Documentation-What Next

[dstarkey]

Hi everyone, I've been in Spain since last June and registered for Empadronamiento and NIE, these were for three months but have expired now. Since then, I've been to and from the UK on numerous occasions and also changed my address here in VLC, due to the owner of the property selling up and moving to Italy!

I now have a GB vehicle here and was recently stopped by the police, on the only day I had forgotten my driver documents, (I remove my driving licence, V5 and passport from the vehicle every night) the police impounded my vehicle and during the process of me jumping through the hoops to get it back I had to pay 600€ in tax.

I wondered if I need to renew my documentation or is there a way of reverting back to tourist status to avoid registering onto Spanish driving plates. Or maybe that now my papers have expired and I only came back to Spain again in November, perhaps I am actually a tourist afterall?

Help with a confusing mudlle would be much appreciated.

[samthemainman]

Confused - when you first registered did you just sign up for a NIE without residencia? If you want to stay you need to register. Your NIE will stay the same but if you can show your proof of income/healthcare etc. you will be able to be 'resident' indefinitely. It's not clear from your mail what your intentions are - if you're going to keep your car here you will need it insured on a Spanish policy, for it to be rematriculated etc.

If you do want to stay in Spain, I recommend you keep everything above board... Otherwise there are all sorts of consequences for you, your healthcare entitlement, tax etc. Yes you can keep resetting the 90 day clock by popping in and out of the country, but that doesn't remove you of your Spanish tax obligations....

More info please :-)

[dstarkey]

Hi Sam,

I was here looking at setting up a business, however it relies heavily upon the tourist trade, which only kicks in in earnest in April, so in the meantime as a PGCE qualified teacher looking at teaching. I also begin a college educational course next month,so will briefly be classed as a student.

If neither are successful, then it'll be back to the UK, so nothing is set in stone. Therefore I am without any income, have no proof of employment nor healthcare, but living off the proceeds from the sale of one of my UK houses. Banked safely in the UK.

Both my NIE and 'Padro state three months but have expired, so wondering if I am obliged by law to change my plates if I am resident at all, or tourist or even student?

Thanks.

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by dstarkey

Hi Sam,

I was here looking at setting up a business, however it relies heavily upon the tourist trade, which only kicks in in earnest in April, so in the meantime as a PGCE qualified teacher looking at teaching. I also begin a college educational course next month,so will briefly be classed as a student.

If neither are successful, then it'll be back to the UK, so nothing is set in stone. Therefore I am without any income, have no proof of employment nor healthcare, but living off the proceeds from the sale of one of my UK houses. Banked safely in the UK.

Both my NIE and 'Padro state three months but have expired, so wondering if I am obliged by law to change my plates if I am resident at all, or tourist or even student?

Thanks.

the NIE number doesn't expire - but the cert does - as does the padrón cert

basically though, yes, if you're here 90 days you are classed as resident & you do have to register as such, providing proof of income/funds & healthcare provision - & also you have to re-matriculate your car

[samthemainman]

Yep exactly - the car situation is probably the most challenging as most UK insurers only grant up to 90 days green card cover too. Rematriculation etc is costly but you may have no other option...

[dstarkey]

Originally Posted by xabiachica

the NIE number doesn't expire - but the cert does - as does the padrón cert

basically though, yes, if you're here 90 days you are classed as resident & you do have to register as such, providing proof of income/funds & healthcare provision - & also you have to re-matriculate your car

Thanks xabiachica, but I don't follow, NIE doesn't expire but cert does?

Also, I'm not employed or have an income so will that mean a bank statement?

Any pointers to healthcare appreciated too.

[dstarkey]

Originally Posted by samthemainman

Yep exactly - the car situation is probably the most challenging as most UK insurers only grant up to 90 days green card cover too. Rematriculation etc is costly but you may have no other option...

The vehicle was brought over end of November by a man with a trailer but I have no invoice, anyvan.com

So how can I show my 90 day commencement?

I understand that my local Traffic Office will supply temporary plates to enable me to drive to the ITV test centre, and afterwards I go back with the completed test papers to exchange plates to full regular ES ones.

I also understand that everything about the vehicle must be standard so my fused hard wired sat-nav must be removed.

I've heard the fee varies upto two grand and that afterwards I will re-insure.

[snikpoh]

Originally Posted by dstarkey

Thanks xabiachica, but I don't follow, NIE doesn't expire but cert does?

Also, I'm not employed or have an income so will that mean a bank statement?

Any pointers to healthcare appreciated too.

The NIE/NIF number stays with you for life. If you have obtained a temporary one, then the authorities will expect you to renew it using the 'residencia route'. Basically, if you have to show someone your NIE paperwork after the three-month period, then they may not accept it as it (the piece of paper) will have expired.

This is exactly the same as for the padron. Your padron (typically) stays with you forever but if you need to show it, then the paperwork on which it's printed must be no more than 3 months old.

[dstarkey]

ha ha, now I understand.

Thanks snikpoh

[steve_in_spain]

Originally Posted by dstarkey

The vehicle was brought over end of November by a man with a trailer but I have no invoice, anyvan.com

So how can I show my 90 day commencement?

I understand that my local Traffic Office will supply temporary plates to enable me to drive to the ITV test centre, and afterwards I go back with the completed test papers to exchange plates to full regular ES ones.

I also understand that everything about the vehicle must be standard so my fused hard wired sat-nav must be removed.

I've heard the fee varies upto two grand and that afterwards I will re-insure.

it's always difficult to prove when a car was brought into the country but at the end of the day if you cannot prove the 90 day thing then your insurance company may well refuse to pay out in the event of a claim and if this is the case then in the event of an accident you could also be done for driving with no insurance so either way you really need to get the car changed as soon as possible.

If you have the car here and it's currently still legal then you do not need to get temporary plates to take it for its ITV. Likewise, the process is not quite as simple simply having an ITV test done and then exchanging the plates.

There are several posts on here they give a step-by-step account and indeed I have posted them in the past so have a read up!