The process and practicalities of application have altered considerably in recent months.
In the area that you have described there are a number of National Police stations which process applications and these are located in Gandia, Denia, Benidorm, Elx and Orihuela. Application can also be made in Alicante itself. However, many of these police stations will only process applications which correspond to their area or fall within their remit. As such, by way of an example you cannot apply in Denia if the address on your application as your address in Spain is in Benidorm.
In addition to this, appointments must be made to apply for numbers and due to the strain on the system in my experience this creates practical difficulties because you may not be given an appointment to then present documentation and apply for many weeks to come. Moreover, as you point out you require the number to purchase a car, property etc. and as such these delays can have a significant knock-on effect with how much you can physically do in Spain.
Finally, an applicant must now also pay a fee to apply for the NIE although this is very low.
I am based on the Costa Blanca and would be happy to discuss this with you further so please feel free to contact me. In any event, I trust that this is of assistance.
Glyn Mor?n
Partner
CB Legal & Fiscal
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