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Bringing my wife to Spain

Discussion in 'Europe Wide Visa Discussions' started by Justin Mitchell, Nov 2, 2013.

  1. Justin Mitchell
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    Justin Mitchell New Member

    Can anybody advise about this option? What Visa would my wife need to get into Spain?

    I understand I would have to live and work there for 3 months. Can she live with me in Spain for those 3 months?

    Also, does it matter if I only work there part-time? Is there a minimum salary requirement to the use the Singh route back to the UK?

    Thanks for any advice!
  2. Anon220806
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    Anon220806 Well-Known Member

    Hang around Justin, there's a few guys on here that will know the answer to that.
  3. Aromulus
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    Aromulus The Don Staff Member

    As far as I am aware, once you are settled in Spain, you can collect the various documents needed for applying at the Spanish Embassy/Consulate for a short Visa. Whatever that is.........:erm:
    I assume it is the same as Everybody else's Family Permit......:)

    It seems pretty straightforward...

    :vhappy:

    Music to my ears, and yours too, I guess....:like:

    But it gets better.....

    Go for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:like:


    Clink on the VFS link .
  4. KeithAngel
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    KeithAngel 2063 Lifetime Member

    The visa your Wife will be applying for is a 90 day shengan and on the application she will only fill in the sections relating to family member/ reunification check on the Spanish Embassy web site nearest for her.

    The condition of entry is that she will either be travelling with you ORJoining you there. No financial or housing information can be required in this type of application for the first 3 months you are considered a qualified person by dint of your nationality and as Dom says just need a copy of the EEA passport ,Marriage Document being Spain they mayrequire a DFA authenticated police clearance from the Phils and it would help if you can include proof of any travel arrangements for you to demonstrate you will be in Spain when she arrives

    It would be helpful if you could set out clearly your personal circumstances where and when married nationality of spouse etc I am presuming she is Pinoy

    The requirement for using Singh is you both need to be resident in an EEA country other than your own there is no written minimum but as you say take 3 months as a minimum 6 would be better your status as worker or self employed must be meaningful and not marginal or transitory (remember it will be the UKBA who will be looking at this apon return to the UK ) it can be part time you must demonstrate a genuine intention to have exersized your treaty rights and established yourself in your new country

    Residencia
    bank account
    Social security number
    Tax registration
    etc

    Singh depends on what the EEA part does not the non EEA spouse:like:
  5. Justin Mitchell
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    Justin Mitchell New Member

    Thank you Aromulus and KeithAngel - that's very helpful!

    Ok, so my future-wife is filipina - we'll be getting married soon.

    So does it matter if we live in a holiday home, caravan or even tent for 3-6 months in Spain? Or would it need to be a bona fide postal address?

    And how would I get a Spanish social security number etc?
  6. KeithAngel
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    KeithAngel 2063 Lifetime Member

    I dont have specific info re any other country but Portugal but google is your friend or drop a line to the Spanish Embassy in London and ask them:like:

    Found this

    http://spain.angloinfo.com/moving/residency/eu-citizens/

    The EU Residence Card

    As of March 2007 EU citizens no longer require an EU Residence Card. EU citizens who already hold an EU Residence Card do not need to re-register until the card expires, at which point they should follow the process laid out below.

    Proof of financial means and private or public healthcare insurance

    Following new legislation introduced by the Spanish government in July 2012, all EU citizens who wish to stay in Spain for longer than three months may be asked to prove that they have the sufficient financial means to support themselves and any dependents. They may also be required to provide proof of private or public healthcare insurance.

    This page includes information on the following areas:

    Registration and the Residence Certificate
    Providing Evidence of Financial Means and Healthcare Insurance
    Family Members of EU Citizens
    Renewal of the Residency Card

    Registration and the Residence Certificate

    Any EU citizen intending to stay in Spain for more than three months is obliged to register to be added to the Central Register of Foreign Nationals (Registro Central de Extranjeros) at a Foreigners' Office (Oficina de Extranjero) or local police station (Policia Nacional) if there is no foreigners' office in the area in which they intend to reside.

    A Registration Certificate as an EU Resident (Certificado de registro como residente comunitario) is issued. This document certifies residence in Spain and includes the holders name, address, nationality, and foreigners tax identification number (Número de Identificación de Extranjero - NIE) along with the date of registration. This certificate will remain valid for no longer than five years, at which point it must be renewed.

    Note: Prior to the introduction of the Residence Certificate in April 2007, foreigners were required to submit a separate application for an NIE. This is no longer necessary, as application for an NIE is incorporated in the residence certificate application process.
    How to register

    Within three months of arrival in Spain, application for a Residence Certificate must be made at the Foreigner's Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) or local police station in the province of intended residence. In some areas, an appointment can be made in advance.

