TIE, Padrón & S1 Pre-Registration
TIE
(Tarjeta de identidad de extranjero)
The TIE card (Tarjeta de identidad de extranjero) is essentially a card that contains all of your identity details in Spain, this proves the legal status of a foreigner in Spain. The TIE is issued to foreigners that have authorisation to stay in Spain for longer than six months. The card contains important information including your name, period of validity and a unique number known as a foreigner identity number (NIE). This document proves that you are a Spanish resident and you will need to show your TIE as proof of your identity in Spain. Only non-EU nationals are eligible for a TIE. Upon successful application of your visa, you will need to apply for your TIE as soon as you move to Spain.
Padrón
What is the Padrón?
The Padrón (Certificado de Empadronamiento) is in simple terms a list of people who reside in the town, very similar to the Electoral Register in the UK. To get the certificate you will need to visit your local Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) please note that in some areas you will need to book an appointment.
Why do I need it?
The padrón is required for lots of things in Spain including but not limited to - applying for your TIE card, buying a car or registering at the local health centre. Because of this, we advise to obtain your padrón certificate as soon as you arrive in Spain.
S1 Pre-Registration
If you are eligible for the S1 this can be used to access state healthcare within Spain once you are resident. As part of your visa application you will be required to obtain your S1 certificate and have this pre-registered with the Spanish Social Security System. Please note that from when you get your S1 certificate to becoming resident in Spain and completing your S1 registration there may be a time where you are not covered by state healthcare and in some cases it may be ideal to have a private healthcare policy in place to cover the interim.
If you need assistance with the pre-registration process please contact us.
