Join the Ingenio forum

My name's Alex and this is my website all about Ingenio in Spain. Register now for free to talk about Brexit and the EU: living, holidaying and moving to Ingenio and much more!

UPDATING NIE SINCE BREXIT

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2022 1:31pm
chat_bubble11 repliesvisibility82 viewsadd_alert5 members subscribed

Posts: 16

star6 helpful points

Location: Ingenio

Joined: 1 Jan 2017

Hello All,

Can anyone advise me of the best way to update my NIE? So far I’ve gone to the police then to the office for foreigners in Las Palmas and I keep getting excuses and I must have this and that, try here and there. All wasting my time and money which I don’t have.

I’ve owned a house here since 2002 and want to spend more time here now and bring belongings from the U.K. I need my updated NIE to benefit from the considerable savings on the ferry cost.

Thanks in anticipation for your help.

Regards, Sergio

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 6:48am

Posts: 17

star2 helpful points

Location: San Agustín

Joined: 13 Mar 2020

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 6:48am

Hi Sergio...you probably need to change your NIE number to an NIF number but to do so you need to apply for Spanish residency...you can not get reduced ferry rates on an NIE number...it's only Spainish residents avail of cheap rates on the ferries and they all have NIF numbers...NIE numbers are only issued to non Spanish to allow them open bank accounts to buy property etc...also since Brexit UK citizens/UK passport holders can only stay in Spain for 90 days out of every 180 and leave for 90...also can no longer drive in Spain on UK drivers licence...you have to sit the Spanish driving test and you need to be a resident to apply...I know friends in Malaga on a 2 year waiting list for driving test...this is my understanding...

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 7:07am

mus7494

Original Poster

Posts: 16

star6 helpful points

Location: Ingenio

Joined: 1 Jan 2017

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 7:07am

jackser wrote on Wed Nov 16, 2022 6:48am:

Hi Sergio...you probably need to change your NIE number to an NIF number but to do so you need to apply for Spanish residency...you can not get reduced ferry rates on an NIE number...it's only Spainish residents avail of cheap rates on the ferries and they all have NIF numbers...NIE numbers are o...

 

Read more...

...nly issued to non Spanish to allow them open bank accounts to buy property etc...also since Brexit UK citizens/UK passport holders can only stay in Spain for 90 days out of every 180 and leave for 90...also can no longer drive in Spain on UK drivers licence...you have to sit the Spanish driving test and you need to be a resident to apply...I know friends in Malaga on a 2 year waiting list for driving test...this is my understanding...

Good Morning Jackser,

Thank you for you reply. It’s the most sensible I’ve had to date.

It’s as I suspected, as I was continually directed to the route of full residency which I don’t want. So if I use a ferry I will have to pay full price. So I will remain as I am and not move totally here.

As for the driving licence, as I’m short term, so far I’ve haven’t been asked for anything other than my U.K. one. Time will tell.

My solution is to leave perhaps and return to Malta, my paternal roots are from there. They are also in the EU. I’ll just have to apply for citizenship there.

Much easier than this rigmarole here.

Regards, Sergio

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 7:18am

Posts: 17

star2 helpful points

Location: San Agustín

Joined: 13 Mar 2020

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2022 7:18am

mus7494 wrote on Wed Nov 16, 2022 7:07am:

Good Morning Jackser,

Thank you for you reply. It’s the most sensible I’ve had to date.

 

Read more...

It’s as I suspected, as I was continually directed to the route of full residency which I don’t want. So if I use a ferry I will have to pay full price. So I will remain as I am and not move totally here.

As for the driving licence, as I’m short term, so far I’ve haven’t been asked for anything other than my U.K. one. Time will tell.

My solution is to leave perhaps and return to Malta, my paternal roots are from there. They are also in the EU. I’ll just have to apply for citizenship there.

Much easier than this rigmarole here.

Regards, Sergio

Hi Sergio it's all very complicated following Brexit....if you can get an eu passport it would allow you to stay for as long as you like...

Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2022 8:26pm

Posts: 173

star37 helpful points

Location: Mogán

Joined: 11 Nov 2016

Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2022 8:26pm

Hi mus 

When you say update your NIE doyou already have residencia ?

