Residency in Ibiza - residence Spain

The issue of residency in Spain is a complex one and you will come across many articles of conflicting information. The following is based on the most up-to-date information:
Following the EU declaring the old 'Residencia' to be an illegal requirement it's issue has been dropped, however, in its place the new certificado de empadronamiento (a certificate showing that the bearer is a registered inhabitant of the municipality that issued the certificate) is needed by anyone staying more than three months.
Hence, as from March 2007, EU members wishing to live and work in Spain for longer than three months should register at their local police station to receive a residency certificate. See below for details of how to obtain one.
You will still require a NIE (Numero de Identificacion de Extranjeros) - a Foreigner Identification Number - to be legally employed and benefit from the Spanish health service. Working without a NIE is illegal as you would not be contributing towards the Spanish tax system and therefore would not be entitled to any Spanish social security benefits. It is also essential if you wish to buy property in Spain. To obtain a NIE you must take the completed documentation along with ID and a passport photograph to the Police Station in Ibiza. Commonly now, an affidavit from a Notario is needed to endorse your application. Unless you are fluent in Spanish, and have much stamina we suggest you employ a 'Gestoria' - similar to a firm of lawyers/accountants, to steer you through the process. You still have to apply in person, although the presence of a 'Gestor' generally eases your passage.
This is how it happens: To obtain either the certificado or the NIE number you will need to attend the Police Station in Ibiza town. Now you can, and will, experience world class bureaucracy at its very finest! First find the un-signposted Oficina de Extranjeros entry door, then obtain the necessary documentation from the Spanish speaking policemen at reception, complete it. Then return and queue for the attention of an official who may grant you a certificate. The office opens at 9.00am. However, people will have been queuing (outside, no shelter, no seats, no refreshments, no toilets) since 7.00am. If you arrive by 08.30am you may just make it through the entry doors before they close for the day at 13.00! If not. come back tomorrow. or tomorrow.. Having made it through the doors (phew!) and sat in two more queues you reach an official who will speak only Spanish (forget the EU and the obligation to provide interpreters!) and you may be lucky to have your papers accepted. That being so, you will be issued with a receipt which you return with, (not forgetting passport again are you?) after the three weeks it takes to have your name and number typed/printed onto a standard Certificado/NIE document.

As soon as you start working in Spain, any holiday health insurance you may own becomes invalidated. As mentioned above, you are only entitled to the Spanish health care system if you are contributing to the economy. Therefore, if you are not working in Spain you should ensure that you are covered by private medical insurance, as - not being ordinarily resident in the UK - you would not be covered by the UK NHS either.
While not cheap, it would be very prudent to identify with a firm of Gestorias who can then advise you on all legal and tax matters. They all have a good English speaker. In Ibiza all the locals and residents use them.

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