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. 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, and the place to start is the local council which will be able to advise whether it actually polices fishing in the municipality, and if it does, whether there is any local business that processes applications to save people going to Santa Cruz to do it personally – I’ve known one ayuntamiento do this itself. If you do end up going to Santa Cruz, this is how someone has described it to me:

Just to let you know that I managed to get my fishing license without any fuss.and woul like to7 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 Caja Canaria bank which is down the next street. Pay €15.18 , documents stamped & bank will retain one. Go back to the Oficino & get licence. I was given info from many different people not to go without interperator, but everyone i dealt with spoke very good English & 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.

Do I have to register my dog?

NIE & REGISTRO

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. You need your passport and a Certificado de Registro to prove you’re resident in Spain legally, and you also need to be registered on the padron of your local Ayuntamiento to prove that you’re resident in an area which is entitled to the discount. Under the SARA system, this registration on the council padron should be checked automatically, but there are sometimes failures, and sometimes details don’t match precisely, so it is advisable to carry a paper Empadronamiento as well … specifically an Empadronamiento “para viajar” (for travel).

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 the Gibraltar route 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”, which is equivalent to a blessing rather than an official wedding ceremony as such.

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

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 meas 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.

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?

There are two procedures you go through with a driving licence: a canje, and a renovación. The first is an “exchange”, which you do when changing a UK driving licence for a Spanish one. The second is a renovación, which you do when your old licence expires.

You do NOT need a medical for a canje because it is already valid in Spain. Your English licence is replaced by a Spanish one BUT the Spanish replacement is only valid for the period of the original English one. (This is technically so, but in reality ten year can be given out even though they’re not supposed to be).

With a renovación, it’s a full “renewal” of a licence which is about to expire. As such, it is unsurprising that they require a medical because all new licences need a medical – and a renewal gives a new period of validity of ten years.

If people go for a canje and find they are being told they need a medical they are being misinformed – and so one of two things is going on. EITHER they are actually getting a renovación and not realizing it, OR they are using a medical centre to do their paperwork … and it is logical that a medical centre is going to want them to pay for a medical examination for Tráfico even though Tráfico themselves do not require it.

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.

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. Indeed they must be used on pedestrian areas and can only be used on the road if a pavement is not available, but never 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. 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?

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. So, although technically not against the law, a fine for driving unsafely is always a possibility if wearing flipflops, and if involved in an accident whilst wearing them, a charge of dangerous driving is an actual likelihood.

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.

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.

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.

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 older 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?

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 ?

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.

130 Comments

Hello Janet, I am unsure if I have posted my query in the correct section and I send my apolgies to you. My query… I and my husband (pensioners) recently registered with a Dr in Armenime. When up in Granadilla getting the paperwork I asked about the Ehic (Uk) did I need to exchange it for a spanish one, I was told no, it is ok to carry with the ones we have. I accepted this answer. Later I read in one of the english papers that we should apply for a spanish one. Now I am uncertain what I should do and if necessary where do I start. We would be most grateful if you could clarify this query and possibly advise us where to start the process of changing over. thank you for your help and advice.

Pat Shaw

30 May 2016

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Author

It’s an easy confusion but the answer is simple. EHICs are issued by the country giving healthcare cover, and so most people resident in Spain should apply for a Spanish European health insurance card – a Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea. BUT British pensioners are an exception because although resident in Spain and receiving medical care in Spain, their healthcare is actually covered and paid for through an S1 issued by the UK, so they need a British EHIC. There’s more information HERE.

Janet

30 May 2016

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Hello Janet, Many thanks for your speedy reply to my query. I have read your links and my understanding is that if either I or my husband were to take ill whilst staying on the mainland (we plan to visit Seville later in the year) we would be covered with this card if needs be.
Although we are not planning to travel without private travel insurance I just needed to know exactly where we stood with the card and whether it needed to be exchanged for a spanish one. Once again thank you for your help.

Pat Shaw

30 May 2016

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Author

well, if you’re registered as living in Spain, then it won’t cover you for the mainland because you’ll still be in Spain, and the EHIC is for when you travael abroad. You are correct to have a UK issued EHIC, but it’s for when you travel as a visitor outside Spain.

Janet

30 May 2016

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Hello Janet. I’m recently resident on Tenerife however never register with a Doctor. I’m autonomo and have 2 years old son which is also not registered. Can you please advise what should I do to register both of us? Someone told me that I need to visit Grenadilla for some paper work first…
Thank you in advance

Kate

14 June 2016

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Pat Shaw. You mentioned that you registered with a Dr in Armenime. Are they speak English as I don’t speak Spanish and have to register with the Dr in Arnime. Thanks

Kate

14 June 2016

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Author

Yes, you will need to register with the social security offices in Granadilla and then, with Registro and Empadronamiento, go to a local surgery. If this is daunting, there are people here who offer their professional services to help you through the procedure. I am not one of them, but you could contact Diana McGowan, for example, who is recommended as a asesora on my Resources page (Financial section). Re your second question, most surgeries here have notices saying that if patients don’t speak Spanish, they must take a translator with them.

