Looking to live in Spain? Is your paperwork in place?

This thread started as a simple summary of the change in Spanish regulations about residency and being able to prove it, but it moves onto a whole new level as the post gets longer and longer. It seems as though under duress the Spanish authorities have been forced to make residency paperwork a backbone to many services in the country, meaning that if you do not have the certificate you risk not only legal action from the authorities but you may not be able to open a bank account and much more!

The thread starts off with a simple guide about obtaining your residency permit, when you actually need it and the cost (just over six Euros) but then it becomes clear that you need to start the process within 30 days of being ‘resident’ in Spain – although the total process can take upwards of 3 months to complete!

It seems as though simple services such as buying a car may be unavailable without a certificate (the thread also covers the overlap and problems of having a UK registered car in Spain) and local finance is often difficult to obtain without proof of residency. There is also some discussion about rumours that some expats are not obtaining the necessary paperwork and how the Spanish Police carry out their checks.

Interestingly the thread also touches on the increased co-operation between UK and mainland Europe tax authorities as the search for those living and working abroad goes on. In essence, if you are not sure you really do need to take advice!

Summary

While the last few years has seen a number of new laws introduced to the European statute book, not all of the vital elements of moving abroad are covered in detail by the so called popular press. Even a quick glimpse at this thread shows that there is much more to this than meets the eye and there may be major ramifications if the correct procedures are not followed.

Simple actions such as buying a car will require a residency certificate and it is often difficult to obtain finance without the correct documentation in place. Those who believe that they can move overseas and give themselves some time to settle before applying for the paperwork are sadly mistaken. There are limits to apply for your residency certificate (30 days in theory although the whole process may take up to 3 months to complete) and these must be respected.

The thread also touches on the tax implications of becoming a resident in Spain and the fact the authorities will charge you tax on your worldwide earnings, not just your Spanish income. Those who think it is worth the risk leaving their tax registration with the UK will be dismayed to find that all European countries are now working closer together to ensure that residents pay the correct tax.

This post is a real eye opener and one which will apply to any European country in general – although there will be some local differences which may need some initial investigating. To be forewarned is to be forearmed – don’t try and beat the system because it is not worth the risk!

Read the full discussion on Residency Certificates for EU residents