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Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business - Spain Web Design by Gandy-Draper. Born a "Norverner", she then spent most of her life "Dann Saff" before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle's loves are Alan, the internet, dogs, good food, and dry white wine - although not necessarily in that order.

43 Comments

  1. brian wrigley
    December 19, 2012 @ 10:36 pm

    hi I have an nif number from property I bought in alacante can I use this in lanzarote as I am spending 6 month of the year hear in rented accomodation

    Reply

    • Elle
      December 20, 2012 @ 2:20 pm

      Hello Brian. Yes, your NIE number itself is with you for life. Some departments may ask you to get a renewal certificate… but the number itself is forever. We use our Lanzarote issued NIE numbers here on the mainland. Enjoy Lanzarote – we did… for 6 years!
      Hope that helps!
      Elle x

      Reply

  2. Toni
    January 2, 2013 @ 12:10 am

    Hello,
    Just in case it helps, I wrote some months ago the process of renewing the NIE for a non Spaniard married with a Spaniard:

    Good luck!!

    Reply

    • Elle
      January 2, 2013 @ 12:22 pm

      Thanks Toni!

      Reply

  3. steve clarke
    October 17, 2013 @ 10:19 am

    But what do you enter when you have two first names and one surname??? Would you enter just one first name and then the other first name as a surname?

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      October 17, 2013 @ 11:13 am

      Hi Steve. I would ask them. My guess is that you only the use the first of your two forenames… or put them both in the forename box. But the real answer to that may vary from clerk to clerk ;)
      Elle

      Reply

  4. Zoltán
    August 16, 2016 @ 9:39 pm

    Hi I have two questions about this form.
    If I am the applicant should I repeat all the info in the second and third section ?
    If I am a student who will work for 3 months at a company should I pick the employed person or the student box ?
    Where should I sign it ?

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      August 17, 2016 @ 12:18 pm

      Hello Zoltán.
      Before we answer your questions – will you be here for more than three months? Or less? If the latter (and you are an EU citizen) you don’t need to apply for this. If the former, then are you here for three months emplyed but then will revert to being a student? Or will you be looking for work?
      Kind regards

      Reply

  5. Cherril Cross
    September 10, 2016 @ 7:09 pm

    Please could you tell me whether the box at the bottom of the form ” Firma del Cuidadano (familiar del solicitante) has to be signed? I am applying in person and have an appointment on Tuesday, so a speedy reply would be very much appreciated!

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      September 12, 2016 @ 10:07 am

      Hi Cherril. From memory, we didn’t. But I would check with someone local in case it is different in your area.

      Reply

  6. Thomas
    October 23, 2016 @ 5:53 pm

    Hello. I have been living in Spain for 6 years and I have Certificado de Registro de UE. I have just moved from Granada to Alicante. Is is correct that I need to go to the oficina de extranjeria with the form EX-18 so I can get an updated Certificado de Registro card? Many Thanks

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      October 24, 2016 @ 11:11 am

      Hi Thomas. Yes, kind of correct. You may not get a card… but merely an A4 paper certificate. Not all areas do the cards.

      Good luck!

      Reply

  7. Steve
    January 20, 2017 @ 8:36 am

    When filling out EX18, can I use English or does it have to be Spanish?

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      January 20, 2017 @ 12:38 pm

      In Spanish. It is legal documentation and therefore has to be in the official language of the country it is for.

      Reply

  8. SEAN BASTIE
    February 21, 2017 @ 6:06 pm

    I work in the UK. We have a house there
    I travel between UK & Spain as my family live in our house in Spain.
    My children go to Spanish School.
    We all travel back to the UK during holiday times

    Do we require Permanent Residencia or Temporay as I dont envisage us living here for ever, but at the moment we spend more time in Spain than the UK

    thanks

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      February 21, 2017 @ 6:13 pm

      Hi Sean. If you are spending more than 3 months in total in Spain during the year… then yes you need to fill in this form.

      It is more of a registration than anything. It just means longer than 30 days rather than “forever”.

      However – speak to a specialist about any tax implications.

      E x

      Reply

  9. Kellie
    March 22, 2017 @ 9:49 pm

    Hi Elle I am getting a property in Spain but will not be in Spain more than 3 months at the time. Do I just fill out form EX15 or do I have to fill out EX18.
    Thanks

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      March 23, 2017 @ 10:03 am

      Hi Kellie. You just need EX15 because you won’t be resident. However, bear in mind that you are no0rmally considered resident if in Spain for more than 183 days in total over a year-long period – rather than “at a time”. So if you were here for 2.5 months in Jan/Feb for example, and then came back in August for a month and then a week at Christmas… that would push you over the 183 days.
      Hope that helps. xxx

      Reply

  10. Adair
    November 28, 2017 @ 2:44 pm

    Are the EX15 and EX18 things mutually exclusive? Does just processing my EX18 also give me an NIE number?