Janet

14 June 2016

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Janet

I have transferred a deposit on a villa to the auctioneers in Tenerife. I have not yet signed any documents. Can I withdraw from the purchase at this stage and have my deposit refunded.

Sarah Phelan

15 June 2016

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Author

I’m sorry I have no idea. It will depend on the understanding you arrived at, and what their terms of business are, which you will have seen but I haven’t. Did you not engage a lawyer with respect to the purchase? S/he would be best placed to advise.

Janet

15 June 2016

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Hi Janet,

We are UK pensioners who spend October to March in Tenerife, and April to September in England, is the pensioners’ EHIC the correct document to obtain healthcare in Tenerife? We obviously don’t want to lose our entitlement to healthcare in England. We are property owners in both countries.

Alan

15 June 2016

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Author

Your UK EHIC will serve you because your visits to Tenerife are just that, “visits”. While you remain mainly resident in the UK, there is no danger whatsoever of you losing your right to healthcare there.

Do be aware, however, as I say HERE, that the EHIC “is to be used either in an emergency, or if repeat or sudden treatment is required for a condition that cannot wait until the patient returns home.” If the condition for which it is presented is not deemed to be an emergency, you could end up with a significant bill for the treatment received. As such, an EHIC should not really be relied on in isolation, and given the regularity and length of your visits, my advice would be to give serious consideration to taking out travel insurance or some kind of part-time ex-pat private medical insurance in addition.

Janet

15 June 2016

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Thanks for the information, Janet

Alan

15 June 2016

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Hello, wonderful information!
I was wondering if you could help, I’m so confused. I have my residencia in Mallorca, my partner is Spanish, when we move to Tenerife, do I need to change my residencia to the town I move to? Does he need to make any changes?
Also, at some point I will stop working due to starting IVF/pregnancy, will I still be able to use the healthcare system?
I have pre existing conditions, one that will 100% need surgery, will I be covered? Do I just register with my local doctor when there?
Are the Balearic and Canaries all linked together so we don’t need to make too many legal/document changes?
sorry for all the question! Thank you in advance

Megan Hartley

16 June 2016

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Well “residencia” is understood to mean different things by different people. If you are registered in Spain with the police as resident, and have a green Certificado de Registro (which people often call “residencia”) then no, you don’t need to re-register, but you will need to go to the National Police station here to get the address changed on your registration. You should also go to your new local A>yuntamiento and register on their padrón, and you will then get a new Certificado de Empadronamiento (another document that people call “residencia”).

As far as health is concerned, it is administered by the autonomous regions, so there’s no connection between the Balearics and Canaries. Whether you use the state healthcare system depends on whether you have an entitlement through contributions – either through employment or self-employment, or by being the dependent of someone who is. To register with a doctor here you will need to show such entitlement and be registered on the local padrón, as well as having a Registro with a correct address on it.

Janet

16 June 2016

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please can you tell me why potencia contratada is allways different on all my electric bills when sometimes the consumida is not the same oneof my bills were for 38.01 on 105.80 then the next one was 40.44 on63.11 how do these people work ijust cannot under stand them

faulkner

20 June 2016

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Author

I’m sorry I don’t have any idea. It might be best to consult an electrician, who should be able to advise you.

Janet

20 June 2016

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Hi Janet just reading your page can you help us with our question we spend 3months here and one month in the uk 3months here I month in the uk ect ect through the year we own property here have our nie and have done everything legaly with our Spanish solicitor out here we have decided we would like to move here permantly.Do we have to give up our british passports as we would still prefer to keep our british nationality sorry about typing never learnt to type properly

sandra lowry

20 June 2016

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Author

no, you don’t have to give up your passports. Under Spanish and EU legislation (and assuming the UK votes on Thursday to remain in it), you have right of movement and can live here as British nationals. You would need to register with the police as living here, as all foreigners resident in Spain have to, and then you get a Certificado de Registro (variously known as “residencia”, a green card, the green NIE, etc). Registration with the police is a legal requirement, but not an automatic right: provided you meet the criteria, however, it’s a formality … you’ll find the conditions HERE. Once registered, you are entitled to live here as a British national.

Janet

20 June 2016

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Is there a way of finding out whether I have a social security embargo?

Neill

5 July 2016

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Author

I’m afraid you’ll need to ask a gestor or asesor.

Janet

5 July 2016

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Brilliant site!

May seem a silly question but we are currently learning Spanish before we come across. Is the Spanish in Tenerife much different? is there a dialect?

Best wishes

Mark Klekot

8 July 2016

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Author

It’s standard Spanish … there’s a heavy accent, but no dialect.

Janet

8 July 2016

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Hi Janet, I disagree that the local Spanish is standard Spanish. Many words used here come from South America and Cuba and are unfamiliar to people from the Peninsular. We have a good friend who is from Córdoba who lives here now and almost every time we talk we use a word she is unfamiliar with. Just today someone asked her to take her “cholas” off before getting on a boat, she would say “chanceletas”; flip flops.
Here in Tenerife they also drop the letter S and Z if it’s at the end of a word, so it’s Lo Cristiano or Santa Cru. Just the other day I was asking for “seis” chops in the butchers and the Butcher kept saying “diez” back to me, I held up six fingers and he said “Oh, sei”. Maybe it’s more pronounced where I live as most people are Canarian or South American. I’ll gloss over “Hola Guapa” and “Hola mi Nina” which ring out in the streets.

