WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER?

The general aim of thus column will be to look at and explain some of
the  rules, regulations and procedures that apply to any non-national
who works and/or owns property on the Costa Blanca. In future editions
I shall be covering a range of topics but I shall start by discussing
what is probably the first piece of paperwork you will need if you
spend any time in Spain: a NIE/NIF number.

Essentially, NIE or NIF numbers are one and the same thing, namely a
form of identification issued to any non-Spanish national upon request.
NIE is an abbreviation of Numero de Identification de Extranjeros
(Foreign Identification Number), and NIF for Numero de Identification
Fiscal (Fiscal Identification Number). The NIE/NIF always starts with
a letter and is followed by seven numbers and a letter. Your number is
personal to you: it is not transferable and neither does it expire.

The reasons for needing a NIF/ NIE (I shall refer to it as just NIE
from now on) are varied: for example, anyone purchasing a property will
need an NIE in order to set up contracts for the various utilities, and
it is also necessary in order to complete car purchases/transfers of
ownership, and for paying taxes.

The procedure for obtaining a NIE is actually relatively simple, and at
the time of writing, there is no charge made by the authorities in this
respect. You will need your passport plus one photocopy and one
passport-sized photo. A form needs to be completed; these are available
from Denia, Alicante and Benidorm Comisarias ( National Police Stations),
or if you ask nicely, your local fiscal adviser or gestor should be
able to oblige. The passport copy then needs to be certified as a true
copy of the original. This can be carried out at your local Guardia
Civil Police Station or Town Hall. The completed form, together with
certified copy passport and photo, is then handed in to one of the
above Comisarias, and you will receive a blue copy of the form as proof
of your application. It is usual to submit the application at Denia
Comisaria if you live in the Moriara/Teulada/Benitachell/Javea areas,
but you will not be refused if you present the application at Benidorm
or Alicante (although it will probably take longer to process). It
usually takes several weeks to receive your NIE (although there is
currently a delay of approximately six weeks at Denia and eight weeks
or longer at the other Comisarias), You are not contacted when the NIE
is ready, so it is up to you to periodically check if it is ready.

When a number has been allocated to you, you must hand to the relevant
Comiseria the blue copy of your form, whereupon you will be given the
yellow copy - the Spanish system is fond of colour-coded paperwork!.
This yellow - although actually a carbonated copy - has your designated
NIE written on it, and is regarded as the original. I recommend that
you keep this in a safe place and carry a photocopy of the form with
you, but should you mislay the original, a duplicate can be obtained by
completing another application form and lodging this at one of the
Comisarias for checking and stamping.

If you are considering purchasing a property or a Spanish registered
vehicle, it is advisable to obtain an NIE as soon as possible. Should
you require assistance in this respect, you will find any fiscal
representative/gestor will be able to help you with obtaining an NIE,
and banks, garages, estate agents, etc will often do this on your
behalf if you are transacting business with them.