FAQ: Basics

Below are some of the things I’m most often asked. If anyone has a question, please do read through them to see if it has already been answered. If not, just post it in the comment box at the bottom of the page. Just click on any question to expand it to show the answer.

DOCUMENTATION

Is it true that we have to carry an original ID document – in our case a passport – with us at all times? What of those who don't want to have to carry their original passport?

Yes, carrying ID is a legal requirement, but the new Citizen Security law (aka the gag law) does not require this to be a passport: it allows for the ID to be an EU driver’s photo licence instead. Spanish police say, however, that although this is the case as far as they are concerned, private businesses or non-police legal entities, e.g. banks, may impose other requirements. Since this is the case, a passport is the safest thing for ID purposes, but obviously many people worry about it being lost or stolen. The easiest solution is for people to go to a notary and ask for a notarized copy, which is a photocopy made by the notary himself, on notarized paper, and with a notarial stamp and seal on it. It becomes an “original” passport as far as Spain is concerned … and so avoids the need to carry the booklet one issued in the UK. It costs just a few Euros. That will satisfy the police and anyone else.

Do I need a Spanish Will?

Technically no. The most important thing is to have a UK Will because without a valid Will of any sort in place, your assets could end up being disposed of according to Spanish Law which could even mean, in the worst case scenario, that a spouse could not inherit all the entire estate. Having said that, a Spanish Will will make the whole process more straightforward and less expensive. The procedures will also be able to be completed much more rapidly, and so ensure that no late submission or late payment problems arise with inheritance tax.

For foreigners fiscally resident in Spain, EU regulation 650/2012, in force from 17 August 2015, requires Wills to contain a specific clause of preference as to the national law applicable – most British people will want British law to apply, and this must be expressly stated for security and peace of mind. Anyone making a new Will will find that this clause is automatically inserted; anyone with an existing Will drawn up in the last year or so should check their Will to ensure that the clause was inserted; anyone with an older existing Will, or a recent one without the clause, should get a new Will drawn up if they wish to ensure that British law applies to their Will in the event of their death. Please note that this applies only to those who are resident for tax purposes in Spain. Non-residents do not need to be concerned about this because the law applicable to their Wills will be that of the country in which they are resident – i.e. the UK.

To draw up a will, just go to any notary. All notaries have staff dedicated to foreigners’ wills, and they all speak good English. Obviously if the provisions of a will are not basic or standard, then qualified legal help from a lawyer is preferable to draw up the will properly. For most basic cases, however, it is not necessary.

How do I get an electronic signature or digital certificate to book appointments online, request empadronamientos, and the like?

You need to request a digital certificate and then you’re given a code which you take to the town hall. There you’ll be put in the computer with the code and will be sent an email with a link to finalise the process. Once you click the link it downloads the digital cert onto your computer, and then any time you try to do anything online, it automatically recognizes you from your computer … which is why you should only do any of this from your own computer. THIS link has the full information of how to do it.

How do I get a fishing licence?

Licences are issued by the regional government in Santa Cruz, see the link HERE. There are various categories and the normal is the third-class – angling and inshore fishing. (The first two categories are for fishing from recreational boats up to 3 nautical miles from the shore, or freedive spearfishing in certain areas). Of course, many anglers don’t actually bother, but for those who want to be legal, the place to start is the local council which will be able to advise whether it actually polices fishing in the municipality because it would be the Policía Local who would be responsible for any sanctions, and if they do, whether the council itself can issue a local licence or equivalent to serve as validation if the angler is checked by the local police. For those who go to Santa Cruz, this is how someone has described the procedure to me:

Just to let you know that I managed to get my fishing license without any fuss, and would like to pass on how easy it was. To get the permit, go to Oficino Multiple Usos 2 in Santa Cruz. Cross the road from the bus station, go down right to the bottom and the office is on the corner. You get a ticket from the machine on the ground floor, button P for Pesca. Wait for number on screen. Take passport. (not copy as stated on application form). You will be given an A4 document in tripulate to take to the bank. Pay €15.18, documents stamped & bank will retain one. Go back to the Oficina and get licence. I was given info from many different people not to go without interperator, but everyone I dealt with spoke very good English and were all extremely friendly, which make the whole thing very pleasant and pain free.

I have been looking in to getting a disabled badge for my car as my husband has difficulty walking. Some people say it takes a long time, but we need it NOW so can you help me with any info about how to go about it.

I’m afraid there’s no fast track for this. It’s a multi-stage, multi-location application, first to the town hall, who will ask for a medical report from the doctor: you can’t do this bit in advance because you need the town hall to specify what they need the report to say. Then you’ll be called for an assessment appointment with the Canarian Government in Santa Cruz, but there is a very long waiting list for this. After the assessment, you get a “level of disability” notice, and then you return to the town hall to apply for the badge, the type of which is given depending on the level of disability granted. In terms of length of process, I’m afraid that you are probably talking of a minimum of a year, perhaps nearer two.

Just to clarify a couple of things that often confuse people. First, UK blue badges are valid here, but only for visitors: anyone who lives here is required to apply for a badge issued here. Secondly, blue badges here entitle holders to park in designated disabled spaces and blue zones, but don’t allow drivers to park just anywhere, on double yellow lines, for example, or parking spaces reserved for (or owned by) private individuals.

Do I have to register my dog?

I have been told I have no choice and have to to renew my insurance policy because I didn't give two months notice. Is this correct?

NIE & REGISTRO

What are a white and green NIE and what's the difference between them?

All the information about these basic documents is HERE, and there is also a quick and simple guide HERE. Basically, though, a NIE (white) is just a number to identify foreigners when they are conducting official transactions in Spain, whereas the Registro (green) is a certificate given to foreigners who register (as they’re required to do by law) as foreigners living permanently in Spain.

Can we sort out our Registro ourselves?

Yes, you can do it yourself, of course! You just need an application form and modelo (a prepayment form), and a copy of your passport and the evidence required of work or money in the bank – all as detailed HERE. The police on the information desk have enough English to deal with this, and when you go back to make the actual application, no language is really needed at all, and it’s often done in silence.

Is there an expiry date for the green Certificado de Registro?

No. It is possible that a Registro is not permanent to begin with, they are normally for five years, but under EU law (Directive 2004/38), registrants cannot be made to register twice, and so they are permanent in effect. They can be renewed for ones that say “permanent” if preferred, but this is a matter of choice. The conditions applied to new resident registrants to prove income, work, or pension status, do not apply to renewals.

When applying for my green Registro certificate, do I need to have a spanish bank account or is this optional?

It is not a legal requirement as such, but the other requirements make it very difficult to imagine a situation where you wouldn’t have one. Whether your’e working or self employed, or retired and bringing pension funds over, a bank account would be essential. And if you’re paying rent, or setting up direct debits for utilities on an owned property, again a bank account would be essential.

Do I need to change address on my Certificado de Registro (green certificate) when I move?