Stewart Kirby

9 July 2016

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Author

Your description is right … but what you’re describing is Castilian Spanish with lots of loan words! At most it’s a variant of standard Spanish – but still Castilian – and similar to that spoken in Andalucia, not a different regional language or even a dialect. In terms of the dropped letters, that’s the accent.

Janet

9 July 2016

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Dear Janet I am 45 and retired due to an accident, I get free travel in Ireland as I am partially disabled is there a similar thing in the canary islands .

Pj

20 July 2016

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Author

no, I don’t believe there is, I’m afraid. There are concessions for the disabled, including parking badges, but it is quite a procedure to get official acknowledgement of disability, as I describe above.

Janet

20 July 2016

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Thank you Stewart. It helps to be aware of these subtle, but important, differences. We will continue with our basic Spanish but any variance would be appreciated.

Mark Klekot

20 July 2016

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Hi Janet Just got registro to live here we are both on pensions and got S1 forms do we take them straight to granadilla or somewere local first regards David

david mcguinness

28 July 2016

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Author

Yes, I believe they have to go to Granadilla and be registered there, and you will be given Spanish certificates confirming your entitlement. You then take these, together with ID and Registro, and probably a certificate de Empadronamiento from your council too, to your local surgery. Diana McGowan (see the Resources page, Financial section) helps people with this sort of thing if you were looking for someone to help.

Janet

28 July 2016

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JANET many thanks ,regards David

david mcguinness

29 July 2016

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Hi Janet, I am looking to move to Spain permantently and have a temporary job lined up in Santander for eight weeks. I have a criminal conviction from a few years ago,mwould this affect me obtaining a Spanish NI number from the police station?

Adam

2 August 2016

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Author

I don’t believe it would have any effect on your getting a NIE nor on your registering to get a green card, which you’ll need to do if you’re moving permanently (see HERE). I think the only time it would make a difference is if you were to apply for Spanish nationality which is when they ask for a criminal record check.

Janet

2 August 2016

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Thats great thanks!

Adam

2 August 2016

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Janet, I am really confused about import duties. I am coming over to Tenerife before the end of the year and will be driving so will be coming in on the ferry. I will have with me 2 suitcases of personal belongings and my husbands beloved guitar. we will be going into a holiday aprt until we find somewhere more permanent. When I get to the ferry port will I have to declare anything? Many thanks

Liz Ward

14 August 2016

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Author

You should not have to declare anything that’s personal effects, which yours will be.

Janet

14 August 2016

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thanks for response Janet. One less thing to worry about.

Liz Ward

14 August 2016

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Hi Janet.
I’ve recently returned from a 3 week stay in Tenerife and am looking to move out there for 6 months. I am planning to save enough money for rent but i dont know where to start in terms of looking for apartments and jobs? Can you advise me on anything?
Any help would be appreciated.

Lauren

14 August 2016

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Author

Well if you’re not here in person you will need to use the internet to find both, so the best I can suggest is to join some Facebook groups. Try doing a search there for “Tenerife Rental Apartments” or similar criteria – you should find several groups come up and you’ll be able to speak to owners and agents direct. As to jobs, there are also FB groups for jobs in Tenerife. Other than that, you could use google to try to locate rental properties – if you speak (or can read) Spanish it will be a lot easier.

Janet

14 August 2016

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Hi Janet, I was wondering if you could help me. I lost a gold bracelet on the beach in El Medano last week and i am trying to find someone with a metal detector and permission to see if we can find anything on the beach.

Thanks

Brendan

brendan clarke

15 August 2016

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Author

I don’t know of anyone but I hope someone might see this and respond to you … you could also usefully post this in as many Tenerife-related Facebook groups as you can. Good luck!

Janet

15 August 2016

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Author

Hi Janet
Can you advise me please….do you need your marriage certificate to get your residencia.
Regards

Mandy

15 August 2016

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Author

Please have a look at THIS page. I suspect that by “residencia” you actually mean the Certificado de Registro that you get when you register with the police. You will find the criteria to be able to register on that page – it’s a legal requirement but not an automatic right. You do not need a marriage certificate.

Janet

15 August 2016

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Good morning Janet ,could you please give me the address of the police station in Las Americas where I apply for the NIE . Thanking you in anticipation

Roger ide

7 October 2016

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Author

The address, details, and a map, are on this link:

http://www.arona.org/portal/floc_d4_v1.jsp?contenido=3407&tipo=1&nivel=1400

Janet

7 October 2016

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Thank you Janet for the information re address for NIE application really do appreciate it .best regards to you from Roger.

Roger ide

8 October 2016

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I have a neighbour who is opening a nursery in a residential area paying no social payment is this against the law and who do we contact at town hall

Hils

15 October 2016

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Author

You need to ask your Ayuntamiento if the nursery has an opening licence.

