I hope someone can help. I am moving to Guardamar in December. I have my NIE and need to start my residency process but cannot get over to Spain to open a bank account. Does anyone know of any banks that allow you to open a non resident one online? I can change it to a resident account when I arrive. Thanks for any help its appreciated.
Hi DebsT
From the information posted over the last few months, I think it’s unlikely. I’m working from memory here but I think a member managed to start the process, but needed to be here in order to activate the account
From your posts, you appear to be wanting to apply for residency, and I’m guessing your intention is before the end of the year?
Not wishing to be negative, but part of the residency process requires that you produce 3 months bank statements, to not only demonstrate the required income levels are met but also affordability and evidence of daily living. To put this in context.....
Affordability - Demonstrating that after, say, rental or mortgage (or similar) are paid, is there enough money left for you to live. This is a simplified explanation, but I’m sure you’ll get the drift
Daily living - Demonstrating that you have paid utilities, purchased food etc etc during the last three months, which in turn evidences that you are actually living in Spain
Apologies if this was not what hoped to hear. 🤪🥂
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2020 7:48pm
Angebadge wrote on Tue Oct 27, 2020 6:12pm:
Hi DebsT
From the information posted over the last few months, I think it’s unlikely. I’m working from memory here but I think a member managed to start the process, but needed to be here in order to activate the account
Read more...
From your posts, you appear to be wanting to apply for residency, and I’m guessing your intention is before the end of the year?
Not wishing to be negative, but part of the residency process requires that you produce 3 months bank statements, to not only demonstrate the required income levels are met but also affordability and evidence of daily living. To put this in context.....
Affordability - Demonstrating that after, say, rental or mortgage (or similar) are paid, is there enough money left for you to live. This is a simplified explanation, but I’m sure you’ll get the drift
Daily living - Demonstrating that you have paid utilities, purchased food etc etc during the last three months, which in turn evidences that you are actually living in Spain
Apologies if this was not what hoped to hear. 🤪🥂
Yes I know all the requirements, and I can satisfy all monetary legality but I need a bank account and can not get to Spain to open one.
DebsT wrote on Tue Oct 27, 2020 7:48pm:
Yes I know all the requirements, and I can satisfy all monetary legality but I need a bank account and can not get to Spain to open one.
That’s great, I was only offering the advice if you were hoping to gain residency before the end of the year. 🤪🥂
Angebadge wrote on Tue Oct 27, 2020 8:01pm:
That’s great, I was only offering the advice if you were hoping to gain residency before the end of the year. 🤪🥂
I agree with Ange on all points and income requirements after 1st January 2021 are around four fold to what is required just now.
You can start the process of opening a bank account from the UK but you have to be at your chosen bank in person to sign various paperwork to activate the account.
Steve
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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2020 8:57pm
Angebadge wrote on Tue Oct 27, 2020 8:01pm:
That’s great, I was only offering the advice if you were hoping to gain residency before the end of the year. 🤪🥂
Thank you. I have a solicitor who is very good in Spain dealing with everything but they can't open a bank account for me. Thanks again for advice.
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2020 9:00pm
Very helpful member
DebsT wrote on Tue Oct 27, 2020 7:48pm:
Yes I know all the requirements, and I can satisfy all monetary legality but I need a bank account and can not get to Spain to open one.
Have you considered using a legal company and give them Power of attorney. I did this when purchasing a property and yes I had to supply information and scanned paperwork over the internet, this included setting up a bank account and I was able to transfer funds in and out of that account online, I also received all information from the Spanish bank to my UK address (being a non resident at the time) on my return to Spain I went to the bank and introduced myself and was given my bank cards and a updated online account details. Over the period of time it took to gain my residency, the financial requirements in March of this year for me was to have 7k in my Spanish bank account, then lockdown until the end of June and financial requirements increased to 9k! And I had a appointment for residency the following week! So although I only had the initial 7k, I was informed that If I could show that I had sufficient funds in my Uk bank account this would suffice, so I also printed 3 months of these. Well all appointments were cancelled again at the beginning of July! I finally got another appointment for the beginning of August, on the day of the appointment I was informed that the financial requirements had dropped to 5k!!! But although My financial side was accepted, they still checked my UK finances. So at the end of the day you’re UK bank statements may be accepted? But I must say the procedure to date is more scrutinised on the Spanish banking, but proving you have monies/income going into a UK account will help, but accepted is another thing.
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2020 9:39pm
Peter3473 wrote on Tue Oct 27, 2020 9:00pm:
Have you considered using a legal company and give them Power of attorney. I did this when purchasing a property and yes I had to supply information and scanned paperwork over the internet, this included setting up a bank account and I was able to transfer funds in and out of that account online,...
Read more...
... I also received all information from the Spanish bank to my UK address (being a non resident at the time) on my return to Spain I went to the bank and introduced myself and was given my bank cards and a updated online account details. Over the period of time it took to gain my residency, the financial requirements in March of this year for me was to have 7k in my Spanish bank account, then lockdown until the end of June and financial requirements increased to 9k! And I had a appointment for residency the following week! So although I only had the initial 7k, I was informed that If I could show that I had sufficient funds in my Uk bank account this would suffice, so I also printed 3 months of these. Well all appointments were cancelled again at the beginning of July! I finally got another appointment for the beginning of August, on the day of the appointment I was informed that the financial requirements had dropped to 5k!!! But although My financial side was accepted, they still checked my UK finances. So at the end of the day you’re UK bank statements may be accepted? But I must say the procedure to date is more scrutinised on the Spanish banking, but proving you have monies/income going into a UK account will help, but accepted is another thing.
We have POA in Spain but Spanish government changed law in July and stopped POA opening bank accounts. Even solicitors. Thanks for the help and reply though 👍
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2020 10:45pm
Very helpful member
DebsT wrote on Tue Oct 27, 2020 9:39pm:
We have POA in Spain but Spanish government changed law in July and stopped POA opening bank accounts. Even solicitors. Thanks for the help and reply though 👍
And thank you for that information, I purchased my property this time last year. But I do have a appointment at my bank this week and I also will be seeing my lawyer soon and will ask that question just out of interest and for future reference, where did you get your information about the Spanish governments law change. I would still suggest you keep your UK Bank account healthy and up to date showing income and savings, although the UK banks do not sign or use a official stamp any more, they did supply me with a accompanying letter of reference to my account.
Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2020 6:19am
Helpful member
I recently opened a non resident Keycard account with Sabadell. I filled out the initial application online, and then got contacted by them to arrange an appointment with my local branch in Spain to finalise the process. They were aware I was living in the UK, so arranged an appointment on my next visit to Spain, at which I took along my passport. A very straightforward process.
This is common practice as I'm unaware of any Spanish banks allowing you to complete the process online without a visit to your local Spanish branch.
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