Yes. Although foreigners can never be required to renew their Registro certificates because they cannot be required to register more than once as a foreigner living in Spain (see HERE), article 14.2 of the law HERE says that any changes to nationality, marital status or address, or any other factor that might affect their right to reside in Spain, must be notified to the Extranjeria – the Comisaría (police station) in Playa de las Américas or, for those in the north, in Puerto de la Cruz – for “modification” of the certificate.

Why are NIEs only valid for 3 months?

RESIDENTS & NON-RESIDENTS

Please can you explain the difference between 'resident', 'non-resident', and 'tax resident' status?

When someone comes to live in Spain, they have to register with the police. When they do so, they’re given a registration certificate which is called various names – residencia, green card, green NIE – but it’s proper name is Certificado de Registro. As far as banks are concerned, the Registro is the document they require for someone to open or maintain a “resident” account. A non-resident is someone who has interests here but who doesn’t live here: if they have a bank account it will be a non-resident account, and for this they require a Certificado No Residente (non-resident certificate). See THIS page for a more detailed explanation. Tax residence is a different issue, and neither the Certificado de Registro nor the Certificado No Residente, not even the NIE, have anything to do with it. Simply put, tax residency is automatically deemed to take place wherever you’re living after you’ve been out of the UK for around six months: see THIS page for a definition from a tax expert.

How do we get the resident discount on Spanish flights?

The resident travel discount is available for anyone living in the Canaries, Balearics, or the two Spanish cities in North Africa, Ceuta and Melilla. It is for any type of travel within Spain, and is available to anyone with a passport and a Certificado de Registro to prove legal residence in Spain, and who is also registered on the padron of a local Ayuntamiento – this is to prove that the traveller actually does live in an area where residents are entitled to the discount. Under the Government’s automated travel booking system (SARA), registration on a council padron is checked automatically, but the systems fails sometimes and occasionally details don’t match precisely, so it is advisable to carry a paper Empadronamiento in case the system rejects the discount – please note you specifically need an Empadronamiento “para viajar” (for travel) not just a regular Certificado de Empadronamiento.

Until mid 2018, the discount is of 50% on travel within Spain and 75% on travel between the Canary Islands. From July 2018, the discount is being increased to 75% across the board, flights and ferries, and for travel not just to the mainland but also to the Balearics and Ceuta and Melilla (see HERE).

Please also note that this is a Government system for resident travel discount. Discounts for entry to events and venues, and indeed so-called “resident discounts” on goods and services, have nothing to do with this scheme, and are unofficial, and organized privately and separately.

I understand that foreign residents have to declare property and bank accounts in the held UK before 31.03.13. Is this correct and how does one do this?

I've been told by someone that non-residents need a 'financial adviser' as a foreigner in Spain, and I don't know whether I need an accountant or lawyer. I've also heard of a gestor. What do I need?

First of all, you don’t need a “financial adviser”. This used to be a legal requirement for foreigners in Spain but it is no longer so. There is, though, a range of professionals and the names can be confusing. In order, these are:

gestor – a general purpose administrator who deals with bureaucratic procedures (Tráfico, licences, etc) and who should have basic qualifications since the profession is regulated;
asesor – an adviser as well as an administrator, what we might easily call an “expert”, and will normally specialise in a particular area – e.g. an asesor fiscal, an asesor laboral, etc. Foreigners normally come across them in their asesor fiscal guise, where they might be most easily compared with a certified as opposed to a chartered accountant. An asesor has a higher level qualification than a gestor, and will also be registered since the profession is regulated. It is actually an offence for someone to call themselves an asesor if they are not, which puts them on a level with accountants and lawyers;
contador – a fully qualified accountant who is normally only needed if tax affairs are complex or international in nature;
abogado – a lawyer, who has all the legal and professional status and qualifications that one would expect a lawyer to have.

Can I vote in Tenerife if I live there?

Anyone who lives in Tenerife can register with their local council. When they do so they are added to the list of local residents – the “padron”. To register, you need to show that you’re resident in the council area, and so will need to provide ID plus proof of where you’re living, either a rental contract or escritura if an owner. Once on the padron, residents can also request to be added to the census, which is the equivalent of the electoral list, and it is this that entitles them to vote. Municipalities welcome people registering because their regional funding depends on numbers: the more people registered, the more funds a municipality receives, and so it is in everyone’s interest that local residents register on the padron.

I'm returning to live in the UK. Do I have to do anything here before I go?

There are certain requirements for anyone leaving Spain to go back to the UK. Apart from anything else, a registered certified proof of this from the authorities here will help to show “intent to remain in the UK” should you need to pass an habitual residency claim for any benefits. The first thing is to deregister with the police and revoking your Certificado de Registro. Then you should inform your local town hall so that they can remove your details from the padron. You should also tell your surgery that you’re de-registering with the doctor. Bear in mind, too, that you might be asked for a criminal record certificate when applying for work in the UK, so it might be worth sorting that out in advance because it’s easier to do here than after you’re back in the UK. Details in English on how to do this are HERE.

It is important to be aware that if you are registered for social security contributions here, you must deregister otherwise your obligations and debts will continue to mount up in Spain – and could be recoverable through the UK Inland Revenue. On a positive note, however, any contributions made here can contribute to your future pension in the UK so if you’ve worked at all in Spain you should apply for a Vida Laboral. As far as I’m aware you can ask for this at any social security office, but there’s more information HERE.

I live in Tenerife - can I be married here?

Residents can marry legally in Tenerife, and if Catholics, can marry in a church as the registering body. For non-Catholic residents, the normal route is a register office, and for this, full ID is needed, including proof of legal residence (i.e. Certificado de Registro), and birth certificates. There will also need to be a “certificate of no-impediment to marriage” which is obtained from the consulate who can also validate the birth certificates. It is also possible that certified proof of marital status will be required in addition to the “no impediment”. In all this, the consulate will be your starting point. The last time I looked into it for someone a few years ago the starting cost was around €600 for the full documentation.

Many people choose to go to Gibraltar for the legal marriage ceremony – far less onerous in terms of paperwork because it’s British – and then have a wedding celebrant here do the “wedding”. Do note that wedding celebrants do not actually “marry” people because they are not legally empowered to perform the ceremony, and so what the celebrant is equivalent to a blessing rather than an official wedding ceremony as such, but for those who have a legal civil ceremony in a Spanish register office or go to Gibraltar for a British ceremony, wedding celebrants can offer a tailored wedding blessing in a dream environment.

Do British pensioners living in Tenerife still get the heating allowance?

The Winter Fuel Payment was made until 2014 after which it was abolished for some pensioners living abroad as part of the Conservative Government cuts. Now those who live in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal or Spain are no longer entitled to it.

Just to clarify, because I’ve been asked more than once, someone living here permanently but using a UK address is not entitled to the payment … because anyone claiming benefits to which they are not properly entitled is committing benefits fraud.

DRIVING

Is there a highway code in English in Spain?

Is there a Spanish Highway Code?

Do I need to exchange my British driving licence for a Spanish one once I'm living in Tenerife?

Not necessarily.