Janet

15 October 2016

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Hi Janet hope you can advise, we want to buy a car here but have been told we need to have empadremiento,but as we only stay for six weeks or so every couple of months and use our sons appartment in toscal the town hall have said we don’t qualify. Is there a way around this or will we have to continue hiring. My son does not want responsibility of car in his name,we have bank account here and nie.

Jim utterson

4 November 2016

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Author

yes you must have empadronamiento because a car is linked to an address, and an empadronamiento proves your address. The only way I can see for you to do it is to get some sort of contract or agreement drawn up with your son showing your connection with the address.

Janet

4 November 2016

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If I am not mistaken when someone does not have a Property Title copy, or a
Leasing contract to their names, the empadronamiento can be granted if one of the persons already registered at the address (in this case, the son) go with him in person and fill in a request to include him in the list of people registered at that address.

Francesca

5 November 2016

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Author

yes, that’s right … different councils operate slightly different systems, but it is perfectly possible.

Janet

5 November 2016

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Thanks for your reply ,we are back in UK now until January , hope we can sort it then.
Also do you know of any art groups in the Puerto or los relejos area?

Jim utterson

5 November 2016

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Author

no, I’m sorry, Facebook is your best bet to find local art groups.

Janet

5 November 2016

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What can you do if some one sacks you for no reason on indefinado contract..who do i contact…. i dont want to sign anything untill i know what im intitled to

susan campbell

11 November 2016

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Author

You need to see an employment lawyer, or an asesor laboral, as soon as possible.

Janet

11 November 2016

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Hello,
I was wondering if you know if I am able to sell my paintings in el medano, next to the beach? I have seen people selling jewellery etc. But I don’t know if I could be fined for selling my artwork.
Thank you

Chiara Natanni

19 November 2016

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Author

I believe that you should have a licence, and Granadilla Ayuntamiento is the place to arrange that.

Janet

19 November 2016

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Are tenants on six months lets allowed to have and keep dogs in a residential building . What can be done about noisy dogs

Bill Russell

20 November 2016

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Author

That’s been answered on the Living on a Complex page HERE. Just see the top section.

Janet

20 November 2016

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Hi Janet,
I need to exchange my UK driving licence. I have been looking for information about the process but cant find it anywhere. Do you have it on your site? My present understanding is that i need to go to a centro de reconocimiento to have a medical which is easy as there is one in Alcala. Then i have to make an appointment with Trafico in Santa Cruz, you have provided a link. But i dont know if i have to complete a Modelo or what documentation i need besides my UK licence. Can you help please?

Stewart Kirby

21 November 2016

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Author

Hi Stewart, if it’s a canje (exchange) rather than a renewal, you don’t actually need a medical. Instead, you or an authorized representative need to go to Tráfico, who need to request details from the DVLA. You need to produce originals and 2 copies of your passport, NIE and empadronamiento, and your UK driving licence.

Medicals are needed for renewals, however, but then the medical test centres do all the paperwork for you without you needing to go to Tráfico. You just need your old licence, passport and NIE.

Have a look at the first question in the Driving section above, though … can you clarify that we’re actually talking about “exchange” rather than renewal because there’s no obligation to exchange for most drivers, just to “renew” in Spain. The distinction is significant, though the first “renewal” is actually an exchange … but it doesn’t need to be done until the British ten-year photocard licence expires.

Janet

21 November 2016

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I had not heard of the change from January 2016. I thought that you had to exchange your UK licence for a Spanish licence if you met certain conditions, in my case the rule about exchanging after living here for 2 years. I read this on Diana Mcglone’s website but it seems that is now out of date. My licence is valid until 2019 so therenis no need for me to do anything until its 2019.

Stewart Kirby

21 November 2016

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Author

As of January 2016, drivers are only legally required to exchange UK licences if they have a 15-year- or indefinite validity period. They have two years from the date at which they registered as resident – so as of today, for example, anyone with such a licence who became resident before 21 November 2014 should already have exchanged it.

Holders of normal UK/EU 10-year photocard licences, however, are not obliged to exchange because the validity period is under that 15 year limit. They don’t have to do anything until that licence expires, at which point they have to renew in their country of residence, i.e. Spain. This naturally means exchanging for a Spanish licence, but only at that point.

It’s all part of an attempt to harmonize licensing legislation across the EU, which following Brexit might mean changes as far as British drivers are concerned in the future, but we won’t know that until the negotiations are finished.

Having said all of that, if you’re living here, there are nothing but advantages to exchanging your licence, and you don’t actually need a medical either if you exchange ahead of the expiry/renewal date.

(I’ve now edited the explanation above – first answer in the Driving section – to make it clearer).

Janet

21 November 2016

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Janet, thank you for making it perfectly clear. I guess it does make sense to exchange sooner rather than later. We were planning a trip to Santa Cruz, I’ll just have to spend it in Trafuco.

