Makes me feel fed up just reading about your long wait - a nice long breakfast for the penpushers I guess. I went to Granada recently at the crack of dawn expecting the usual big queues and there was nothing of the kind - straight in and out. A policeman said it was to do with their being less work about and thus less foreign migrants. My site has an advice centre which includes information on this sort of bureaucracy and how to deal with it:
http://www.advoco.es/advice.html

Hmmmm, you must have that friendly, open manner and smile I like about Americans! Have fun with the project.
Cheers

Hi junknira
I say your realtor wants your money so much they have 'friendly' relations with the bank as rules for banks in Spain are nation wide. Of course the realtor can do most of the NIE process for you although you will have to appear in person at some stage. This is all for a fee but maybe the realtor is counting all this in his commission on the property in question.
I agree you got lucky but it sounds like a benefit of tough economic times here.

just one prob with your response... didn't know my realtor, or any for that matter, when i opened my bank account, just went in to La Caixa, filled out some paperwork and all was said and done. two years later I appeared at the police station with the realtor and showed them that the paperwork and copy of passport was indeed me... and that was that for my appearing in person. as far as my realtor wanting my money..trust me.. he's not making a bundle off me.. i'm buying an older fixer upper..not a new development or condo for big dinero. tho no doubt any money is good in these times...

aaahh poor thing..you had a hard time. guess i got lucky. opened a bank account w/o NIE no problem, you get a different number for that. after meeting with the police, whom were quite friendly, and getting my stamp, my realtor is taking care of NIE while i am in california. maybe that is the difference between barcelona and galicia!

Hello everybody,

has anyone (EU citizen) ever renewed his Tarjeta de Residencia ?
I have to do that and I am getting lost in the jungle of forms.
I also cannot find any list on the http://www.map.es page
of documents I need to bring.

Tks for your help
Pitufa

Hi CookyJar,

(Cool name). From what I understand, there aren't too many others entering this minefield and certain headache. Just tried the site and it's fine. Worth another go?

....(And with that he was off.

I tried the link to "http://www.hellomadrid.es" and came up with no server whatsoever. Are there any other services like this??? maybe their website is just down right now, but this has certainly piqued my interest.

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