Drivers living in Spain who already have the usual photocard licences with clear ten year expiry dates do not have to do anything about them until the licence expires, and when it does, they will be required to renew here, as their country of residence. This means that they will need to exchange for a Spanish licence at that point.

But, from January 2016 UK drivers who are resident in Spain and who have a licence with an expiry date of more than 15 years (or is indefinitely valid) must exchange their British licence for a Spanish one before its expiry date. Such drivers have up to two years from the date at which they registered as resident in Spain to do so.

It’s all part of an attempt to harmonize licensing legislation across the EU, and the reason for the 15-year- or indefinite validity limit is that such British licences are specifically British and not EU compatible, whereas the 10-year photocard ones are already EU compliant. Following Brexit, all this might therefore change in the future for British drivers within the EU, but nothing will become clear in this respect until the negotiations are finished.

Having said all of that, there are nothing but advantages for anyone living here to exchanging a UK licence for a Spanish one, e.g. its effective use as an ID card, and you don’t have to pay fines on the spot if you have one.

What are the speed limits on Spanish roads?

I've heard that I need to change my uk licence for a spanish one even though I'm not living there if I stay for longer than 90 days. Is this correct?

This is possibly a confusion with the requirement to register with the police once living here for three months. The key words are “living here”, so if you’re here more than 90 days but not actually “living here”, e.g. on a long holiday, then no, you are non-resident and do not have to register with the police – or change your licence. The best thing will be to have a Certificado No-Residente – if you have any dealings here, like a bank account, then you will need one anyway – which will be accepted by the traffic police as proof that you’re not resident should you find yourself in a situation where they’re considering fining you as a resident who hasn’t changed their driving licence. See THIS page too.

Do I need a medical to change my driving licence?

Can I drive in Spain on a UK provisional licence?

No. Anyone who drives in Spain must have a valid licence. A provisional licence is for learner drivers only, and not valid for qualified drivers in the UK, let alone elsewhere; indeed, learners cannot drive in Spain even if accompanied by a qualified driver, but must be accompanied by a qualified registered driving instructor. Needless to say, apart from any fine incurred, anyone driving without the correct licence for Spain will not be covered by insurance even if they think they are.

To be clear, because I am astonished at how often I am asked this, under Spanish and EU law, drivers are only allowed to drive outside their home country if they have a valid licence. A UK provisional licence is a learner’s licence, issued by the UK and used by British drivers in the UK only while they are learning to drive before they take their test. It is therefore not a full licence, and therefore not valid. There is no exception to this rule.

Are dashcams legal?

The answer is a slightly qualified “yes”. They are legal but there are data protection issues because they film publicly and could contain images of police doing their job which is not normally permitted. And so, police may never be filmed, and indeed, unless permission is obtained, footage which shows the faces of members of the public or their vehicles’ numberplates cannot be published in any way including posts on social media. Dashcams are also only legal if properly fitted and secured, and not actually manipulated while driving, and they may not affect the drivers’ view of the road and surroundings.

We are selling our car privately. What are the correct procedures to follow and documents to present to Trafico?

You’ll need to provide the permiso, registration document, ITV, road tax and your own ID. There’ll also need to be a sale contract – leaving the sale price blank (this is put in by Tráfico themselves according to their official valuation and the tax for the transfer is based on that). There’ll also be a form to fill in with Tráfico itself. Almost more importantly than all this, though, is to retain control of the process: obviously the buyer will want to have control as well, and in fact the transfer is the buyer’s legal responsibility, but there are far too many stories of vehicle owners “selling” their car and then finding that the paperwork was never processed. This means that any fines or charges levied against the vehicle will come straight to the old owner’s door, and involve them in having to make official declarations, etc. My recommendation would be that both seller and buyer agree an independent gestor to take care of the process, then both sides can be reassured that it is done properly, and that it is actually done at all!

What are the rules about disability scooters?

The police say that the following rules govern mobility vehicles, invalid carriages and electric wheelchairs:

You don’t need a licence to drive a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair.
All vehicles can be used on footpaths, pavements, bridleways, and in pedestrian areas. The specific rules are dependent on bylaws established council by council, and so will vary. When it comes to the use of personal mobility vehicles on roads, police supply THESE criteria from Tráfico in the absence of specific regulation. Needless to say, mobility vehicles must never be used in bus lanes, ‘cycle only’ lanes, or on the motorway.
All normal parking restrictions apply.
They do not have to be registered.
Insurance is not a legal requirement, though police strongly advise a policy to cover personal safety, other people’s safety and the value of the vehicle.
There is no vehicle tax.
Drivers will be required by law to pay compensation if they have an accident which was their fault.
Vehicles designed to carry two people are not defined as an “invalid carriage” and so cannot be used on public pavements or roads. With regard to children, the law does not explicitly ban an adult carrying an infant in a sling but it is not permitted to carry anyone else on a mobility vehicle e.g. children standing on the vehicle, or another adult sitting on the drivers lap, etc

Can we bring our British car to Tenerife and drive it legally?

You can bring you car here and drive it perfectly legally provided it’s legally on the road in the UK, but after six months it will need matriculating, i.e. to be put on Spanish registration plates (regulations HERE). This can be tricky and/or expensive, so it’s best to check whether it’s possible before you start. Ask mechanics as well as paperwork people because there will be mechanical work involved in adapting the vehicle to Spanish specifications in order to matriculate, and a garage which would do this would almost certainly also take care of the paperwork for you.

Am I entitled to a guarantee if I buy a second-hand car in Tenerife?

Some second-hand car businesses argue that they are only obliged to give a six month guarantee, others that the guarantee only covers certain parts of the vehicle, and yet others argue both! All are wrong. For second-hand vehicles bought from a business the law requires a one-year guarantee against any fault at all that was not obvious at the time of purchase. The relevant legislation is article 125 of Ley General para la Defensa de los Consumidores y los Usuarios, and articles 1461 & 1484 of the Código Civil. When vehicles are bought from private individuals rather than garages, there’s a six-month period in which the vendor has to respond to any problems.

What are the drink driving limits?

The legal limits are strict: 0.50 mg alcohol per litre of blood/0.25 mg per litre of exhaled air (for professional drivers and those within the first two years of their licences, those limits are reduced further to 0.30 and 0.15). In August 2013 fines were increased from €500 to €1,000. As a general guide, two small glasses of wine or one small can of beer reaches the limit for a man of average build and weighing around 12 stone. When it comes to drugs, the limit is zero, and police say that detectable traces can remain even six hours after taking drugs. For more information see HERE and HERE.

What are the rules for child seats?

Can you drive in flipflops?

It’s not illegal to drive in flipflops BUT, the law requires footwear to be comfortable and, above all, safe, and Tráfico says that it does not consider flipflops to be safe primarily because they have no heel. So, although technically not against the law, a fine for driving unsafely is always a possibility if wearing flipflops or indeed any mules or shoes without heels, and if involved in an accident whilst wearing them where there is no other obvious cause, a charge of dangerous driving is an actual likelihood. And for all those who think this is a “Spanish oddity”, the same applies in the UK! See HERE.

Why don't the Spanish know how to use roundabouts?

Despite popular mythology, there are clear rules for use of roundabouts in Spain. HERE is a Guardia Civil Tráfico page with links to explanations, including an infographic HERE. In a nutshell, the rules work exactly as in the UK except in the case of going straight on at a roundabout. In the UK, one can use either lane of a two-lane roundabout. In Spain, one must use the right hand (outside) lane, leaving the left hand (inside) lane for cars taking an exit more than halfway round the roundabout. All cars must exit the roundabout from the outside lane, so even if using the inside lane to go more than halfway round a roundabout, drivers must move into the outside lane before exiting. HERE is a Policía Local animation video of the correct way to use roundabouts. The speed limit on roundabouts, regardless of all other factors and unless explicitly stated otherwise, is 40 km/h.

Who has right of way on a pedestrian crossing?

Article 65 of the Reglamento General de Circulación says that drivers have priority except:

a) at pedestrian crossings.
b) when turning into another road where pedestrians are crossing, whether there’s a pedestrian crossing or not,
c) when the vehicle has to go onto a pavement.

The law is clear: if someone is on a crossing, drivers must stop, but pedestrians cannot just walk onto a crossing and expect a driver to stop on a sixpence. Indeed the law requires drivers to stop safely, and if they cannot do so because a pedestrian steps out unexpectedly, the pedestrian will be the one at fault.

What are the rules about cyclists?

Despite widespread belief to the contrary, cyclists can ride two abreast in Spain, but only if there is enough visibility for oncoming traffic … and providing there are not vehicles waiting to overtake. So, to be clear, if cyclists are two abreast and there are vehicles behind them, they must ride in single file. An important related rule is that cars overtaking cyclists must leave a minimum of 1.5m leeway on all roads and in all circumstances, and if a car is coming from the opposite direction, a cyclist may not be overtaken even if a 1.5m leeway exists. Tráfico confirms (link) that drivers can even cross a central white line where safe to do so in order to leave this required overtaking margin. All cyclists under 18 must now wear a safety helmet on all roads, regardless of where they’re cycling (previously youngsters were only required to wear a helmet on urban roads). Despite pressure groups requesting for legislation requiring adults to wear safety helmets, this has not been included in the latest law (see HERE). I’m not aware that cyclists are required to have insurance. Finally, drink driving rules and penalties apply equally to cyclists as to drivers and riders of motorized vehicles.

What do I have to carry in the car?

It is compulsory for drivers to carry the following in a car: two warning triangles, one reflective vest, spare wheel plus tools to change it. As of 2015, it is no longer mandatory to carry spare light bulbs or a spare pair of glasses. In addition, drivers must have the following documentation with them (or compulsados – officially stamped or notarized copies): driving licence; ITV sticker and report; permiso de circulación (equivalent to the log book). It is not obligatory to carry the following documentation in the car, but it is advisable: impuesto de circulación (road tax paid to the ayuntamiento); insurance certificate and proof of payment; European Accident Form which should be filled out by both parties involved in an accident – here is a police graphic on how to fill out the form.

What are the rules for taking dogs in a car?

Driving and road safety legislation focuses on drivers having good vision and safety, eg footwear must be “safe” rather than specifying any type that’s banned, and in respect of animals, this legislation requires packages and animals inside a vehicle to be appropriately secured.

Tráfico says that “appropriately secured” for animals is that which prevents movement which could interfere with the driver’s vision and command of the vehicle. The three approved methods are anchored harnesses, separation grilles (behind which the animal doesn’t need to be tied), or closed carrying transporters – bags, boxes, cages, crates etc.

So, dogs must be secured, and there are various “advised methods”, but nothing is prohibited. Leads, which police say don’t contain animals properly and can risk strangling, are specifically named, in the same way as flipflops, as “not recommended”, but they are not banned. And so, just as with drivers wearing flipflops, if there were an accident and the police felt that something was inappropriate, they could and probably would issue a fine on that basis.

HEALTHCARE

Who is entitled to free healthcare in Tenerife?

Anyone who is making social security contributions – either employed or self-employed – or who is a state pensioner who has registered their S1 with the social security. Apart from that, there are a few cases where seconded workers or students may be entitled, but as with pensioners, this healthcare is actually covered by the UK and should be confirmed and put into motion before arrival in Tenerife. Anyone else who registered as a resident in Spain after September 2012 will almost certainly need private medical insurance. Those who registered before that date, and who has remained legally resident throughout, and who has an annual income of under €100,000, and who has no other healthcare cover, can apply to be registered for free healthcare in Spain as a resident (see HERE and HERE).

How do I get to see a doctor in Tenerife?

The British Government’s Healthcare in Spain team have produced THIS guide on seeing a doctor. It covers tourists and temporary visitors, permanent residents who are registered with a doctor, and permanent residents who are not.

In an emergency, patients can go straight to a hospital. In the north there are several hospitals, primarily Candelaria and HUC: both are on the TF5 between Santa Cruz and La Laguna. The south is not so well served, but there is a state system Accident and Emergency Unit in the new El Mojón Hospital in the Chayofa area five minutes drive up from Los Cristianos. There is also an A&E Unit in Hospitén Sur (usually called the Green Hospital) in Playa de las Américas: this is a mixed state-private hospital, however, and they will always try to treat with insurance. Until further notice, anyone who needs to be admitted after being seen as an emergency under the state system will be sent to one of the hospitals in the north.

It is vital that you read the page on Using your EHIC in Spain (and the links within the article itself) to understand how the system works for everyone – visitor, resident registered with a doctor, resident not registered with a doctor – before presenting for emergency treatment. For residents of all types, whether workers or pensioners or of other status, please see Diana McGowan’s easy to use grid of documents needed for registration at a local GP’s surgery HERE.

Does my EHIC give me healthcare cover?

As a patient, do I have the right to change my doctor?

We are not of retirement age but are hoping to move out to Tenerife. My husband gets free prescription for everything here in the UK. What will the position be for us there?

Until you are in receipt of UK state pension there’s no reciprocal assistance, so until the elder one reaches retirement age, you would need private cover. Once one of you is of retirement age, the other will be registered as a dependant. Have a look HERE for UK regs, but also bear in mind that anyone coming to live in Spain has to register with the police, and one of the conditions is healthcare cover, either private insurance or an S1 giving UK-funded health cover.

Once you have the S1 cover with healthcare provided by Spain but paid for by the UK, you will also need a UK-issued EHIC for healthcare back in the UK if you return for a visit. Most residents in Spain need a Spanish European health card because their cover is by Spain, but pensioners are different. European traveller health cards must be issued by the country which provides the cover for healthcare, which is sometimes different from the country which provides the actual care.

The relevant people to speak to are the Overseas Healthcare Team at the Department for Work and Pensions:
Overseas Healthcare Team
Room MO401
Durham House
Washington
Tyne & Wear
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE38 7SF
Tel: 0191 218 1999 from the UK or +44 (0)191 218 1999 from abroad, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm

More info HERE

What private health insurance is available in Tenerife for people who can't get state cover?