Advertisement - posts continue below

Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2022 8:46pm

mus7494

Original Poster

Posts: 16

star6 helpful points

Location: Ingenio

Joined: 1 Jan 2017

Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2022 8:46pm

billmac wrote on Sun Nov 20, 2022 8:26pm:

Hi mus 

When you say update your NIE doyou already have residencia ?

Hello and thanks for your reply.

I’ve owned a house here for 20 years and visit regularly. I also used to run Motorcycle Tours. I have a paper NIE obtained from the main Police Station in Las Palmas. I’m planning a trip with a van to bring belongings here. I went to the local council office in Ingenio and asked them for a reduced travel cost entitlement certificate. I was told that my current NIE was out of date since Brexit and I should apply for a new one. Frankly I don’t think NIEs exist anymore. Since then I’ve been passed from one office to another…..

Regards, Sergio

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2022 7:49am

Posts: 173

star37 helpful points

Location: Mogán

Joined: 11 Nov 2016

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2022 7:49am

mus7494 wrote on Sun Nov 20, 2022 8:46pm:

Hello and thanks for your reply.

I’ve owned a house here for 20 years and visit regularly. I also used to run Motorcycle Tours. I have a paper NIE obtained from the main Police Station in Las Palmas. I’m planning a trip with a van to bring belongings here. I went to the local council office in Ingenio and asked them for a re...

 

Read more...

...duced travel cost entitlement certificate. I was told that my current NIE was out of date since Brexit and I should apply for a new one. Frankly I don’t think NIEs exist anymore. Since then I’ve been passed from one office to another…..

Regards, Sergio

Unfortunately it would appear you have allowed your NIE to lapse  You should have been sent a reminder after 5 years to update your records giving you approximately a month to renew  perhaps you were not in the canaries when the reminder was sent to you  your best to contact one of the council offices in the area you are or will be living  they should advise you what you need to do 

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2022 8:04am

Posts: 173

star37 helpful points

Location: Mogán

Joined: 11 Nov 2016

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2022 8:04am

mus7494 wrote on Sun Nov 20, 2022 8:46pm:

Hello and thanks for your reply.

I’ve owned a house here for 20 years and visit regularly. I also used to run Motorcycle Tours. I have a paper NIE obtained from the main Police Station in Las Palmas. I’m planning a trip with a van to bring belongings here. I went to the local council office in Ingenio and asked them for a re...

 

Read more...

...duced travel cost entitlement certificate. I was told that my current NIE was out of date since Brexit and I should apply for a new one. Frankly I don’t think NIEs exist anymore. Since then I’ve been passed from one office to another…..

Regards, Sergio

Sorry I had not realised you had already tried the local council offices   if they are saying you have to re apply then unfortunately that's what you would need to do  since brexit it has been more difficult to obtain as you need additional criteria  I.e health care  more collateral etc. I have seen posts on here  from people who have been looking for help to get their NIE and there is a woman who offers Help at a reasonable fee  I'm not sure of her name 

Maybe you should repost 

WHO CAN HELP ME OBTAIN NIE

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2022 9:20am

mus7494

Original Poster

Posts: 16

star6 helpful points

Location: Ingenio

Joined: 1 Jan 2017

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2022 9:20am

billmac wrote on Mon Nov 21, 2022 7:49am:

Unfortunately it would appear you have allowed your NIE to lapse  You should have been sent a reminder after 5 years to update your records giving you approximately a month to renew  perhaps you were not in the canaries when the reminder was sent to you  your best to contact one of...

 

Read more...

... the council offices in the area you are or will be living  they should advise you what you need to do 

Thanks for your reply.

I imagine that’s exactly what has happened.

I’ve been to my council and they suggested the route I’ve already taken.

Follow the yellow brick road….

Regards, Sergio

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2022 8:22pm

Posts: 1

star1 helpful points

Location: Teror

Joined: 14 Aug 2022

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2022 8:22pm

In relation to driving licenses I just came across the latest news and looks like it will be possible to swap UK driving license without a test : https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/At-last-an-agreement-is-made-for-the-exchange-of-UK-driving-licences

Sign up for free or login to reply to this topic

Want to reply to this topic? Login or register for free to post your message:

Find more Brexit and the EU topics from a particular area: