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Gran Canaria
is an island, where it is
necessary to have your paperwork in order, and to the correct paperwork
comes the correct Identification numbers.
Information on how to get your NIE number,
social security number and other forms of identification, will be told
in this article, so please pay attention.
Whether you
become a resident on
Gran Canaria or remain non-resident, it is important to
know, that if you have financial affairs in Spain, i.e. ownership of
property, a tax identification number is a must.
DNI:
( Documento
Nacional de Identidad ):
This is the ID number for Spanish
citizens. The same number is used for
one's driver’s license.
NIF:
( Número
de Identificación Fiscal ):
This is the tax ID number for all
individuals. For all Spaniards, it's the DNI plus one letter; for foreigners,
it's the same number as your NIE. Once
you have an NIE, you do not need to
re-apply for an NIF; if and when you
have to pay taxes, use your NIE number.
If you're a non-resident who has to pay
taxes in Spain, you may get an NIF
issued to you without having an NIE.
This, of course, does not mean you get
automatic residency in Spain, nor will
it make it any easier to get residency.
CIF:
( Certificado
de Identificación Fiscal ):
This is the the same as the NIF, but for
companies.
Non-Spanish residents have a tax reference number referred to as a "NIE"
or
"Numero de Identification Extranjero".
NIE:
( Numero
Identificacion Extranjeros ):
The immigration service issues this number to you once you
obtain residency ( you will find the number on your Resident Card ).
This is your identification number in Spain, and it is unique to you.
You will need to take a photocopy of the important pages of your
passport, and bring them as well, until you have your residency card.
The NIE number is needed in order to file taxes, open a bank account ( you
don't have to, if it's foreign accounts ), establish a business,
and for almost any other form you fill out. Both EU citizens and
non-EU citizens get issued an NIE number.
An NIE number is essentially a
tax number for foreigners in Spain. You need one if you are going to buy
a house or a car, if you want to apply for residencia or are going to
work for a Spanish company.
To get an NIE number, you
need to go to the
extranjeros
department at your nearest Comisaria ( The police station for Policia
Nacional, not the Policia Local ). You can get a Gestor to apply
for you, but it will cost you about 100 €. To
do it your self, go to the National Police
station in Maspalomas and collect an application form, or
(
You can
download this form
here:
). This is a simple process providing you follow
the guidelines. You
will need to take your passport. The forms are fairly straightforward
and you will have your NIE number within 2-6 weeks of applying. |