Is there a state pay-in system for healthcare as opposed to private insurance for people who aren't working but who aren't retired either?

How long am I covered with the spanish health system from leaving one job to finding another contracted employment?

Generally, cover continues for three months after you stop working, unless there is an existing condition for which you are receiving treatment, in which case cover increases to a year. Once cover has finished, you can still apply to be in the system as a person “sin recursos”, which would involve proving lack of resources to pay for private healthcare. You would also need to prove legal residence in Spain, and get a document from your home country confirming lack of entitlement to cover from that country in Spain. For absolute certainty with regard to your own particular circumstances, check either with your gestor, or local social security office.

Can I receive medication through the post and could I send things such as a pouch of tobacco / cigarettes back to the UK ?

Can I be a blood donor in Tenerife?

There are often calls for blood donations, whether because supplies in general are running low or because a particular group is needed. Unfortunately, anyone, whether British or not, who was in the UK for more than twelve months (consecutively or in total) between January 1980 and December 1996, the period in which meat was not controlled cannot heed these calls because Spain, like most other EU countries, has rules in place due to fears about CJD. This information has been confirmed to me personally by the British Foreign Office, and in addition, the Spanish emergency services confirm it thus:

En relación a su consulta, por normativa de la UE, no puede trasfundirse sangre de personas (británicos o no) que hayan estado más de 12 meses (consecutivos o en total) en Reino Unido entre 1980 y 1996, la etapa en la que la carne no estaba controlada.

Can I get an international vaccination for travel to the far east in Tenerife?

My partner is working and I've been told I can get healthcare through his social security payments. Is this true?

Yes. If you’re a legally recognized partner of someone who is covered for healthcare you can be registered (at Granadilla Social Security offices) as a dependent, and then you can register with a doctor too. You won’t need to be paying social security yourself, but you will need to be registered as both living here legally (and so having a Certificado de Registro) and can prove you’re a live-in partner, so either with a marriage certificate or a Certificado de Convivencia which you get from your local Ayuntamiento.

WORKING

I'm going to be working self-employed (autonomo), and I've heard that I'd be expected to pay a minimum of €200 per month in social security payments. Are there any other options like using a EHIC?

What do I need to get a social security number so I can apply for work ?

I work for a restaurant without a contract as yet,can you tell me if the inspectors decide to check this place out, would I, as well as the owner, be liable for a fine ?

What restrictions apply to someone wanting to work in Tenerife?

BANKS

I am moving to Tenerife in a few weeks and would like to open a bank account before I arrive, is this possible?

Do you need need more than one non-resident certificate if you have more than one bank account. As far as I can see we are being charged €30 each by Bankinter and €29.50 each by lacaixa for the same thing.

How much can I pay into the bank before they report me to the Hacienda? Is it still €3,000

Everything can be reported to Hacienda now, but more importantly, Hacienda can request full details of anybody’s bank account at any time. The limit you’re thinking of is the amount that can be paid in in cash without identifying the person making the transaction, and two years ago that was reduced to €1,000 … or rather, €999.99. Banks are required to identify the customer making any cash operations of €1,000 or over and to store a digitised copy of their ID. Of course, if the person making the transaction is the same as the account holder, the bank is already obliged to have their ID digitised anyway.

To prevent customers avoiding this limit by splitting large transactions into smaller ones, banks are also instructed that if the sum of smaller transactions exceeds €1,000, the customer must be identified just the same. It’s perhaps also worth noting that banks are now also required to report to Hacienda all other countries in which a customer may have tax obligations so that tax authorities can share information internationally, and also to report to Hacienda any change in a customer’s personal details or circumstances right down to modifications of their contact details.

Can you advise us on the best Bank to open an account with?

Apart from the fact that “best” is a subjective term – what is best for one person may not be best for another – the key is to recognize that banks here are very branch-focused. This means that once you’re with a particular branch, it is very difficult sometimes to do anything in any other branch – even of the same bank. And this can even extend down to a simple withdrawal of cash, let alone more complicated transactions. And so my advice is always to choose the branch that is most convenient, regardless (pretty much) of which bank it is. The charges will be much of a muchness – and appalling – regardless of which actual bank you choose, and will only vary really according to the “products” they are able to sell you as part of a new account.

A FINAL WORD

I’m often asked for “general” and/or “positive” advice, nothing specific, just things to bear in mind. I know full well that people want me to tell them that it’s a brilliant idea to move here, that the sun shines all the time, that the people are friendly, that the cost of living is cheap, and that it will be wonderful … just a few minor bureacratic hoops to jump through first.

The reality is different, and I have now had to say the following so many times that I decided to put it here as a postscript to all the individual answers above.

The best advice is to learn Spanish before you come because work is very difficult to find unless you’re prepared to work for low wages in a bar or in commission-only sales, or similar, and any good jobs will require very good Spanish. Be prepared, too, to do something other than what you’re familiar with. Flexibility will open your mind to employment possibilities you might not have considered – and most working people here are employed in fields other than those they were in before they arrived.

Come with enough money to last for at least six months because it can take longer to set oneself up here than you’d imagine. The average wage is around €12,000 to give you an idea, and although the cost of living is lower here, it has risen over recent years. And while talking about money, be under no illusions whatsoever – in Tenerife there will be any number of people who will be your BFF within five minutes with the sole purpose of taking it all off you.

Above all, trust no-one. Everyone has a story, and out of our own environment, without familiar social and cultural clues by which we judge everything without realising it, we cannot tell when we’re being lied to or conned. Sometimes it’s obvious – the former chief executive of a multi-national corporation is hardly likely to be the bottle washer in a bar with dirty tables and plastic seats, though one never knows, I suppose! – but most of the time it is utterly impossible to judge people’s own versions of their former lives.

This is the best advice I can give.

84 Comments

Hi Janet We intended to live and work in Tenerife 5 years ago bringing mum out to spend time with us. Unfortunately after signing up for residency mum passed away. We carried on visiting our property in Tenerife regularly but kept our main residence in U.K. We are retired and visit around 6 months out of the year but are unsure if we have to cancel our residency and return back to non resident status. If we stay as residents are we expected to pay any taxes as we live only on private pensions which are paid and already taxed in England. Very grateful for any advice you can offer. Many thanks.

David

13 April 2018

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Yes, if you have registered as residents with the police, and have a Certificado de Registro (also often called green certificate, green NIE), but don’t live here, you should deregister. The registration (which you are calling “residency”) is issued to foreigners who have made an official declaration that they are living in Spain (see HERE).

Your situation is that of a non-resident – both physically and fiscally. As physical non-residents you should not be registered with the police as living here, and assuming you’re not here for more than around six months a year you will not be not tax-resident either. Those who are not tax resident but who own a property here are required to submit annual returns for “deemed notional rental income” (see HERE).