Stewart Kirby

21 November 2016

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Hi Janet,
Wonder if you can help my, neighbours in Tenerife have just got married after 45 years together. They both own an apartment here and are non resident. After their wedding and returning to Tenerife they went about getting their paperwork in order i.e. change of name.
They went to the police station to obtain amend or renew the NIE number, because of his wife name change.
This is when the difficulty arose. At the police station they were told that they had to have an official interpreter with them.
They then contacted a lady who could provide this service, only to be told by her that to have a name changed on the NIE is a very complexed procedure, she mention that the consulate required to verify the wedding certificate. The police required to visit there apartment to confirm she actually live there. Furthermore a lot of official forms would be required to be filled in.

I find this all quite different from our own experience, when my wife went through the same process some 6 years ago, as all we did was turn up early at the police station with her old NIE and her passport and the wedding certificate and everything was done there and then quite smoothly.
Can you advise what is the appropriate way to get this procedure completed and what are they are required to do.
Many thanks
Edd

Edd

22 November 2016

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Author

There might be some miscommunication because it’s not actually complicated. All that is needed is an officially translated marriage certificate with new passport plus old NIE. The police certainly do not need to visit anywhere, and there are no more forms to fill in other than the usual solicitud (application form) and the modelo to pre-pay the fee at the bank.

Also, no-one is required to take a translator, but bear in mind that the police are not required to speak English, and so for those who don’t speak Spanish, it’s a good idea to take a translator. The police are also within their rights to demand a legally translated version of the UK marriage certificate, rather than just accepting the British one, and so the consulate would be a good starting point for the up-to-date procedure for that.

Janet

22 November 2016

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Thank Janet for your reply can you advise on where locally we can get a legally translated version of their UK marriage certificate done We were wondering if the notary office. I think it would be difficult for them to go to the Brittish Consolate re transport as they are in the south
Thank you Edd

Edd

22 November 2016

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Author

you could start with the Arona Courts. They provide sworn translations for €20 or so, and that may well be sufficient for the police. If the police require more than that, then they could end up needing a legally translated document from the UK with an apostille on it … but I would start with the Arona Courts translated certificate and see how it goes.

Janet

22 November 2016

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Thanks once again Janet can you advise where the Arona Court is located so I can take them there
Regards Edd

Edd

22 November 2016

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Author

If I’ve done it correctly, THIS should take you to a map showing the Courts … they’re at the top of El Camisón, on the border of Los Cristianos.

Janet

22 November 2016

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Author

Hi Janet,
We had a certificado Residencia Para Viaje. In December 2014, and went into the Town Hall Office in Los Cristianos to renew it this morning.
We were refused on the following reasons,
1 we need to have a green card for Residencia 2 We should live here all the year. 3 To pay our tax to Spain.
We have a home here and reside for approximately 6months, and have bank a/c’s
Would we be entitled to this Green Card? And how do we get it? Hope you can help.

John McCusker

29 November 2016

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Author

Well, first of all the information you’ve been given is incorrect. You don’t need to live here all the year, nor pay your tax in Spain: these matters are irrelevant. The viaje certificate, however, is a variant of the empadronamiento, and councils are within their rights (some say they’re obliged) to refuse to register on their local list of residents (padrón) anyone who is not legally (physically) resident in Spain. This is NOT connected with tax residence.

To be physically resident in Spain, and legally so, all foreigners must register with the police. So, for example, anyone coming to live here permanently must register with the police and get a Certificado de Registro (it’s called all sorts, including green card, green NIE, residencia, etc). The person might decide to leave Spain after five months, in which case they never become tax resident – which is why paying your tax in Spain is irrelevant.

If a council is only going to put people on its padrón if they are living here legally, i.e. registered with the police, it stands to reason that they’ll require proof that the person has got the Certificado de Registro. And it’s only if someone is on the padrón that they can get a viaje certificate.

In your case, you have obviously registered on the padrón in the past, but either Arona has tightened up its rules or you got a jobsworth who wouldn’t register you with the council because you weren’t registered with the police. I’m afraid they have that right, though many councils, or at least many council staff, will register someone with just passport and NIE, and a rental contract or empadronamiento of ownership.

As to full details of the green card, please see HERE. Meanwhile, I’ve moved this question and reply to the Getting it Right page because it was out of place on the endometriosis information session post. It might also help if you have a look at the questions & answers in the Residents & Non-Residents section above.

Janet

29 November 2016

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Hi Janet wrote some time ago re my neighbour who got marraged in the UK and wanted to change her name on the non residents NIE certificate, and advised on the difficulties which they experienced at the Police station. With the help of your response and great advice they went back to the police station this time in possession of a completed Ex 15 form and a paid in the bank 790 form also passport and passport size photographs also the UK marriage certificate and photocopy of same. This time no problem they got the name changed with no difficulty. Many thanks once again for your time and a wonderful web site.
Edd

Edd

29 November 2016

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Author

That’s fantastic, Edd! Thank you for giving us the update!

Janet

29 November 2016

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Hi Janet , I have been awarded long term disibility for two years , do you know if I canget help towards eye tests n glasses ?

Debbie

8 December 2016

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Author

Eye tests are free, anyway, Debbie, but as to help with glasses, I’m not aware of a system here like in the UK with NHS glasses (not sure that system even still runs in the UK, actually).

