LIVING

The NIE is required for a number of legal and other transactions, including:

* Opening a bank account

* Buying, selling or insuring property

* Arranging credit terms or a mortgage

* Paying taxes

* Being paid for employment

* Using short-term employment agencies

* Applying for a business permit and starting a business

* Registering with social services and arranging receipt of social security benefits

• Applying for a driver's licence

Applying for the NIE is relatively straightforward if you are an EU national, with just one or two visits to your local Oficina de Extranjeros (Foreigners' Office—usually located at a police station). You will need: your passport and two photocopies of it; if you want to save time, you can download the required form to fill in in advance—they are available from:

http://www.mir.es/SGACAVT/extranje/regimen_general/identificacion/nie.html.

In some cases, you may also need to provide justification for being in Spain e.g. university acceptance.

At the Oficina de Extranjeros you will be handed a payslip, which must be taken to a bank to pay for the processing fee (around the €10 mark). Be aware, however, that many banks will only deal with this transaction between 8.30am and 10.30am, so be prepared to either get to the Foreigners' Office early, or complete the process over two days. Once paid, you must take your stamped slip back to the office, where you will be issued with your certificado on the spot.

In most cases, the certificate is valid for five years. If you have been living in Spain since before March 2007 and you already have a tarjeta de residencia, you can't apply for a certificate until your card runs out.

The process for non-EU residents is generally more complicated, and you will also be required to take the declaración de entrada, or any other document which proves your legal entry into the country. Non-EU residents can usually expect to receive their NIE within two to six weeks. For more information, you should contact the Spanish Embassy in your home country.