For what it’s worth, while you have declared you are living here permanently, you should have been submitting resident tax returns in any case (see HERE).

Janet

13 April 2018

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hi Janet,

gov.uk site says…

“After you have been registered as a resident for five years, you can apply for a certificate of permanent residence in Spain. You will be issued with a similar credit card size Residence Certificate, but it will additionally state that you are a permanent resident (residente permanente).”

any idea how i go about doing this?

with brexshit on the horizon i thought it might be a good idea as it gives more rights to move around europe.

thanks

david

David Lawlor

23 April 2018

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Author

It is very simple, you just go back to the police station and reapply as before, prepay the tasa … and you get a new green Registro (card sized) with the word “permanente” on it. Please note, however, that it won’t give you additional rights to those you currently enjoy with your existing Registro. The renewal is entirely optional, please have a read HERE for the full details.

Please note, just for absolute clarity, that this refers to the optional renewal of a Certificado de Registro and not a NIE.

Janet

23 April 2018

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Thanks Janet. I will need to change my address soon so I can kill 2 birds with one stone. Hopefully jejeje.

Just for interest i hought permanent gave more rights because on various places it says that you can move to another country for up to 3 months, with permanent residency and up to six with permission without losing right to live here which I thought might be useful if we are leaving.

David Lawlor

24 April 2018

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no, the regulations are quite clear and explained above. Up to three months, no-one needs to register as “living in Spain”, so does not get a Certificado de Registro (also called residencia/green cert/green NIE). After three months, anyone living here (i.e. not here on a four-month holiday) needs to register and gets the Registro.

After five years legal residence a foreigner living in Spain automatically gains the right to “permanent residence” … automatically, without re-registering … and those who wish to have a Registro with the word “permanente” on it can get one, but this is not a requirement and does not affect anyone’s rights.

The only time a six month rule comes into play is for tax residence purposes.

These are Spain’s rules as a sovereign nation and an EU member state, and nothing to do with the UK, or Brexit, as such.

Janet

24 April 2018

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Hello Janet, on the subject of healthcare, I have searched your FAQ’s and although close it does not quite pinpoint my query. In brief, my wife and I have been permanent residents since 2009 and have worked and paid into the system as self-employed until December 2016. We have NEI, residencia and Spanish health cards. We are not yet at retirement age. As residents of Spain do we qualify for health care here. According to Spanish citizens advice bureau we do, but I am also receiving conflicting stories. Can you advise please. Many thanks, Paul

Paul Kettle

10 May 2018

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Qualification is based on contributions but they have to be recent and ongoing … for example there need to be contributions for three months in the previous year as far as I understand it. And so, in your case, you might have stopped paying into the system too long ago unless you were already being treated beforehand (in which case cover is extended for a year).

Janet

10 May 2018

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I bought a ring for my girlfriend and the stone has come out, can i ask for another one, or it to be repaired

Dee

27 June 2018

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Author

yes of course! Go back to the store, ask for a replacement stone, and if they aren’t helpful, ask for the complaints book, and then possibly also go to the council’s consumer affairs office.

Janet

27 June 2018

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I’m trying to request a criminal record check for a new job. I have a digital certificate so am trying to pay the Tasa online and the form is asking me for a 13 digit número de justificación, I am stuck. Can you tell me what this is please.

Paul Kettle

16 July 2018

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Author

Sorry, Paul, on this occasion I can’t help. I simply don’t know. Apologies.

Janet

16 July 2018

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No problems, thanks anyway.

Paul Kettle

16 July 2018

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Hello Janet.

I am living in the North of Tenerife and struggling to find a notary who speaks English or has a translator. Do you know of any notaries based in La laguna who speak English or translators? Thank you.

Amy

14 August 2018

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I’m sorry but I don’t know of any specifically but I would expect to find someone who can speak English in all of them!

Janet

14 August 2018

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hi Janet
I’ve been living in Tenerife for 12 years, and now time to move on! thinking of going to main land Spain,
so my question is will all my NIE and Social and residencies count for anything over there, I know we are part of Spain, but just wondered
thanks

kelvin

21 August 2018

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Author

yes because they are issued by the Policía Nacional – it’s a national system.

Janet

21 August 2018

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Hi Janet…always value your advice…struggling to find an answer anywhere to a query about importing a motorcycle to Tenerife from mainland Spain (which is on Spanish plates etc). I see and understand the situation when importing from a country elsewhere in the EU but nothing when buying in Spain and taking it by ferry to Tenerife. Cost of the bike I am looking at (second-hand BMW) is ridiculous in the Canaries….so much cheaper on the mainland. Any info very gratefully received.

Eric Murray

13 September 2018

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The registration will be Spanish so no problems in that respect. If you’re talking tax, then I don’t see why any should be payable here because you’re just travelling with a Spanish vehicle within Spain, rather than “importing”.

Janet

14 September 2018

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An agent in Lanzarote seems to suggest that there are some taxes importing a vehicle (coche, moto, camiones) from the mainland, unless it is a change of residence for the owner – might be worth getting a quote from them to check ? http://cargolanzarote.es/como-traer-tu-coche-canarias/

Doreen

14 September 2018

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This is the difference, of course, with a country with such a devolved system of Government, where autonomous regions can impose taxes independently of the national Government … and this is why it’s certainly worth getting someone at least to give a quote, if not take care of the administration altogether, in such procedures.

Janet

15 September 2018

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Hello janet . We are wondering whether we need to verify the qualifications and autonomo sratus of builders and plumbers working on our house. They are mainly local people, not under a main employer, and we are being asked to pay in cash. Is it our responsibility to find out if they are declaring this work ?

Gill

29 September 2018

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Author

Technically, yes, you are legally responsible for checking workers are legal and have public liability and personal insurances. As to paying in cash, this is entirely normal but highly risky because you will have no means of proving anything for tax purposes (eg capital gains deductions on sale), nor for claiming recompense if there are problems, or more importantly, to show you have employed them legally if you are inspected or they have an accident.

Janet

29 September 2018

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Hi my husband has a full time work contract and residencia can I get my green nie if I am his dependant and can I register with a dr

Cathy

20 October 2018

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Author

You can register with the doctor once the Granadilla Social Security offie registers you as a dependent of your husband. As to your “green NIE”, please see HERE for the Certificado de Registro (which is its proper name) – how to register with the police and the requirements you have to fulfill before you will be able to do so. You should sort out the Registro with the police before registering at Granadilla for state healthcare cover.

Janet

20 October 2018

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Hi janet hope you are well, can you clarify something for me please, i still have my English plastic photo driving license im reading different comments about having or needing to change it, is it correct that i don’t have to change it till it expires? Or do i only have a certain length of time to replace it? Thanks again for your help

William

30 October 2018

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Author

I’ve moved your comment from the public holidays thread … please just see above, first question in the section titled “Driving”.

Janet

30 October 2018

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Janet and the team,

Well done for all your hard work on your web pages.
Apart from learning Spanish, it should be compulsory reading BEFORE coming over to Tenerife..