Janet

8 December 2016

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Hi Janet

My husband needs to renew his spanish driving licence as it runs out in 2017 he is 75 and has previously when he was 70 had a medical etc. How do we go about this is it easy.

Kind Regards

Diane

Diane Wood

3 January 2017

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Author

Yes it’s easy. Just go along to any Centro de Reconocimiento for a new medical and they will not only carry out the test but will do the paperwork for you. All that’s needed is the current licence, though I’d take along passport and Registro just in case! The whole thing should just cost the basic amount because your husband is over 70, and so there’s the fee to pay but the tax is waived (Adeje is €42 but different areas might have slightly different fees). He’ll be required to surrender the current licence and will be given temporary paperwork that he can drive with, along with instructions to call or go back if the new licence doesn’t arrive in the post within a fortnight.

Janet

3 January 2017

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Thank you very helpful

Diane

3 January 2017

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Hi Janet,

Me and my partner are registered as residents in Tenerife. We plan to marry in Tenerife. He is Catholic, but I have no faith. He wants to marry in a Catholic church, which is fine by me. Is it possible to do so, even if I am not Catholic, but am a resident?
Any advice would be welcome 🙂

Thanks

Sarah

3 January 2017

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Author

I would think you would need to avow faith, but you’ll need to check with your local parish priest.

Janet

3 January 2017

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HI JANET, WE ARE STAYING IN COSTA ADEJE IN JANUARY 2017, MY WIFE HAS HAD ONE KNEE REPLACEMENT DONE & IS WAITING FOR HER OTHER KNEE TO BE REPLACED,SHE ALSO SUFFERS FROM DIABETES AND IS ON MEDICATION FOR THIS,PREVIOUSLY WE HAVE HIRED THE DOUBLE SEATED ELECTRONIC SCOOTERS TO GET AROUND AS SHE IS NOT CONFIDENT TO USE ONE ON HER OWN,IF WE TAKE A LETTER FROM HER GP CONFIRMING HER MEDICAL AILMENTS AND CARRY HER PASSPORT WHILST ON THE SCOOTER ARE WE LIABLE TO BE FINED ETC,,,SHE IS 48 YEARS OLD AND HAS OPERATION SCARS ON HER REPLACED KNEE JOINT THANK YOU

STEPHEN JONES

3 January 2017

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Author

I can’t say if you’ll be fined or not, I’m afraid. It’s very much a lottery, it seems, but the only guarantee is to have a blue disability card. Certainly the Adeje Policía Local won’t be able to accept a letter in English from a British GP. As to carrying a passport, that’s a requirement in any case.

Janet

3 January 2017

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Hi Janet,
My non-resident father is about to take advantage of the reduction in ‘gift tax’ and gift me his house in Tenerife, which I am very pleased. Being a non-resident myself living in the UK my question is will I be responsible for any kind of tax or costs associated with the property along the way (excluding the obvious community charges etc.)
Many thanks.
Paul

paul

3 January 2017

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Author

Yes, as a non-resident property owner you will need to submit tax returns annually to pay deemed notional rental income tax (informally known as “the non-resident tax”). Have a read HERE and HERE where I hope it’s explained fully.

Do bear in mind, too, that there will be a few additional costs as part of the gifting process. There will be plusvalia to pay to the local council, and possibly capital gains tax, and the transfer of title also needs to be notarized and registered at the Land Registry. The most important thing is to get qualified professional help with the process so that you know everything is taken care of properly.

Janet

3 January 2017

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Regarding your advice to be wary of everyone who might want to relieve you of your money I recall the advice i received from an US businessman in the travel business. If you want to become a millionaire in Tenerife arrive with 2 million! It is still good advice

Malcolm Jones

7 January 2017

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Hi Janet,

I have moved to Tenerife and am renting a holiday apartment for three weeks until our long term apartment is ready in February.
I have been told i can not apply for my NIE until I move into the long term property? Is this true?

Stephanie

15 January 2017

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Author

no, as long as you have “an address” you can apply for your NIE … people do live long term, however incorrect it is in terms of property laws, in touristic accommodation. Having said that, however, it is a good idea to wait until you move into the long-term property. This is simply so that your NIE bears the “correct” address, one that will also then match up with your records with the council, and the empadronamiento you’ll need from time to time from the council, or any car or driving licence you need to register with Tráfico.

Janet

15 January 2017

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Hi Janet
I am resident in Tenerife and have the green paper dated 19/10/2011 do I need to renew it. I would prefer to have the small card rather than the green paper.

Anne

27 January 2017

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Author

You have the option to renew it, and they cannot refuse you, but you are under no obligation to renew it.

Janet

27 January 2017

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Anne, bear in mind that the card-sized registro is very flimsy and the print rubs off in no time if you aren’t extremely careful with it. I personally would recommend that if you have the A4 certificate, you keep it and cherish it. In my experience, for all non-official purposes a colour photocopy of the green certificate works very well. My green certificate is still in pristine condition in its folder, from which I have removed it less than half a dozen times since 2007. The photocopy I carry with me is falling apart but nobody cares, when it’s had its day I’ll just make another one.

