If you're buying a property in Spain you need an NIE number.  You should also register on the "padron".

If you've got any questions or useful comments then either post them here or start a new thread.

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It’s a national insurance number and if you do not get one you will not be able to get electric .phones, even a car service.

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Hi,

We went to Manchester and sent our applicaion via the Consulate.

It cost 22 gbp for a uk passport holder and 8.95 gbp for a republic of ireland passport holder.

The fotos have to be a plain white background.

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Hi kevh,

I've been told that if you apply in the UK through one of the consulates you have to have an address in Spain that they send the NIE certificates to.  Did you have to do that or have I been given a duff steer?  I'm interested as I don't yet have an address in Spain but want to get the NIE application business out of the way.

Cheers.......Colin

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Hi, ColinT

Take the following per person.....

We went to the Consulate in Manchester armed with the following....... NIE application form plus a copy, Passport with a copy of the info page..two passport size photos.

We dont have an address in Spain yet. So the nice man behind the counter said that was not a problem...leave the section 1 on the application form relating to the address in Spain blank.

He then produced a hand written guide as to what was needed on the application form and we copied this... we gave it back to him. He checked it stamped the two copies of the appication form and gave us back the stamped copy as proof of sending....

He charged my wife 22  pounds and myself  8.95.

I asked if he wanted proof of a purchase in Spain and he said no..that was not necessary.

He then advised us that the whole thing may take about 10 weeks.......As we dont expect finalising until February 2007 there is no problem.

If you want send me a private mail and I will gladly gve you my e.mail address

This is as we stand at the moment.

Regards

Kevh

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ColinT

I should have mentioned that the section 4 on the application form is where where you put your English address where you want the NIE sending to.

Again ...Regards

Kevh

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Kevh,

Many thanks for that.  I'm going out to Spain in Dec and will try out there if the queues aren't too long.  If they are then I might give it a go in London when I get back.

Regards

Colin

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Hi Colin I am a mortgage broker based in Marbella and since the consulate introduced the facility of applying for an NIE number in the UK I have had five clients who have attempted to do this - without success. There have been blank addresses or an address in Spain for it to be mailed to. When the certificate is conspicuous by its absence the consulate washes its hands and states they are simply a mailing office and you need to contact the Department of Extranjeros (Aliens) in Spain who also seem to be unable to help.

We now recommend all our clients apply in Spain or get their lawyer to do it by Power of Attorney which can be arranged either here in Spain or in the UK. The application process can be a time consuming procedure but it is relatively simple. You need to remember to go to the National Police Station (not local) in the area you are staying at time of application and you can give a hotel as an address. Different police stations have over time introduced different procedures and I would always recommend taking a copy of a reservation contract to the station with you just to be on the safe side. At time of application they will issue a receipt with a temporary number and some mortgage lenders will permit completion on the temporary number although a copy of the official certificate must be produced at the earliest opportunity. Mortgage lenders are instructed by the State to retain a "penalty" if the certificate is not available at completion. This is refundable although unless produced within the time frame (sorry nobody is able to give me specifics) it will not be returned and the longer the time goes on Hacienda (Tax Office) will increase the fine.

If you need copies of the application form let me know and I can e mail it to you in PDF format. I have never yet had a client require a passport photo for the NIE although there is a space on the form for one. Remember to take a photcopy of your passport because they do not have facilities at the police station to do this and without it you will be turned away.

Kind regards and good luck

Patrick

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Sorry Colin I should have mentioned that the official certificate is normally ready for collection 2 to 3 weeks after application. You can get someone to collect it for you as long as they have the receipt for the application.

Rgds

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N.I.Easy !  I filled in the form that is downloadable from the Spanish Property Insight web site, took it to the Spanish Consulate in London on 11th August where I was in and out within 5 minutes. I had asked Atlas, who I am buying an apartment through, if I could give their office address in Torrevieja as place for the NIE to be sent - they said no problem, they would look after it and I could collect it when I go to complete.
On 11th October they sent me a letter saying my NIE was ready and waiting for collection.
So - obtaining an NIE in the UK this way is very easy - maybe people buying through other agents can try this method....

Dave

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We applied for our NIE numbers at the Spanish Embassy in London in July and were told it would take up to three months for them to be sent to us.   We then found that we would need them earlier than originally anticipated and I wrote to the issuing office in Madrid, explained the situation, and they were sent to us in the UK within six weeks of the application.  Contrary to a lot of the information given by Agents and Lawyers we found the staff at both the Embassy in London and the office in Madrid very friendly and helpful.   More so than the people who were supposed to be helping us with getting the NIE numbers.   

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Anyone who has applied for NIE in Manchester and London should check they actually have the official certificate issued by the Ministry of the Interior. It is a typed number with a letter at the beginning then a 7 digit number with another letter at the end. I have friends completing on a purchase who thought they had the official certificate as applied for in Manchester in February of this year and all they actually have is the receipted application - this was sent to them by either the Embassy or the Ministry - they are not sure. The only handwriting on the official certificate should be the signature of the authority that has issued it.

Rgds Smiley

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