Quick point re the gent and his bank query , we had everything regarding money, INCLUDING our UK state pension, APOSTILLED before leaving the UK.
EVERYTHING including our lawyer,s dealings regarding the sale of this property and the bank went smoothly with these documents.

Again, thank you all

Gerry Shanks

31 October 2018

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I am a resident for 20 years living in the same property paying income tax, IBI and Basura. I have never thought to acquire a certificate de empadronmiento. If I do register in 2018 how can I demonstrate I have lived in the property for 20 years rather than the Certificate when issued only suggesting I’ve resided in the Property from 2018?

Harry Hutchings

30 November 2018

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You will only be able to acquire a certificate dated from the point at which you register. Since it has been a legal requirement for over six years now to register within three months of arrival, I don’t think it’s advisable to point out how long you’ve actually been here without complying. The certificate certainly could not be backdated anyway.

Janet

30 November 2018

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Harry, surely you must have an NIE as you have bought an apartment and are paying taxes etc. Do you just have the white A4 type or the Certificado de Registro, now a small green credit card size. I’m sure that when registered with the tax authorities we had to have a certificado de registro and that is more important than a Certificado de Empadronamiento for the purposes of establishing residence in Tenerife.

Stewart Kirby

30 November 2018

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There was a time, 15 years or so ago, when you didn’t need a NIE to buy a property, Stewart, so possibly Harry doesn’t have one. But he specifically referred to the possibility of registering (presumably with the police) and so he can’t have a Registro. The tax authorities don’t need that so it wouldn’t be flagged by them, and bear in mind that Harry could be paying income tax on a non-resident basis anyway.

There are very very many people here in the situation of having lived here for years without realising they had to register when the old residencia system was abolished in 2012 and replaced by the registration of foreigners living in Spain. Many were fully aware but decided anyway to ignore the requirement, even though it was a legal prerequisite to their lawful residence in the country. They are among the many who are now trying to regularize their situation before Brexit when they will no longer have the security of the EU’s umbrella to guarantee their right to remain in Spain.

Janet

30 November 2018

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Janet, he was talking about joining the Padrón. You need an NIE to do that.

Stewart Kirby

30 November 2018

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but that’s unnecessary … surely he means the police, which is the only registration we need right now!

Janet

30 November 2018

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He says Empadronamiento. I agree it’s the National Police he needs to register with if he has not already done. Being on the Padrón is a good thing but yes, not essential for proving residence.

Stewart Kirby

30 November 2018

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I come to Tenerife near Las Galletas for several months every year . Last week I discovered a charge for cash withdrawn from the ATM , I usually use. Has the law changed ? Are there any local ATM`s which dont charge for visa cards ?
I weant to avoid withdrawing the maximum amount everytime , which minimises the pro rata commision.

David Hargreaves

20 December 2018

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Author

No the law hasn’t changed … your bank’s policy, or that of your card provider, might have. You’ll need to check with the bank I’m afraid.

Janet

20 December 2018

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Hi Janet thanks for the great article about which are the actual papers you need I just wanted to check how you qualify for a Certificado de Registro – what does that mean do you have to live full time in Tenerife or as an owner do you qualify ? That ‘green’ card is the only one we don’t have ?

Cindy Simmons

21 December 2018

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Author

Please just see the first question in the second section “NIE & Registro” above.

Janet

21 December 2018

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Hi Janet could you advise on wether there is an entitlement to maintain my natural light and view , my next door neighbour is considering building an extension in front of his house that will block mine.
Many thanks in anticipation

Barry nelson

8 January 2019

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yes of course you are entitled! The extension must be approved by the local Ayuntamiento (an obra menor/mayor licence) and, if on a community, the community itself.

Janet

8 January 2019

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Thanks for the reply. The root of the problem instigating the need of the extension is due to another neighbour who has 11(eleven) cats. These cats are defecating , urinating and causing damage to other neighbors property in the community’. Can you give any advice on how to resolve this issue. My neighbor has spoken with the owner of the cats with no resolution.
Many thanks

Baz

9 January 2019

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Author

Please see the first section on THIS page.

Janet

9 January 2019

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Thanks for the advice

Baz

10 January 2019

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Hi Janet , we are resident here in Adeje casco for 3 years . We don’t work but are not quite Uk retirement age . When we got our green card residencia we took out private health insurance which was needed for residencia as we are not working . However the cost has risen each year so we wonder is there a way to pay into the Spanish system for healthcare that wouldn’t increase so rapidly … kind regards Mike

Michael Jones

11 February 2019

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Author

I’ve moved your query here – please have a look at the Healthcare section above.

Janet

11 February 2019

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Is it easy to obtain a Non-Residence Certificate from the police station and how much do they cost? Banca March usually deal with this for me but they charge 50 euros per certificate. What I really would like to know is what part of the 50 euros is for the certificate and what part are the bank charges?

Stephen Slack

6 March 2019

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It is easy, just like a NIE, and I believe the same cost as a NIE of €9.64. Please see HERE.

Janet

6 March 2019

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Hi, Janet, we are hoping to move to Tenerife within the next 6mths. Obviously with Brexit not being able to make up it’s own mind we are in a quandary. We are not yet of retirement age but I have to take 3 lots of medication for heart disease. Would I get this medication from pharmacy, how much would it cost and would it be covered with medical insurance.

Chris

14 March 2019

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Author

As things stand for the next fifteen days, if you have money in the bank and full private medical insurance you will be able to register with the police to live in Spain. That would make you legal, but you would have private medical insurance and so of course your prescriptions would not be covered by the state system though your medication would almost certainly be available in Spain as well as the UK, at least an equivalent brand would be. What might happen over the next fortnight, however, is anyone’s guess so I’m afraid the safest thing would be to wait to make your decision until things are clearer with regard to Brexit.

Janet

14 March 2019

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Hello Janet,
I have certificate de registro (green) I am staying in the UK with my aged parents for a few weeks. I may have to return to the UK to care for them a couple of times a year. Please could you tell me the time limits that I have for:
a) the number of days/year allowed out of Tenerife.
b) the number of days/year I have to be in Tenerife to keep my Certificate
c) if the days are total / year or a continuous period.

Thank you

Fiona

5 April 2019

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Author

At the moment you have full freedom of movement with no restrictions. That will come to an end with Brexit but I can’t advise what the situation will be because our future is to be determined by however Brexit develops or unravels. We will simply have to wait to find out what the situation will be.

Janet

5 April 2019

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Hello Janet,
Some advice please. 4 weeks prior to moving over to Tenerife my husband applied for our S1s..We moved across and waited for said documents to arrive, NOTHING. We contacted the relevant people in UK who confirmed the documents had been sent 2cweeks after our application; they stated that the replacements would be with us within 10 working days. We are now at day 15! What can we do as we need to register with Social and Doctors?

Sarah Byrne

26 May 2019

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Author

All you can do is speak to the Pensions department. I don’t know what else you can do, I’m afraid.

Janet

27 May 2019

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Morning Janet What documents do I need to take with me to tax my car in San Miguel. And what days can I do this. I have not had a bill through the post.