    For the addresses and contact telephone numbers of all Oficina de Extranjeros: Click here (in Spanish)

    Proof of payment is required before the residence certificate can be issued; request a payment form (Modelo 790) at a National Police Office; payment is made at a bank and the form stamped as proof.

    The following documents are required in order to apply for a Residency Certificate:

    Valid passport or national identity card
    Signed application form EX18 (Solicitud de certificado de registro de residencia comunitaria)
    Form EX18: Click here (PDF in Spanish)
    Proof that payment has been made (a bank-stamped Modelo 790 payment form). If an NIE number has previously been assigned, take the certificate as proof of payment.

    If all paperwork is in order, the Residence Certificate is issued immediately and is valid indefinitely. However, the relevant police or foreigner's office should be notified of any change to personal status (marriage, divorce, change of address) using the same form EX18 and following the same process.

    The Residence Certificate is a piece of paper which contains the NIE number. It is not an identity document and the certificate should be carried with identification (such as a passport) at all times.
    Providing Evidence of Financial Means and Healthcare Insurance

    Legislation that came into force in July 2012 requires all EU Citizens who wish to live or stay longer than three months in Spain to provide evidence of sufficient financial means to support themselves and any dependents. They may also be asked to provide evidence of having public or private health insurance.

    For more information on these residency requirements and for details of required documentation: Click here (website in Spanish)

    The British Embassy in Madrid has created an unofficial English translation of the Spanish Ministerial Order which details these residency requirements and the documentation.
    Family Members of EU Citizens

    The rights of the EU citizen are extended to their family members (irrespective of nationality). This includes the spouse by marriage, a partner by civil partnership (or marriage equivalent), dependent children under 21 and dependent grown children and parents.

    Application should be made for a Residency Card for EU Citizen Family Members (Tarjeta de residencia de familiar de ciudadano de la Unión) at the Foreigner's Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) or local police station in the province of intended residence.

    The following documents are required in order to apply for a Residency Card for EU Citizen Family Members (others may also be requested):

    Valid passport (or a copy of a renewal application)
    Signed application form EX19 (Solicitud de certificado de registro como residente o Tarjeta de residencia de familiar de ciudadano de la Union)
    Form EX19: Click here (PDF in Spanish)
    Proof of family relationship with the EU citizen (such as a marriage certificate, proof of partnership registration, birth certificates for children)
    Identification (passport) or DNI (Spanish citizen) of the EU family member
    Three recent colour passport photographs

    If a marriage certificate is used as proof of family relationship, the Spanish authorities may insist that it is only valid if issued within the last 90 days. If the applicant's marriage certificate is older, it may be possible for them to confirm its validity via the embassy or consulate of the issuing country. In this regard, Spain may be acting against EU directives.
    Divorce, separation or death

    The Ministerio del Interior website has information regarding what procedures must be followed in the case of divorce, legal separation or the death of the EU citizen.

    For further information: Click here (in Spanish)

    Renewal of the Residency Card

    A residency card will remain valid for no longer than five years, after which it must be renewed. The following documents must be presented:

    Valid passport (if expired, present a copy of the renewal application)
    Proof of valid marriage/proof of an on-going marriage with an authentication of marriage certificate issued no more than three months prior to renewal application. If not in Spanish, it must be officially translated
    EU-family member's registration certificate, valid passport or photo ID (or DNI of a Spanish family member)
    Dependent children under 21 and dependent adult: proof of family relationship or dependency
    Three recent colour passport-size photographs (on white background)
    Proof of payment of the fee for issuing the card (a bank-stamped Modelo 790 payment form)

    Authenticated marriage certificate: A marriage certificate must be requested from the country where the marriage took place. Some countries issue marriage certificates on request online, others require a request to be made to the country's official records department - consult the relevant Consular authority for further information. The certificate is dated for the time the request is made. All foreign (not Spanish) documents should be translated into Spanish by an official translator. They must then be authenticated or legalised. Translated and legalised documentation should not be more than three months old.

    Documents issued by a country which is a signatory of The Hague Convention can be authenticated or legalised by carrying the official seal of Certificate of Apostille of the Hague (Apostilla de la Haya). Consular offices are authorised to legalise documents in this way. There is usually a fee for authentication and translation.
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2013
  7. Justin Mitchell
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    Justin Mitchell New Member

    Thanks Keith for all that info. Just a question for you: did you use the Singh method via Portugal?
  8. Justin Mitchell
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    Justin Mitchell New Member

    Also, does anyone know what proof of income involves - can it come from working in Spain? What if you can't provide it? Can they expel you?
  9. KeithAngel
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    KeithAngel 2063 Lifetime Member

    The answer is yes

    With the income proof The Spanish as you probably know are in deep economic doodoo and they wanted to have a mechanism (politicaly) to apear to deal with there large roma population

    I dont know what minimum wage in Spain is but if you hae a few thousand in a spanish account there is very little chance of being kicked out while you establish yourself.

