IMMIGRATION

Tourist status

The EU allows free movement in its member states for all its citizens provided they have a National Identity Card or a Passport. The UK is one of the few countries in Europe which does not, at the time of writing, issue an ID card. UK citizens need a valid passport to enter Spain and for internal identification purposes thereafter.

A person on a short-term stay is classed as a tourist and can enter Spain for a period of up to 90 days with:

• A passport;
• European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for temporary reciprocal medical cover;
• A driving licence;
• Some euros;
• A credit card. Since the introduction of the euro virtually all Bureaux de Change have disappeared, but ATMs (cash dispenser machines) take all international cards with instructions in English.

A 90-day extension called a permanencia, can be obtained once per calendar year. With this extension it is possible to stay as a ‘tourist’ for a total of six months. To apply for a permanencia, which is stamped in the passport, go to the foreigners ‘department of the nearest police station with a passport, two photos, and some evidence of your ability to finance a stay in Spain for a further 90 days. The permanencia is a little used procedure, but it technically bridges the gap between a 90-day short-term stay and permanent residence over 180 days. A tourist is a person who spends less than six months in Spain in one calendar year.

Anyone who stays more than six months must apply for a residencia.

Fiscal identification number

All residents or non-residents with financial dealings in Spain must have an identification number –Numero Identification de Extranjero (NIE), the significant word extranjero meaning foreigner. Numero de Identification Fiscal (NIF) is the equivalent for Spaniards which, in their case, serves as Fiscal, Identity and Passport Number.

To get an NIE go to the foreigners ‘department of a police station with a passport (and one copy of the passport), and two photographs and complete the relevant form provided. Foreigners will quickly become accustomed to a way of life dependant on personal identification by an NIE number. An NIE is required for:

• Purchase of a property, a car and other expensive items;
• Dealing with the tax authorities;
• ID for other documents such as insurance policies or bank records.

Permanent status

Intending to live permanently or to spend more than six months each year in Spain? Then no later than 90 days after arriving, begin the process of applying for a residencia (this is effectively an identity card). To do this, again visit the foreigners’ department at the designated police station with the following documents:

• Copy of a valid passport and NIE number;
• Three passport-size colour photographs;
• The completed form.

At the police station fingerprints are taken. In about six months a new style plastic residencia card is issued which is renewed every five years. The passport goes into the file at home to be used for international travelling. Obtaining a residencia also necessitates a visit to the bank to change personal details and account numbers reflecting a change from non-resident status. It also means paying income tax in Spain rather than to a ‘home’ country.

Someone entering Spain as a student or as a tourist and then taking up employment or self employment should read Chapter 8 –Employment, where details of a combined work permit/residencia application are outlined. A person entering Spain as a potential employee should still obtain a residencia.

Other documents

When moving to Spain permanently it is wise to have the following documents available:

• Birth and marriage certificates;
• Credit facilities to open a new bank account if seeking a business account:
• CVs translated into Spanish, if seeking employment. Pre-approved work permits are no longer required for EU nationals;
• Vehicle documents, if temporarily driving a car registered outside Spain;
• A UK pensioner should obtain form E121 from The Pension Service, Newcastle upon Tyne, which shows a pensioner has been in the UK National Health system and is entitled to entry into the Spanish Health system. An E form means European, demonstrating a uniformity of approach within the EU.

BRITISH EMBASSY AND CONSULATE

The British Embassy has overall responsibility for representation and promotion of the UK in Spain. The consular section provides services for British citizens in Spain and visas for those who require them to travel to the UK. The British Consulate General is in Madrid and is the issuing authority for all UK passports and visas in Spain. Other British Consulates in Spain can issue emergency passports valid only for a one-way journey to the UK.

Application forms for passports and visas are available by post or to personal callers, or can be downloaded from their website. The site also offers information on subjects ranging from timeshares to victims of crime and child abduction as well as a range of travel information.

The Madrid Consulate also registers the births and deaths of British citizens resident or visiting Spain. The Consulate can:

• Issue emergency passports;
• Contact friends and relatives to ask them to help with money and tickets;
• Tell you how to transfer money;
• In an emergency, cash a sterling cheque up to £100, if supported by a valid bankers card;
• As a last resort give a loan to get you back to the UK;
• Help with local lawyers, interpreters and doctors.

The Consulate cannot:

• Intervene in court cases;
• Get you out of prison;
• Give legal advice or start court proceedings;
• Investigate a crime;
• Pay hotel, legal, medical or any other bills;
• Pay travel costs, except in special circumstances;
• Find somewhere to live, a job or a work permit;
• Formally help if you have a dual nationality in the country of your second nationality.

The main website is www.ukinspain.com It is well worth a visit as it demonstrates links with the British Council and the British Tourist Board. How your country is presented abroad is interesting.

AYUNTAMIENTO

To the ordinary Spaniard, politics start and stop at the ayuntamiento (town hall). Situated in the Plaza Mayor of each village, town or city the building is bedecked with a national flag together with flags of the Comunidad and the province, signifying its importance as a focus in everyday life. The town hall is the home of the municipio, a council headed by a mayor (alcalde) and a number of councillors (concejales) all of whom are elected. The ayuntamiento is responsible for keeping the streets clean, collecting garbage, street lighting, water supply and sewerage, roads, cemeteries, schools, planning, parks, libraries, markets, social services, fire prevention and public sports facilities. It is here where local taxes are paid, where licenses are issued, applications for building permits are lodged, the right to vote is granted and births, marriages and deaths are recorded.

Signing on the Padron

Your first encounter with the ayuntamiento will probably be to register as a new resident of the town and consequently be allowed to stand and vote at elections:

• Visit the town hall with a passport and evidence of residing in the town (copia simple or escritura- see Chapter 12, Buying a property –or residencia);
• Complete some details. Provided more than six months each year is spent residing in the municipality, and you are not registered in another municipality at the same time, you will now be on the census of inhabitants residing in the area administered by that ayuntamiento;
• An empadronamiento certificate (census registration certificate) is issued.

One method of communicating with the ayuntamiento is to present a request or complaint in writing which will be stamped recibido (received) on presentation and must be acted upon in a reasonable period of time. The greater the number of people registered on the padron, then the greater the funds received from regional government.

Collecting taxes

One role of the town hall is to collect local taxes. IBI is a local tax, rather like rates/poll tax/council tax in the UK, but at a fraction of the cost. The services offered by a municipality are considerably less than in the UK. Home owners may have to take their rubbish to a central collection point. Street cleaners are rarely evident. Social services exist but only to a limited degree. An IBI bill for a town house may only be 100§ per year reflecting a level of service, a degree of central funding ...and more importantly an artificially low level of property valuation. However this has to be balanced against Community Charges for a private development which can be as high as 1500§ per annum reflecting shared costs for roads, pools, gardens and lifts.