Hi there - bit of advice needed.  Has anyone buying in Vera, Almeria sorted out their NIE number yet.  Apparently the process has recently changed according to our solicitors in Vera?

We were over a couple of weeks ago and at the recommendation of our solicitors signed Power of Attorney to them to sort out anything that needed to be done if we could not go to Spain in person.  To include Bank accounts, contract signing, the dreaded notary office visits and NIE applications.  this was on 8 March.  On 9 March they went to organise our NIE and were told that we had to do it now in person  in Spain (meet the Mayor?)   or we had to go to the Consulate in England to organise.

Anyone else had this problem?

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Can't see why your solicitors told you this on 8th March.  Look on lots of posts here and you will see the law changed at the beginning of this year.  You have to apply for your own NIE now but you can get someone to go with you to smooth the way in terms of translation etc. 

You apply at a police station or local town hall (with a police station in it).  If you go to the office which issues the numbers, you may be lucky and get them the same day (bit of hassle but smiling sweetly seems to work).

If you go anywhere else it can take about 4 weeks to get the certificates with the NIE numbers.  These are all free of charge.

You can apply through the Spanish consulates in UK but some people have mentioned they tend to get lost or take absolutely ages to come through.  I believe you also have to pay.

Have a look at the NIE threads and all will be revealed (in between the thread drifts of attaching signatures, avatars,pretty pictures of peoples swimming pools and favourite restaurants).

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Edited

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Yes the rules have changed

We  were able to register in Feb 2007 and when we saw our legal advisors again last week she said we were lucky as we had already registered

It is all to do with changes after 'Madrid bombs' and similar to UK where you will now have to go in person to get a passport [as it was back in the 60/70's]

Brian  

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just sorted ours out on CDS. We simply gave power of attorney to our lawyer and she does the rest including setting up a bank account if you want and anything else in your absence. For the sake of €80 it's done very quickly and I think it's worth it for the peace of mind. If you involve a Notary Public from the UK it is more expensive. However, if you set it up next time you are in Spain it will just cost just the €80.

Alan

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