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      November 29, 2017 @ 10:07 am

      Yes you’ll get a NIE number that way too. Good luck! E x

      Reply

  11. Ali
    December 25, 2017 @ 2:37 pm

    Hello,
    I have some questions about ex-01 form

    We booked a hotel in spain but for 2 weeks and its not our premanent accommodation place .

    1.should we filled domicilio en Espana with our hotel location in (Datos del extranjero/A) part 1 ? And in part 3 (Domicilio A efectos de notoficationes) ?

    If not what should we do ?because we are not able to rent a house before getting the visa

    2. In part 1 . The last sentence (consiento la comprobacion de esta cirunstancia) what meaning? Should i chek the box or not?

    Thank you for your help

    Best regards

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      December 28, 2017 @ 2:26 pm

      I don’t know that the police would accept the hotel as your address. I’d stick to your permanent accommodation once you have it.

      But… you say you can’t get a rented house before getting your visa? The word “Visa” concerns me. What is your originating country?

      Regarding the tick box: That is up to you. If you are confident that your email is checked regularly… then tick it. It’s just so they have a way of contacting you via email with any announcements or future information.

      Elle xx

      Reply

  12. Ali
    December 28, 2017 @ 3:16 pm

    Thank you for your response. Im from Iran . First of all when you want to apply for 3month national visa for non-lucrative visa you should rent a house during your living in spain but befor we go to embassy we can not rent a house beacuse we are not ensure aboute first 3 months visa ,they will get to us or not so …. Whats your suggestion to field address in spain place?

    For this reason we booked a hotel , if we will succeed to get visa , we are going to rent a house in spain and when we go to police we will write address of it

    Thank uou so much

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      December 28, 2017 @ 5:39 pm

      Ah… I can’t advise knowledgeably for relocators coming from Iran. So sorry! I would recommend that you speak to the Spanish Embassy in Iran, or the Iran Embassy in Spain, as soon as you can, and see what they suggest.
      Good luck!!!
      Elle xxxx

      Reply

  13. Amanda Cerrettini
    January 8, 2018 @ 1:28 pm

    Hi there,
    My husband and I (both EU citizens), moved to Valencia in June and have opened a restaurant business, so we are both registered as Autonomo and have been paying Spanish social security since October 2017. We have had our temporary NIEs since June and empadronamiento since July.
    Now we need to get our permanent residence (mainly to stop paying such extortionate bank fees!) but the EX 18 form doesn’t appear to have a category for us! Although we want permanent residence, we haven’t lived here for 5 years, nor are we of pension age. Is there a different form that we should be filling out? We already have appointments in February at the Oficina de Extranjeros so don’t want to waste their time (or ours)! Thanks for your help.

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      January 8, 2018 @ 1:44 pm

      Hiya! It is unclear what you actually applied for in June. If it was the EX18 that you filled out at the time, then you’re covered. Do you have a certificate called “Certificado do Extranjeros”? If so, you already have Residencia. If not – then I would recommend you have another chat to your bank manager and ask them what you need to get now – and show them the EX18 so they can advise you. I suspect you are already set up and your bank needs to make some changes at their end… but that’s only an educated guess.

      Your NIE is permanently yours… so you don’t need to renew it (or make it more permanent). It is your Residency that is for five years. In some parts of Spain (and depending what day of the week you registered he he) it is automatically permanent and doesn’t need the five year renewal either – we’ve never had to renew ours… we are classed as permanent residents. However – sometimes places will need to see a more recent copy (within 90 days) and those individual places will tell you whether a recent copy of your Empadron (available from your townhall for a few centimos) or a recent formal copy of your Residencia / NIE will do. Unless someone/something is asking for a newer copy of your Residencia – then you won’t need that appointment. If you have that certificate I mentioned above – you’re okay.

      After ten years you can also apply for citizenship too.

      Does that help? xx

      Reply

  14. Felipe
    January 17, 2018 @ 12:57 am

    Hello, first of all, thank you for the explanation it is great.
    I have just one question about the address. I’m in transition to Spain and I still don’t have a fixed address. To get the NIE, I was told in the police office to take it together with the EU certificate.
    However , in the forms I have to fill in a spanish address. Should I put my hotel because I don’t have a flat? Or stick with some friend address? Thank you.

