EXPATS IN SPAIN

YOUR BRITISH CONSULATES IN SPAIN

British nationals who are either resident or traveling abroad should register their whereabouts with the FCO. This allows us to keep in touch with British nationals when they are overseas and also provide consular assistance in the event of an emergency.

The FCO has set up a new improved online registration service called LOCATE for British nationals traveling or living abroad. If you are resident in Spain and have not already done so you should complete the registration process. To access the LOCATE online consular registration form, you have to go to www.locate.fco.gov.uk/locateportal

Your British consulate can provide help if you are a victim of crime, have suffered rape or serious assault, or are in hospital, including contacting your family or friends if you wish
Help people with mental illness

Issue replacement full passports via our regional passport centre in Madrid (passport forms can be downloaded from http://ukins-pain.fco.gov.uk/en/passports

If your passport has been lost or stolen, we may be able to offer you an emergency passport

Provide information about transferring funds in an emergency
Provide details of local interpreters, doctors and funeral directors
Do all we properly they can to contact you within 24 hours of being told that you have been detained
Offer support and help in a range of other cases, such as child abduction, death of relatives overseas, missing persons and kidnapping
Make special arrangements in cases of terrorism, civil disturbances or natural disasters.
Issue certificates, standard translations and provide other notarial services

NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE & PENSIONERS

The National Institute of Social Security, better known to everyone as the INSS, depends on the Ministry of Labour and Social Services and is the body that recognizes the right to Social Security Health Care. They have a network of offices throughout Spain that are denominated CAISS (Centers of Attention and Information of the Social Security). Their telephone and addresses can be found in the official web page www.seg-social.es.

When a pensioner from the European Union decides to move permanently to Spain, before leaving their home country, they should apply for form E-121 for themselves and if they have family members eligible, also for them.

When arriving in Spain, they have to apply for their Certificate of Registration of Residence at the National Police Station closest to where they live and on obtaining this they have to go to the CAISS office to apply for registration as a foreign pensioner living in Spain. They should take two copies of the form E-121, the Certificate of Registration of Residence and Passport or ID card. These documents will be sent to the head office in Malaga where they will be registered and within approximately one month they will send a letter to the applicant (to the address than appears on the E-121 form) with a social security reference number on it. They then have to go to their nearest health centre and register.

If they have not yet reached the condition of pensioner in their home country, or are employees working abroad or unemployed persons, they should ask for form E-106 if wishing to receive medical health care in Spain. On arrival to Spain, they should contact the closest CAISS office and have the form stamped, if family members also require health care, take documentation to proof the relation (ie. marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc..). This procedure is immediate. To register for medical health care, take a copy of the form to the nearest Health Centre with a copy of your passport. Always keep the original document while staying in Spain.

In Spain, prescribed medicine is free of all pensioners and for everyone else it is subsidized by 60% the remaining 40% having to be paid by the user.

EUROPEAN HEALTH CARD

As from the 1st of May 2010, if a foreign pensioner, resident in Spain, wishes to travel abroad, they will have to obtain the EUROPEAN HEALTH CARD from their home countries and not the CAISS offices in Spain.

This will cover emergency and chronic treatments.

If you go to another country for medical purposes for an operation or specific treatment, this has to be previously authorized by spanish health authorities with form E-112. The European Health Insurance Card is not sufficient for this purpose.

When coming to Spain on holidays for short periods of time, it is necessary to obtain a European Health Insurance Card from your home country.

If not, payment will have to be made for any health treatment received. To receive treatment, you have to go to your nearest health care centre to register, taking the card and the passport or ID with you.

CERTIFICATE OF RESIDENCE

All European Citizens that spend more than 3 months in Spain, have to obtain their Certificate of Registration as resident at the National Police Station

The approval of the new law 240/2007 obliges all EC members than spend more than 3 months in Spain to obtain a Certificate of Registration as Resident in the Central Registry of Foreigners from the National Police.

The Residence card disappears.

EU citizens will no longer receive a Residence Card but a Certificate of Registration in the Central Registry of Foreigners that is a single A4 sheet of green paper that will be given to them immediately on applying for it.

What documents do you need?

Application form filled in - (form EX-16) and they are also available at the National Police.
Original passport and photocopy.
Payment of the fee of 10 euros (on form 790 obtained at the National Police or the nearest Town Hall foreigners department and paid at any bank)

You have to obtain an appointment with the police station either by phone or going there personally. The Certificate will be issued on the same day as your appointment. It has an indefinite validity, if you don't have a NIE number when applying for the Certificate, they will give you one automatically. You do not have to make a separate application. This certificate is not valid as identification.

We at Perez Legal Group will be able to help and apply it on your behalf which a Power of Attorney duly signed before a Notary Public. For further information, please contact us.

Perez Legal Group
Centro Comercial Elviria, oficina 6
29604 Marbella
Tlf: +34 952 833 169
Fax: + 34 952 830 262