There is no doubt that the dissemination power of social networks now reaches everyone in the form of posts, publications, comments, and even (and unfortunately) even news outlets that report their content uncritically and without the slightest verification.
While this is true in every sector of society, and now characterizes any kind of online debate, we are increasingly concerned about the growing uncontrollable number of hoaxes (I’m old-fashioned, so calling them “fake news” doesn’t do it for me) as well as true urban legends that increasingly confuse the poor confused user who is dealing with an impending move to Spain, and that therefore the last thing he needs is surely this kind of pseudo – information (Which information is not, but these are real urban legends that have no legal basis but that, unfortunately, only confuse the unsuspecting user more and more).
More and more Clients about to move to Spain are asking us many questions that fall precisely into this category of real inventions of healthy plants, created we still do not know why and by whom.
In this article we would like to list some of the most common ones, although we could write for hours given what we have to deal with on a daily basis.
- The So-Called “Provisional NIE,” also known as “temporary NIE,” also known as “expiring NIE: Surely this deserves the top spots among the most common hoaxes. So, first of all, the NIE is a NUMBER and NOT a DOCUMENT (N.I.E.= Número de Identificación del Extranjero), and being a very personal tax registration number (Assimilable to our tax code) once assigned it remains for life (In fact, even when dead). THE NIE has NO color, if anything, the different color may be the supporting document (Certificate) on which it is listed (“Certificado de registro de ciudadadno de la Unión Europea”, “Certificado de no residente”, “Certificado de concordancia”, “Certificado permanente”, and so on). The color is simply meant to distinguish the certificate issued to citizens who are not yet resident from those who are resident and registered in a special register of the Policia Nacional and which, for this reason, is called “Certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión Europea” (Called improperly and colloquially “Green NIE”).
In this article we would like to list some of the most common ones, although we could write for hours given what we have to deal with on a daily basis.
On the other hand, a citizen who simply applies for an NIE for the purchase of a property, a motor vehicle, registered property, to register a company, for an “alta de autonomo,” or for transactions with the public administration (payment of particular taxes) will receive an “Asignación de NIE,” also called a “Certificado de no residente,” which is nothing more than a simple A4-sized white sheet with the NIE printed on it. Neither document (Neither the green card nor the white document) has an expiration date superimposed on it, and the phantom expiration after three months is, quite simply, nonsense.
More details on this: Frequently Asked Questions about NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) – Barcelona Global Service
If anything, after 5 years that he is in possession of a “Certificado de registro,” being able to prove his continuous stay on Spanish territory, working, he can apply for a “Certificado permanente,” which moreover looks identical to the first one, and which in any case is not mandatory but it remains the applicant’s option to obtain it (And certainly not because his “Certificado de ciudadano de la UE” expires after 5 years)
In this article we would like to list some of the most common ones, although we could write for hours given what we have to deal with on a daily basis.
2. The NIE (or NUSS, or Numero de Seguridad Social) automatically entitles you to full public health care in Spain (I.e., assignment of a family doctor). FALSE. To be entitled to health care in Spain (Unlike Italy and many other EU and non-EU countries) you must meet two requirements:
– Be registered in the “padron municipal” (“Empadronamiento” of a municipality located in the Comunidad Autonoma where you reside and intend to use the public health service (Which, as in Italy is managed by the regions, in Spain is managed by each siingola Comunidad Autonoma: Catalunya, Aragón, Andalusia, Baleares, etc…)
– Turn out to be active workers (be registered as a worker with the seguridad social, i.e., have an “alta laboral,” or in certain cases have an S1 certificate, or even apply for an extension of the right to health care by a family member who is entitled to it, as precisely a worker, but this applies only to spouses and descendants up to the age of 26- unfortunately not to ascendants).
- 3. One can work, i.e., get hired, only if in possession of NIE: FALSE! While this may be true for non-EU citizens who need a residence permit that allows them to work (and which also contains their NIE), an EU citizen can very well get hired only with their national identity document (ID card or passport) and their NUSS (Numero de Seguridad Social), having, however, the obligation to apply for the NIE within 90 days of employment and report it to the Tesoreria General de la Seguridad Social. Unfortunately in practice, due to ignorance or bad faith, many companies require being already in possession of both the NIE and NUSS in order to be hired: Working in Spain: is the NIE necessary? – Barcelona Global Service
4. Having the NIE or empadronamiento automatically changes your status from tax resident in Italy to tax resident in Spain: absolutely false! The issue is definitely more complex and there are many elements to keep in mind for this purpose, as explained in these dedicated articles:
Understanding tax residency in Spain: A Complete guide for foreigners – Barcelona Global Service
In this article we would like to list some of the most common ones, although we could write for hours given what we have to deal with on a daily basis.
5. Policía Nacional officials are obliged to issue the NIE and, if they do not, they are committing an offence: absolutely false, as well as ridiculous! The NIE must ALWAYS be justified, and each police officer has certain discretion to consider the documentation presented insufficient and, therefore, deny the issuance of the NIE. The NIE is your right as long as you can justify its issuance with documents showing such need, and it is NOT a requirement for the police officer. On the contrary, I would personally advise you, should you find yourself in the wrong (but even if you were on the side of right) to argue with a police officer since the situation could easily get out of hand and cause you quite a few legal problems
In this article we would like to list some of the most common ones, although we could write for hours given what we have to deal with on a daily basis.
6. Because we are in Europe, university and professional degrees earned in an EU member state are absolutely valid in Spain as they are without the need to go through any bureaucratic process: FALSE! Except in very specific cases, e.g., for certain paramedical professions, the so-called “Homologación del titulo” is absolutely required (a particularly long and expensive procedure, considering that all the required documentation must be submitted with a sworn translation and, in some cases, even Apostille of the Aya
7. Without NIE I cannot open a bank account: FALSE! You can very well open a bank account as a “nonresident” only with a passport or ID card and then, when you have the “Certificato de registro de ciudadano de la Unión Europea,” you can have your account converted from “nonresident” to “resident.” In practice, for various reasons, few banks are willing to open this type of account, and even within the same bank, some branches open accounts for nonresidents while others do not.
Dedicated article: Opening an account abroad (for both businesses and individuals) without residence in Spain: What to know – Barcelona Global Service
In this article we would like to list some of the most common ones, although we could write for hours given what we have to deal with on a daily basis.
We could go on almost indefinitely but, to avoid writing a papyrus, we have selected the most blatant and absurd cases of misinformation that, unfortunately, you will continue (hopefully for a short time yet) in the various social networks, blogs, dedicated groups and even newspaper “articles.”
Need professional assistance with these and other issues? For more information, contact BarcelonaGlobalService at francesco@barcelonaglobalservice.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Barcelonaglobalservice
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bcnglobalservice/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barcelonaglobalservice/
#WorkinSpain #LavorareinSpagna #NUSS #NAF #Numerodeseguridadsocial #Numerodeafiliacion #OttenereilNUSS #HowtogettheNUSS #Seguridadsocial #Spanishsocialsecurity #NIE #Expat #Spagna #España #Spain #OttenereilNIE #ObtenereNIE #Tax #TaxresidenceinSpain #ResidenzafiscaleinSpagna #LeyBeckham #Beckhamlaw #LeggeBeckham