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      January 17, 2018 @ 12:22 pm

      This is a commonly asked question – but the answer varies from area to area I’m afraid. Most seem okay with you using a friend’s address for now.
      E xx

      Reply

  15. kathryn
    February 2, 2018 @ 10:53 pm

    hi i have a question I have downloaded the e18 form and in the process of completing is this the form. Do I take to the bank to get stamped and pay the fee? I have an appointment at the police station feb 16th but am a little confused as somewhere I have seen you need to visit the police station first and complete a form 790. Along with a certificate bancario. Certificate de empdronamiento

    I have my permanent contract and three payslips from the Company I also have my deeds to the house 4 pictures and my passport plus copies and my medical card . Do you think this is okay?

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      February 5, 2018 @ 12:34 pm

      We (and many others) had to collect the Certificado de Extranjeros from the police station first as they will have stamped it… then take it to the bank to pay… then return to the police station. But this can be different in other areas. We couldn’t get our Empadroniamiento until AFTER we had the Certificado de Extranjeros – but again we have heard that this varies in other areas. Nothing’s ever simple eh!

      Am sure the paperwork you’ve listed will be fine. It proves your ID, abode and earnings.

      Good luck!

      e xx

      Reply

  16. bryan
    July 24, 2019 @ 3:25 pm

    hello Elle…..I wonder if you have an English translation of the following form….EX – 01….if you could please send it to my mail….many thanks…B

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      July 25, 2019 @ 12:04 pm

      So sorry Bryan – but we don’t have an English translation of it yet.
      E x

      Reply

  17. Christopher Synnott
    July 27, 2020 @ 5:57 pm

    Can I complete EX-20 in English?

    Can I do it all myself or do I need a legal representative which is asked for at the end of the first section?

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      July 27, 2020 @ 6:52 pm

      HI Christopher.

      “Can I complete EX-20 in English?”
      – No. It must be completed in Spanish.

      “Can I do it all myself or do I need a legal representative which is asked for at the end of the first section?”
      – You can do it yourself. However, if you are not confident in the language, you may include an error which could end up costing you more in time. For peace of mind, there are many businesses that will do it for a fee. Obviously any fingerprinting will need to be done by you :o)

      Good luck!

      Reply

  18. Alan
    September 26, 2020 @ 8:53 am

    we are residens in Spain but are leaving how do we become none residents in the town we live in

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      September 29, 2020 @ 11:09 am

      Hi Alan!
      You need to contact the following:
      Bank/s (Your bank account type may need to change to “non-resident”)
      Ayuntamiento (to be removed from the Empadron) – in most cases, they just do it there and then. Others may just shrug and not do anything. Ayuntamientos get money based on how many are on their list, but the government is quite rightly clamping down. In our last home – there were 8 people registered as living at our address when we went to sort it out!!
      Hacienda (for tax)
      Good luck with the move.
      E x

      Reply

  19. Victor Peake
    September 28, 2020 @ 12:37 pm

    Hi i am filling out an ex23 form. When i get to section 4 i am not sure which box to tick. My circumstances are i got residency January this year and have the little green residency card. It doesn’t have permanent typed on it so i know my tie will be valid for 5 years. I am from the UK. Do i apply for a temporary tie or a permanent tie.

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      September 29, 2020 @ 11:05 am

      Hi there! You select “Temporary”.
      Good luck!
      E x

      Reply

  20. Becky John
    October 18, 2020 @ 6:14 pm

    Hi. I want to move to Barcelona within 2 weeks and going to fill out the EX20 form before the withdrawal agreement. I’m struggling to get an apartment without a NIE number. When filling out the EX20 form can I use an Air bnb address until I get an apartment?

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      October 19, 2020 @ 10:35 am

      Hi there. To my knowledge, no. You have to use a permanent address. It may be different up in Catalunya, but I doubt it.
      Good luck with the move!
      E x

      Reply

  21. Emma
    October 28, 2020 @ 12:44 pm

    Hello
    I am filling in the ex20 to start the residencia process, do I need to do this form for my children too? I have no problem filling the form in I just can’t see what section I should select for them on the second page. Is there a fee I need to pay for this? I can’t find any information about a fee for this form. Thank you

    Reply

  22. clifford gregory
    March 2, 2023 @ 8:37 pm

    Hi Elle , i am trying to register my s1 med certificate , there is a box at the top of the form c-176-c which translates as “status of assurance ” would you happen to know what this means?

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      March 3, 2023 @ 4:09 am

      HI Clifford. This is asking what state you are in terms of why you qualify. This may be one of the following: Employed, Self Employed, receiving Social Security or a Pensioner.
      I hope that helps but I’d advise you speak to a local expert to get your exact wording in Spanish… as we all know what happens if you get a word wrong on these things :o)
      E xx

      Reply

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