Emma Barrett

3 June 2019

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Author

Hopefully THIS page will help … it has further links in it to allow you to check the dates within which you have to pay, and means to pay by card online.

Janet

3 June 2019

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Hi,

I have never been married, my partner has.

We have been trying to look at either Pareja de hecho or marriage.

They will accept his divorce papers but I need some sort of Certificate to prove I have never been married. Have applied on line to the Consulate but they will not issue as they say I don´t need it.

Please help or point me in the direction of a good lawyer who can.

JACQUELINE WRIGHT

8 August 2019

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Author

There must be some confusion because certificates of marital status and of no impediment are required and standard documents. My advice would be to go to your local Juzgado de Paz (justice of the peace): they will help you with a checklist, advice, and can even conduct the marriage if you would like it. It will be free, though sometimes there is a charge for the room in which the marriage is conducted. For the alternative “pareja de hecho”, you would simply need a certificate of “convivencia”: this will be issued by your local Ayuntamiento.

Janet

8 August 2019

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Hi
Can you tell me what is the current amount of money required by a couple in the bank for residency purposes in Tenerife

Nigel.brown

1 September 2019

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Author

Please see THIS page for details of registration: at present as I say there, there is no fixed amount set by law but €5,200 per person appears to be what they are requiring.

Janet

1 September 2019

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Hi Janet we are residents in Tenerife and receive a spanish pension. If we return to the UK and revert to UK residency would we loose this pension?
Many thanks

Catherine

23 September 2019

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Author

I doubt it but I’m afraid you’ll need to confirm with a financial adviser or pension expert. That’s not an area I profess to know about. Apologies.

Janet

23 September 2019

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This might be useful to you Catherine. My mother in law received a Spanish pension and returned to the UK. She continues to receive the pension, but it is paid into a bank account in Spain.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.es/faq/receiving-spanish-pension-uk-resident-deal-tax/

snowbird

23 September 2019

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Thank you very much for your advice, we did intend to still have our pension paid into our spanish bank, but will take your advice too Janet.

Catherine

24 September 2019

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Hi Janet, We are hoping to move to Tenerife but are waiting for Brexit !! Can you tell me if we have pensions of roughly £30,000 yearly , do we need the capital in the bank ? Thanks

L. Wilson

27 September 2019

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Author

After Brexit we will be third-country nationals and I have no idea what criteria will be applied to those trying to move over here after Brexit because the conditions have not yet been finalised, as I’ve explained in the Brexit post HERE. Please just keep checking back for updates which will be in the Brexit post when they are available. The only thing I will say is that it will be FAR more onerous than at present, so I can’t really understand why you’re waiting until the harder conditions apply … if Brexit is your only reason for not moving now!

Janet

27 September 2019

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I left a message a while ago asking if my next door neighbour is allowed to build a wall on our adjoining terrace (I can’t remember which section so can’t find any replies. This wall has been built now and a room behind it using the wall partially built on my terrace wall as his back wall. Similar to Barry Nelson’s request above, my neighbour has taken away my view, reduced the light and the sun on my terrace significantly. He does not have a licence and someone else, not me, has denounced the building work and it has stopped for now. Do you think he will get building permission from the council. The community is not interested and says they are only concerned about communal areas. Thank you.

Rita Aspinall

10 October 2019

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Author

The community cannot be “not interested” because any works must receive community approval as well as a licence from the council. The only thing you can do right now is get an item on the agenda for the next general meeting or try to call an EGM to discuss it, AND go to the council and ask them in planning. Your original question and my answer is HERE.

Janet

11 October 2019

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Hola Janet.Looking for advice on post op Cancer.4 years since prostrate removed,now down to a check every 12 months,in Germany ,where my S1 is.PSA was very low ,last check in May.My question is ,if i change my S1 to Spain ,how do you rate ,the post OP care here in Tenerife.Any advice would be appreciated.

TREVOR PALLAS

13 October 2019

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Author

I don’t think it’s possible at present to give any idea of how things will look here for S1s in future weeks and months, let alone years, Trevor. At the moment it’s not clear that there’ll be an S1 system … there probably will be something but it’s all up in the air for now. As to quality of care, here, well it depends on the field of medicine because the health system here is under financial pressure as health systems are everywhere. Having said that, however, it is superb in terms of transplant, cancer and heart disease care especially.

Janet

13 October 2019

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Hi Janet Can you advise as to whether there is a tax allowance for pensioners over the age of 65 years and if so what is it

Sue Underwood

14 October 2019

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Author

I’m sorry, but as I always say I don’t advise on tax matters because it is a specialist field and you should consult a qualified adviser. Apologies.

Janet

14 October 2019

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My husband and I registered on our local padron to be able to obtain our green NIE.We are not applying for our Green NIE as our circumstances have changed.We have been advised to deregister from the padron,is this correct ?.

Janet Calland

25 October 2019

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Presumaby your changed circumstances involve not being legally resident in Spain (the only reason for not registering), and so some Ayuntamientos won’t want you on their padrón – some don’t mind registering non-residents but others do. As such, it’s not a clear-cut answer, but depends on how your council views registration of non-residents. You should check with your local council residents advice office (SAC).

Janet

25 October 2019

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Hi Janet,
I,m looking for an English speaking driving instructor in the South. Can you help.?

Carol Davies

26 October 2019

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Author

THIS yellow pages search has given a few suggestions.

Janet

26 October 2019

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I am trying to make an online appointment with the social security office in Grandilla. When l put in the security question answer it keeps saying it is incorrect. Do you know if they will let me make an appointment if l attend the office in person. Thank you.

Annie McCafferty

19 November 2019

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Author

I don’t know, apologies.

Janet

19 November 2019

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Hi Janet, do you have any news about the “residents” in the buildings by the market, overlooking the sea, along from the Arona Gran Hotel, ( the residents that are there illegally that is ) in Los Cristianos. ?

ray cope

14 December 2019

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Do you mean in the “unoccupied” commmercial centre? If so, there’s a very recent ruling, in the last week or so, that they have to leave by the end of the year or face forcible eviction by the police under Court order.

Janet

14 December 2019

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Yes Janet, I did mean the unoccupied centre, there was something on Facebook early in the week, you have confirmed that story to be correct. I think you will agree this situation has been going on far to long, and the appearance of the area has gone down in recent years.

ray cope

15 December 2019

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Absolutely. It is utterly shameful, from a range of perspectives it’s just simply unacceptable.

Janet

15 December 2019

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Is there a legal date for monthly nominas to be paid to employees. I had heard that they need to be paid by 5th of month but my new employee is saying they legally have until the 10th to pay them

Diane Breese

4 January 2020

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Apologies but employment matters need to be answered by qualified professionals though I would have thought the employment contract made it clear as to terms of payment. You should ask an asesor laboral (employment adviser), or at the least a gestor. At the very least ask who told you for a source where you can check their information … you are welcome to bring it back here for me to look at.

Janet

4 January 2020

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