National Identification Number NIF/NIE News for non residents
Raul Villanueva, accounting manager at www.konsilia.es inform us that new legislation has been published in the Spanish official gazette (B.O.E 19/12/07). The ORDEN EHA 3695/07 regulates the Form 030 to apply for the National Identification Number.
It is now clear that EU citizens who are not planning to establish their primary residence in Spain and will not stay for more than three months per year, are not obligated to obtain a NIE number (Numero de Identificacion de Extranjeros or Non resident tax identification number), neither at the Police Station nor the Spanish Consulate.
Those citizens, interested in opening a bank account, buy property or do other businesses in Spain where the tax identification is needed will be able to apply for a NIF ( Numero de Identificacion Fiscal) via internet.
This simplifies the process to obtain the NIE number that has become very laborious in the past months.
The new regulations are now in place and will need to wait and see how they are going to be implemented. At least there has been some progress here and we want to congratulate the Spanish Tax authorities for their response.