Nova

27 January 2017

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Thank you Janet and thank you Nova that does make sense and I will colour photocopy the original.

Anne

28 January 2017

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Hi Janet. We will be moving to Tenerife in a few months but feeling concerned. My husband is a type 1 diabetic and would need insulin. However he is taking early retirement so not planning to work. How would be the best or recommended way to get the insulin. As he wouldn’t be paying into social security to get Heath care. Thanks.

Clare

28 January 2017

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Author

Insulin will be readily available here, but without state healthcare, you will need private medical insurance. Indeed, to register with the police as you will have to do to be legal, you will need either social security contributions, or to be pensioners, or -as will be applicable for you – private medical insurance, as I describe HERE.

Janet

28 January 2017

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Thanks Janet. I’ll be working and paying into the system so will my husband be classed as a dependent?

Clare

29 January 2017

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Author

yes, he will have to be registered as such, at Granadilla, but as long as you are paying social security contributions, he will then be your dependant.

Janet

29 January 2017

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Hi.
My parents live out in Puerto having retired there 20 years ago and are in their 80’s. I am mindful of the fact that they may need more help as they get older so I was wondering if there is the Canarian equivalent of visiting carers either private or through the healthcare system?
Thanks.

Julian Stuart

9 February 2017

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Author

I would think that the system would be run at municipal level, rather than the healthcare system as such. The best place to enquire is the Social Services department of their local Ayuntamiento.

Janet

9 February 2017

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Thanks, I’ll try there.

Julian Stuart

10 February 2017

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We are moving to Tenerife at the beginning of April. I will be coming over on the 28/3/17 to apply for an nie. We have a property already up and running in adeje. I know I have to go to the police station in Las Americas to apply for the nie. I am told it can take 15 days. I was hoping to get the children signed up for school in this visit, but is this not possible without the nie ??

Thankyou

Sandra

15 February 2017

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Author

The NIE is issued immediately.

Janet

15 February 2017

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Hi Janet,
Wonder if you have any knowledge about bringing leased car to Tenerife? Car owner is leasing company in Lithuania (guess no difference from UK) and I am driving this car here for more than six months. Do I have any tax risk? Not sure how I cam change the car plates to Spanish as I doubt leasing company wouldnt agree…. Thank you in advance!

Tom

24 February 2017

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Author

I don’t know, I’m sorry Tom, this isn’t an area I have any knowledge of.

Janet

24 February 2017

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Hi Janet,
Do you know what the regulations for driving a moped/ scooter are if you haven’t a license? ie can you drive on a provisional license and how/where would you apply for such? Thanks

Viv

24 February 2017

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Author

If you mean a British provisional licence, the answer is no, never. Please see HERE, Driving section, third question. If you mean how one starts from scratch here, then you register with a driving school which takes care of all the paperwork.

Janet

24 February 2017

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Thanks Janet, Yes I meant starting from scratch here.

Viv

25 February 2017

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Hi im self employed and own my own business out hers but im 5months pregnant amd very ill and the doctor may have to sign me off work do i get any help from the goverment seeing as i cant work but still have a business and house to pay for?

Daisy

26 February 2017

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Author

The self-employed can be entitled to some government help but it depends on the level of the contributions they made as autonomo. I’m afraid that that’s as far as I can advise because you need to ask an asesor who deals with work and accountancy issues. Try Diana McGowan HERE.

Janet

26 February 2017

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I need to register my daughter for school, just at this minute I cannot find her birth certificate, will her uk passport do ??
Thankyou in advance

Sandra

28 February 2017

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Author

I’m afraid you’ll need to ask the school what they require. I’m sorry but I don’t know whether her passport alone will be sufficient.

Janet

28 February 2017

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Hi Janet ,my question concerns CCTV and personal videoing of people .
We have an ongoing “debate” over the legality of installing CCTV on our complex and what the law allows- can you expand please ?
Another issue is ,some unsocial people on our complex are causing problems by videoing individuals and posting on social media as a means of harassment – is this legal and what steps can the President/ Adminstrator take to prevent this ?

John1

28 February 2017

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Author

I’m sorry John but I can’t. The law on CCTV is complex and frequently updated, so it needs a qualified lawyer to clarify. As to posting images on social media, that is clearcut – it is illegal without the permission of the person whose image is being used. Usually this is done unthinkingly, but where it is being done as a form of harrassment, that is something that should be denounced to the police.

I posted a comment in reply to Stephanie on THIS post only the other day. As I said there:

I quite agree, Stephanie. In particular I dislike the posting of photos, without the consent of the subject, of those who have not yet been guilty of any crime. It doesn’t matter how appalling the alleged crime is, if someone’s photo is published and they are subsequently found not guilty of any offence, they could well prosecute for defamation. At the moment, on Facebook, there is a photo going round with a request to share it widely. In my opinion it is at least libellous, and at worst, an incitement to violence (a serious offence in its own right).

It is worth stressing that anyone who publishes a photo without the subject’s consent, and where that publication could have a negative effect (on reputation, or financially, or in terms of work, etc), is committing an offence which carries a prison sentence of up to four years. It has been my view for a long time that naming and shaming is senseless in a range of ways, but now, with the “gag law“, I think that “idiotic” is a more appropriate word.

