Good grief, that story about that man camping out overnight sends shivers down one's spine.

I felt swamped by all the different advice and just did as Keefieboy suggested and looked at http://www.hellomadrid.es and I have to say, I'm very impressed. (I'm not impressed easily). Within days they got me an NIE appointment (Much to my relief). But they do a lot more too!

For a fraction of what a gestor would charge, it seems they not only help getting a NIE, they help you find accommodation, help with registering for social security (tick), open bank accounts and even check your apartment contract. For a bit more they'll even go with you to open an account. (I wonder if they drive you there...)

Anyway, trying to do all this if your Spanish isn't up to much can send your nerves into meltdown so for other newbies in the same predicament, it's definitely worth doing and good value.

For all others out there prepared to go it alone, may the force be with you. (The Spanish officials certainly aren't!)

Morganna: I think Karie K has answered your question. Getting the Empadronomiento was the easiest thing: no queues, no fees, no problem. I've never heard Majadahonda but I see from Wikipedia that it's near Madrid. So I guess you could go to what I think translates as something like the Statistics Bureau (the Padron is like a rolling census, so that the city knows exactly how many people it is providing services for). It's on Calle de Goya, near Plaza de Colon. It's in a mirror glass building beside the big church on C/ Goya. There's a simple form to fill in, and they'll process your application on the spot.

To get your NIE you can phone for an appointment on these three numbers. They are usually engaged and there's no queueing system. I was lucky and got through on my fourth attempt. They don't seem to speak English, so practice the phrases you might need!

913226919
913226835
913226876

The appointment I was given was about two months after I called for it! If you can't wait that long, you can stand in a queue. Apparently people start queueing at about 4.30 am (the office opens at 9am).

This is the addres of the office (unless you are Bulgarian or Romanian):
Plaza del Campillo del Mundo Nuevo nº 3
28005 - Madrid.

The hardest part of this was that you have to pay a small fee about Euros 6.70 into their bank account. All the banks around there will only accept these payments up until about 10 or 11am. If you get an appointment in the afternoon, then make sure you visit the office one morning before your appointment. The cops on the door will give you a payment form which you can complete and take to a nearby bank. When you show up for your actual appointment, bring the receipt! They won't let you in without it, and they have guns and big sticks.

Or, save yourself a lot of grief. I only found this website after I'd got my NIE, but I think it's well worth spending about 50 Euros to get some experienced help: hellomadrid.es

Morganna,

We had a similar situation while applying for our residnecy cards, which is a different process but requires a lot of the same paperwork, so maybe this will help you...

We just asked the friend we were staying with to write up an agreement (showing address, rent, dates) and we both signed it. Just make sure it includes the NIE # of the person writing the agreement!! We also had to get a photo copy of the front/back of her residency card. It was not very formal (and certainly no legal mumbo jumbo), and it worked fine.

For us, the next stop was the Ajuntament (Town Hall), to get an Empadronamiento (which is basically just registering where you live), and THAT is the document we had to take to la Oficina de Extranjeros.

Dear Keefieboy

I have just moved to Majadahonda and need to get my NIE sorted. I have downloaded the form, now exactly what do I need to take to where?!?

I´ve got my passport photos, passport and copies and the completed form. I have been told that I need a copy of my lease from a landlord showing my address, but I am currently living with friends so how would this work? Help, I am beginning to get desperate!!!!

Hi ROBI and Keefieboy
Your current postings highlight 2 things for me and the reason I keep connected to this site.
1. It's hard to sort out what all this things are -NIE, Residencia, working permit, EU citizens, non EU citizens(me) etc etc.
I confess I think of my NIE as my residencia. I get the papers from the internet for residence renewal, get all the things they list and then have to get the things they don't list, and end up with a residence permit - white A4 page with all the ramble about having residence and that I must obtain "la tarjeta acreditativa de su autorización" this being my NIE.
2.The other thing that Keefieboy highlights is that if you don't get everything absolutely right - pay the money at the bank, for me get the recently required proof I'm still married to a Spaniard, you end up having to replicate all the queuing.
I love the Cheats story above as in both our foreigners offices almost all get up and clear out for almuerzo just as he describes. The lawyers also seem to be able to walk in with 4 to 6 people in tow and not have to queue like do-it-yourself mortals.
Cheers
Lorraine
PS Picked up my 10year NIE/residencia Monday!!!!Yeah at last! (4 months, 5 visits, 10hrs in queues)

ROBI, I have no idea. I think that as an EU citizen, I have the automatic right to live in any member state. As far as the NIE goes, that's just a formality so they know who to send the tax demands to!

Hola you seem to start talking about NIE but with a green form you ended up with a residencia!

The system may have changed recently. Or it may be a bit easier because I have an EU passport. As I understand it, there are three ways to apply for an NIE:
1) Stand in a line from 4.30 in the morning. Thank you, but no. I'm a grown-up.
2) Pay a lawyer (gestor) to do it for you. Couldn't spare the cash.
3) Phone ahead for an appointment. I took this approach, although it was not easy. At the Madrid oficina there are three phone lines. They are constantly engaged. When you finally get through they only speak Spanish. I bumbled through and was given an appointment in two months' time (hoping and praying I'd heard and translated it right!).

Ahead of the appointment I downloaded and completed the form. I knew there was a fee, but (wrongly) assumed I could pay it when I got there. Big mistake - you have to pay it into a bank and bring the receipt. When I got to the Oficina, it was too late to get any of the banks in the area to take my money (they will only do so up until 10am - don't ask). I had a helluva time finding the branch of Santander Bank that will take money all day. It's at the top of a mountain.

I got back to the Oficina with one minute to spare before my appointment. I had a ton of documentation with me: passport, photocopy of passport, Padronomiento, tenancy contract, work contract, mugshots. The lady looked at me a bit weirdly. All she wanted was the passport and the copy, and the application form.

