to operate in the private sector and, unless you have private
medical insurance offering out-patient benefits, you will have to pay to see them.
Drugs and medicines prescribed by a GP are obtained from a pharmacy (Farmacia) and,
as in the UK, a contribution has to be made toward the cost (up to 40% of the cost
of medication) unless you are a pensioner. A number of pharmacies still close during
the lunch period and there is usually a 24- hour pharmacy in each town.
If you are unfortunate enough to require hospitalisation, there are differences
in the system between Spain and the UK. Besides the obvious language problems, nursing
care is not as complete in Spain and family members are expected to assist with
a number of daily routines that are taken for granted in the UK. A number of facilities,
especially in the private sector, allow an extra bed for a member of the family
to use.
Tax Identification Number
Whether you become a resident in Spain or remain non-resident, if you have financial
affairs in Spain, i.e. ownership of property, you must obtain a tax identification
number. Spanish nationals have a ‘Neumero de Identificacion Fiscal’
or ‘NIF’.
Non-Spanish residents have a tax reference number referred to as a ‘NIE’
or ‘Numero de Identificacion Extranjero’.
You can apply for an NIE at any national police station (comisaria) that has a finance
department. You will need to take a photocopy of the important pages of your passport.
Your NIE is unique to you (like your National Insurance Number) and is used in all
your dealings with the Spanish tax authorities, for example, when paying property
taxes.
You are also required to provide your NIE number when making deposits or receiving
credits or loans to a Spanish bank. You have up to 30 days to provide your NIE number
to the bank. The bank, in addition to reporting these types of transactions, must
also report any issuing of cheques against deposits. Failure to comply with either
of these and the bank’s and in some cases, individuals can be heavily fined.
The Tax System
Whether you live in Spain or you have a second home there, you are bound to become
involved with the Spanish tax system. At the very least, you will pay local taxes
(like the old British rates system) and if you own property in Spain, it will be
subject to Spanish inheritance tax. If you are considered tax resident in Spain
for which there are various criteria, all your income and assets worldwide are potentially
liable for Spanish tax.
In theory, you may also be liable for UK tax, but in practice, there is a double
tax treaty between Spain and the UK which protects you from paying twice.
On the positive side, a move to Spain gives you a window of opportunity to do some
effective tax and investment planning.
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