Janet

28 February 2017

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Hi Janet loveTenerife go often i know Tenerife is not in the EU although Spain is, My husband and my self are looking to move permantely to Tenerife when i retire in 2 years ( Hubby retires 2 years later) we have funds to retire there. As UK where we have worked and lived all our lives are now coming out of EU ,do you think the free health care in Tenerife for pensioners UK could change

Ann

2 March 2017

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Author

Tenerife is in the EU because it’s part of Spain. There are separate customs rules that apply to us because we are an “ultraperipheral region” (as defined by the EU) but we are an autonomous region of Spain, and Spain is in the EU. As to what might happen in the Brexit negotiations, please see HERE.

Janet

2 March 2017

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Hi Janet thankyou so much for your reply much appreciated

Ann

3 March 2017

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Author

Banca March refuse to renew my wife´s debit card until she produces evidence of where our money comes from – but a letter given to us by the bank in Las Galletas says they require, basically, a statement that our income (in our case UK State pension) is paid automatically into the bank. I think it assumes it to be a Spanish bank, but we simply transfer money from our UK bank account, and I cannot see the Dept of Works and Pensions giving us a special letter explaining what we get. The girl in the bank was otherwise unhelpful.

My card expires in a year and they will require the same from me. Our pension is paid directly into our bank, but the girl said a bank statement is no good. We´ve had the account in Tenerife since 2004, mainly to pay the direct debits on our Tenerife property. We offered our passport and NIEs as confirmation of identity but they didn´t want them.

Have you come across this before?

Allan

23 March 2017

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Author

Hi Allan, this sounds like the Know Your Customer / Anti-Money Laundering stuff that banks are under increasing scrutiny to carry out thoroughly now, though I can only guess at why it’s being requested now or why your wife’s debit card is being held to ransom over it. Nevertheless, banks are required to know where their customers’ income comes from. I used to work for Santander and to my knowledge, customers in receipt of a UK pension usually receive a pension statement from the DWP at least annually and that is usually perfectly sufficient. If you don’t have one for any reason, I don’t see that there’s anything wrong with asking DWP to send you one. They will be familiar with KYC/AML too.

Nova

23 March 2017

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Thank you, Janet. The annual statement from the DWP was all we could think of, and we have them back in the UK. Now we need to find out whether they have to be presented personally or whether they can be sent. We were just surprised that the girl in the bank hadn´t apparently come across this before – but there must be hundreds of retired UK citizens who deal with that bank who are all in the same position. Thank you again.

Allan

24 March 2017

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Author

Thank you Nova … Allan it was Nova who answered you, and in this respect, her expertise is far greater than mine! I would have thought that you could send any required documentation by email … indeed I would have thought that that would be preferable for the bank because they would then have it electronically from the off.

Janet

24 March 2017

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I’m happy to help when I can. 🙂 Ideally you would give the bank the original document for them to take a photocopy but usually they will be more interested in meeting their obligation as easily as possible. In which case I see no reason why they wouldn’t accept an emailed scan.

Nova

24 March 2017

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Author

OK. Thanks, Nova. We have a meeting with our solicitor next week who thinks he can get a definitive answer. I´ll post on here, in case others are interested.

Allan

25 March 2017

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I am a US resident and been living in Madrid for 2.5 years illegally and I want to make it legal … what is the fastest way to do so … any helpis appreciative … Brian

Brian

27 March 2017

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Author

The best thing you can do is speak to the US Embassy. I can’t advise on non-EU nationals’ rights or the legal prerequisites, I’m sorry.

Janet

27 March 2017

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Regarding the bank´s requirements for carrying on with our account, our solicitor has been told by the bank that indeed the UK´s DWP pension statement should be sufficient. But they still require us to contact them while they have my new debit card in order that they do not send it back. Once that is done I doubt whether I will be able to get another!

I assume this is EU money-laundering rules…though how they can insist that a Spanish bank be given details of money paid into my UK bank is beyond me.

Allan

28 March 2017

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Hi Janet,
Should I have received the pink Información Fiscal from Santander 2016? It is usually dated 31st March.

David

David Cullen

14 April 2017

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Author

I understand they only started sending them out a couple of weeks ago, so it’s possibly still in the pipeline.

Janet

14 April 2017

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From what has been said I am probably talking about something completely different but if its of any use I received my annual Santander letter detailing interest, commission and expenses on 28 January. Mine was electronic via online account access and my wife’s copy through the post.

sniff

15 April 2017

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Having looked again at the document I have it is not pink just a bit red, brown, black and white so it is not the document David was asking about.

sniff

15 April 2017

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Hi Ive lived here for 3 years and been a resident for this time, I have a UK driving license photo card with less than 10 years expiration. Am I right in thinking I only have to change it to Spanish when it expires???

Anthony

9 May 2017

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Author

Yes, as it says in the answer to the first question in the Driving section above, “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 meas that they will need to exchange for a Spanish licence at that point.”

Janet

9 May 2017

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