Hi,
I just had to research about NIE and NIF for my boss.

NIE is the "n�mero de identificaci�n de extranjero" and is for foreigners.

Actually it's the same number as the NIF, the "numero de identificaci�n fiscal", which is the tax number, and which also have all spanish people. But for spanish people its the same number as the number of their DNI.

So as a foreigner you need the NIE to get the (identical) NIF, which you need for nearly everything in Spain, for example for opening a bank account, rent an apartment or buy a house.

I hope this was understandable, because all I found in the internet about these things is a bit confused.

Thanx Kinki for clearing that up. And just a note, the NIE starts with an X- and then the numbers + lettre. this is also on your residencia. The NIE is the version of the NIF for extranjeros, which is the number that apears on your DNI (only for spanish people).

salu2,
serge

Sorry about that! I was in the mess of papers I have and with the move- have not been very clear in the head lately.

To maybe clarify a bit farther: The NIF for citizens, or our DNI number- is the equivilant to the Social Security number in the US- it marks who you are, tracks you for taxes etc. And the NIE is the same, but for foreigners (So as in the states a foreigner with a green card also gets a SS number, its the same principle but a way to differentiate you from the rest, as the tax rules and other things you are subject MAY be different in some cases).

I was just told yesterday that if I had my paperwork in process (your application gets stamped), you can work for some companies before you actually receive the card.

Also, we (1 EU citizen, 1 American) got our bank accounts and rented our apt with neither tarjeta de residencia, empadronamiento, or NIE. We're going after all of them now, however.

quote:

Also, we (1 EU citizen, 1 American) got our bank accounts and rented our apt with neither tarjeta de residencia, empadronamiento, or NIE.

We did as well.(non-residents account) Anyone who has ever asked for my NIE no. has taken the passport no. instead without a problem. Not had to buy a car yet though!

Rebekah:

There is an fully bilingual attorney that I use - also, a good place to find information is at a Spanish Expat web sight. The email for the attorney I am using is strong@strongabogados.com. She appears to be very good and I haven't had any problems yet. As I said, I am doing all this via email from the U.S.A. and she seems to be comfortable with it.


Below is complete information....

Pura Llorente de Strong
Strong & Associates - (34) 954 229597
www.strongabogados.com

A good websight is www.spainexpat.com

quote:

I was just told yesterday that if I had my paperwork in process (your application gets stamped), you can work for some companies before you actually receive the card.

Yes Juliette, this is because the moment your have your papers stampted you get a temp. paper with your number on it allready, so u can start paying taxes asap!!!!

salu2,
serge

I just received my visa from the Spanish Consulate today! It is official. I will arrive in Madrid 4 November!

Congratulations Sean!

quote:

I married a Spaniard in San Francisco. Like someone else here her family came for the wedding.

I resemble that remark!!

Sean, I got my NIE first before any other documentation because the Port Authority in Valencia required it of me in order to collect my belongings that I had shipped to Spain. After negotiating with the immigration authorities in Valencia, I was assigned a provisional NIE and a very small window of time in which I had to apply for the rest of my paperwork. As far as the entire process is concerned, it�s all a bit hazy now but I did get the NIE first.

We went yesterday to try to get Roland's Tarjeta de Residencia and they said it takes 3 months and we should come back then. I guess 40 days is no longer.

They also told me that as his spouse, I can go ahead and apply for mine before his is in, but I need a "certificado de matrimonio actualizado," meaning proof that we are still married and not divorced (the original marriage certificate won't work). How the hell do I do that?! My vital records office in my state will provide me with copies of my original marriage certificate, but not something that proves we're still married. They only provide proof of divorce (which I thought of requesting, in order to get something that says I'm not, but turns out I can't do it).

I think my only hope is that when they send me a new marriage certificate it comes with a current date stamp or something?!

Looking for advice... I'm an American who wishes to move to Spain to join my boyfriend (he is french) who has just relocated to Madrid. Our plan was that I move with a student visa and find work, however we are unsure if I could work (part time or full time) with a student visa. Does anyone know for sure? (The consulate won't return my messages.) We know in France you can work part time with a student visa and I'm wondering if the laws are similar.

Another question is.. if we get married and I applied for a visa would this allow me to work? Or do we have to be married for a certain amount of time? We've been together four years (2-years apart) and we are talking about marriage. Would the student visa prevent me from getting a working visa? Also if "ya" had to guess--- how long would this process take once we are married? I'm guessing 6 months.

Thank you in advance for your advice.

PS. thank you to "Jer" for such a wonderful message board. This is the first place that I've located on the Web that gives real answers! :l:

Well I am back from obtaining my visa to reunite a family (ie, I am married to a Spaniard). It was not that difficult, considering everything else in this process. The only extra thing that I needed that was not on the Spanish consulate�s website was a form that needed to be filled out by my husband basically saying that we were still married. I was able to fax it to him and he was able to fax it back to the consulate office in miami. They then sent the visa to my house about 2 weeks later. Does anyone know how easy it is to go from one of these other residence visa to one that allows you to work. Or is a residency visa of the type that I am obtaining enough to work? Thanks.

P.S. Driver�s licences. It seems as though most states in the us now allow you to renew your driver�s license by mail. You probably need a US address though of a family member etc... in order to try this. I choose to be ignorant of the law on this as other members are when it comes to the international driver�s license. However given that I am an attorney in the states I doubt the ignorant argument will get me very far.

If you are planning to be in Spain for the long haul, why not just go ahead and get your Spanish driver�s license? It�s not really a big deal unless you are concerned from a language perspective.

Everyone here (my husband included), as I was going through the process, kept telling me how hard it was, how there was no way I was going to pass the first time around, etc. etc. Well, they were surprised to learn that I passed "a la primera" getting only one question wrong on the "written" part of the test and passing the on the road with flying colors.

The only hassle about the Spanish driver�s license is carrying it around! It�s huge compared to the US DL.

So here is a really big difference then!! As a Brit, if I have a residencia, I HAVE to have a Spanish drivers licence. And we have a year from the date of our residencia to change from the Brit licence to a Spanish one, but we don�t have to take the test again. We must forfeit our Brit licence though. An international driving licence counts for nothing here in the Canaries!

It�s not really that different, madsue, for USA citizens who are residents of Spain either.

Legally on the books, we have 6 months from the date of receiving residency to get the Spanish license. We have to go back and take the driving exams again (we cannot covalidate our licenses anymore ), but on the flip side, we keep our American licenses for use when we go back home to the States.

But as was suggested, and previously posted, not all board members follow the rules and just renew their international driver�s license or "play dumb" if they get stopped. That�s all well and good, but I am not sure how that all plays out from an insurance perspective.