She banged me into the computer and issued a green certificate. EU citizens don't get a card anymore, she explained. Here's your number, keep it with you always, and also carry a passport copy. That's it. Done!

Avinguda Marquès De L'argentera 4

Sorry, in Barcelona!

Quick question: Where is the Oficina de Extranjeros?

Thanks!

hi have read about peaple getting nie numbers I found it simple and quick I downloaded the aplication forms did a couple of p/port photos with my d/camara took them to spanish consulet in manchester paid a couple of quid parking 5 minutes in the office the young lady checked the details and told me my nie number would be about 10 to 12 weeks but i got them in 4 weeks no problems if you have any queres the staff at the consulate were very freindly and helpfull

Hi Bristow
I am nearing the end of my first 5 years of NIE and begin to think things must have changed drastically since my time. As a NZer the whole process for coming to live here with my Spanish husband took almost a year which included 7 months waiting for papers in NZ. I have an Australian friend who was married to an Englishman and only has UK residency but not a passport and she is going through a process of living continuously in the UK for the required period to get her UK passport so she can move to Spain with her new Spanish partner. It does seem odd that one country in Europe will let you get residency in their country because you have it in another. I can't travel in Europe using my NIE. I would think you have to enter this country on your Australian passport and are therefore only entitled to stay here 3 months. Sorry rambling and no doubt you will find out soon enough.
re the obligation('must') on which comisaria you go to, talking to local we are all sure it is not an obligation and you can go to another. The Spanish can for their DNI and foreigners are much more mobile than them.
Sorry being darned all help here. See what happens when you try to do the NIE thing in England.
Cheers
Lorraine

Thanks Lorraine.

When I contacted the Spanish Consulate in Sydney (and explained that I have only an Australian passport and residency) I was informed that all we need to do is front up to the local comiseria with our passports and marriage certificate. I told them I was surprised it was that easy and they sent me some documents that say the same thing. I also phoned and spoke to someone who confirmed this.

We're hoping to start the NIE process from the uk but failing that we still need to know if we MUST go to the police station where we live or if we can go to another Oficina de Extranjeros in Madrid. The main problem being that where we plan to live initially is full of immigrants who are all trying to do the same thing. Any ideas? Thanks.

Hi Bristow
You don't need a NIE to come and live here so why not wait until you are where you want to be and do it all in the appropriate place and order. It is meant to be in the Comisaria nearest to where you live and of course this makes renewals and changing addresses etc much more straight forward. There are some very good link on this site for the process so spend the time here and not in those soul destroying queues.
Of course all this based on the million dollar questions - you do have an EU(British) passport and not an Australian one? Back to the Australian Embassy (Consulate in Sydney)if you don't.

My husband is British, I'm Australian and we're planning to move to Spain. I went to Madrid last month to do some research (massive thanks to my ever patient Spanish friends) and have come away somewhat confused...

I know we need to first register at the Town Hall where we are supposed to live. Not too hard from what I can tell as we have a friend letting us stay in her apartment and we have all the relevant paperwork here (the ownership papers to her house, bills, her passport, a letter saying we can live there plus copies of all this - tell me if I'm wrong and we need more??) We even have the official form.

Can anyone tell me whether we then have to go to the comiseria in the town we are planning to live in or can we go to another part of Madrid to get our NIEs?

My Spanish friend and I went on a reconnaissance mission one morning to find out EXACTLY what was required at this particular police station. The problem was we had to line up to get a number to get information then line up again to submit the information but apparently when you line up for the information they don't give you form anyway to fill out in advance. Amazing. Even my Spanish friend was flabbergasted, especially when we spoke to a man outside who had been there since 10pm the night before, had missed out on a number that morning so was going to camp out AGAIN in the hope of getting one the next day. The entire place was remeniscent of a refugee camp, I was so shocked to see something like that in a developed country.

Hence my question, can I go to another oficina de extranjeros to apply for our NIEs??

Any help or further advice appreciated. Cheers.

Oops my bad--hit the enter button by mistake.

Anyway, I called my bank officer, and she made a call to the Policia Local in Denia--they said all I needed was 2 passport photos, a copy of ALL pages in my passport, and a copy of the escritura (deed). When I got to Denia 1 hour later, the requirements were still the same, unlike Elche, Elda, and Alicante, where depending on with whom you spoke with, gave all VERY different requirements. In Denia, no fuss, and was in and out within ten minutes, including the wait time. In 4 weeks I should have the NIE back.

In Elda and Alicante, you need to be there by 7 am if you want to even HOPE to get a number. And no one knows which line to stand in--there is one for non-EU's and the other is for EU and NIE's--but no signs anywhere are posted. If you don't speak the language, good luck!

Just got my taste of the Spanish bureacracy...took me seven days to get my NIE because the bank wants it for tax purposes on my home. Being a non-EU citizen, I got the run around for 6 1/2 days. I started in Elche, Alicante, then was told to go to Elda, Alicante. There they told me to go to Alicante because I was from the USA. In Alicante, the gentleman (sarcastically said) told me I needed an official bank document that said they were holding the mortgage. I got that, then took it back, and he said I didn't understand him. WHATEVER!

Dudes,

Be very carefull!!!, I suggest to you and I even insist contact an US-Spain Attorney at http://www.spain-usa.net He is not in the list of the US Consulate and gives no kick backs, he is expensive but on the long run you will not be paying 3 times the estimated original cost!!!!

Yes, Lorraine you are correct on all points. However, we are Americans resident in Turkey. I have contacted (by email) the Spanish Consulate in Istanbul, and in Boston we were used to live. Got no answer from either, sigh. Guess I'll have to call them or probably even go there.