    Remember different countries including very much our own will create nonsence and even illegal practices under European law.

    Since there are 4 catergories of residence to live anywhere in europe
    Worker
    Self employed
    Student
    Self Sufficient

    The latter 2 (may)require you to have health insurance UK does

    It is fine to gain residency under one and then establish and then change to another catergory all of them allow your spouse as a right but only the first two to exersize Singh :like:
  10. Micawber
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    Micawber Renowned Lifetime Member

    As an EU citizen you can work in Spain with minimal documentation. Just your passport, your NIE and your NIF numbers.
    EU citizens are able to work in Spain without any work permit and without the need to apply for “residencia”.
    To be eligible for a NIF, you need already your NIE number
    The NIE number is a bit like the National Insurance number or Social Security number or Tax Identification number. It's a legal requirement.
    Unless you make special arrangements, you'll need to apply in person at the National Police Station, wherever you're living.

    I'd suggest opening a bank account via Santander or Lloyds (who both have operations in Spain) before leaving UK. Much less documentation and hassle than when you are actually in Spain.

    You may well need to consider health/medical requirements. The EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card) Should entitle you to emergency medical health benefits for up to 3 months maximum. I highlighted the word 'should' simply because many folks are currently being billed even for emergency treatments. Beware.
    To access the Spanish healthcare system you'll will either need a work contract (your employer will add you on automatically).
    Or you need to be self-employed.
    Alternatively you can take out your own private medical insurance.
    I stand to be corrected on this, but I recall that the Spanish Health System, requires you to be 'Empadronado'. You can then visit a Doctor in your area.
    (Empadronado is being legally registered as living at a specific local address.You'll need a passport and a tenancy contract, or your house deeds (Escritura)

    Generally you find wages are quite a bit lower in Spain than those in northern Europe. This is meant to be offset by the lower cost of living and the overall lifestyle.

    Spain currently has a monthly minimum wage of €752.85 (12 payments) or €645.30 (14 payments)
  11. duncan1960
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    duncan1960 Member

    I am in the very early stages of finding out about the SS route as it's been refered to .
    I am a British citizen that has been living and working in Spain for approximately 16 years.
    Currently in the Philippines with my intended, we plan to get married in the UK for and then shortly afterwards go to live in my house in Spain.
    Where by hopefully I should be able to get working again.
    The option of being able to at some time in the future relocate to the UK is very interesting to say the least.
    I will keep you posted on our journey.
  12. Justin Mitchell
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    Justin Mitchell New Member

    Where did you first hear about the SS route, Duncan1960?
  13. KeithAngel
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    KeithAngel 2063 Lifetime Member

    The SS route was case law established in 1992 by the ECJ it has over the years expanded becoming more popular since the last Conservative Government jumped on the migration band wagon and excluded 43% of the UK Population from bringing there foreign spouse here , hard working or not.

    The relevant European Directive is 2004/38 Free Movement :)
  14. duncan1960
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    duncan1960 Member

    I have been looking at so many different sources of information I can't recal where I first read about the SS route.
  15. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    The Surinder Singh ruling also applies to unmarried partners:
  16. KeithAngel
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    KeithAngel 2063 Lifetime Member

    It is true that if your in a Durable relationship for upwards of 2 years you could go this route the above case is still unreported so cannot yet be used directly in an appeal and the HO is still being as obstructive as possible so to pursue this unmarried route first you have to demonstrate your durable relationship to your host country to get entry clearance or if your in the host country on some other route to apply for an article 10 residence card and then after completing Singh you may well have a fight with the HO so this route would be for determined folk who have perhaps strong aversion or the inability to marry
  17. KeithAngel
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    KeithAngel 2063 Lifetime Member

    Does it matter Justin?
  18. Justin Mitchell
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    Justin Mitchell New Member

    Bear with me on this:

    Where in the Philippines are you living, Duncan1960?
  19. duncan1960
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    duncan1960 Member

    I am in Manila, Antipolo city.
  20. duncan1960
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    duncan1960 Member

    I have done some more reading of the notice needed to be given before a marriage can be booked and I see that the period of time can be from 28 days up to 70 .
    How is it possible to give travel dates to any office which is asking for said dates.
    For one thing I don't wish to be in the UK longer than necessary due to having to stay in a spare room in either my sisters house or my fathers ,not to mention the cost factor.
    As any visa requires that I have to allow an amount of money per day for my wife to be while they are in the UK.
    I am not broke but three months living in the UK and not earning will eat away at what will last a lot longer in Spain.
    Has anyone any guidance on the average time the notice takes with the registry office?

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