After buying a house and moving to Spain, I’ve run into a problem regarding my NIE.
I visited the local Social Security office to register my E106 (for health care and social security cover), and filled out the form, providing a copy of my passport, Padron and NIE certificate (which I obtained 4 years agao). No problem. But once they were sent to the provincial capital in Cadiz, they were returned saying the NIE number was ‘old’. After explaining that and NIE number stays with you for life, the officer contacted Cadiz and they have told him that I need to get another new style NIE certificate (Certificado de inscription en el Registro General de Extranjeros). I thought this is exactly what the old one was.
Never mind. After travelling to Cadiz today (I live in Olvera, as far away from Cadiz as is possible in the province) I was faced with a crowd of people outside and told that since three weeks ago, you have to obtain a ticket at 9:00 in the morning and only 50 are given out each day!!! First time I have heard of someone refused entry to the Oficina de Extranjeros. On my return to the local social security office, this came as no surprise to him, and apparently people are camping out overnight outside the office and you stand more or less no chance of getting a ticket.

There are a number of issues here:

1. What is this ‘new style’ NIE certificate
2. How can I get one if I can’t get into the office (and also cant get a residency certificate)
3. What’s the point of being in the EU if you are treated like an illegal immigrant anyway (as I am told by the social security officer most of the people camping out are????)

I want to do everything properly, and have never had any problems prior to this. It’s just I have a piece of paper from the UK saying I can receive medical care for 2 and a half years if necessary but cannot use it!!!

Can anyone help?

Unfortunately yes, we have heard of the ‘new style’ NIE. We have lived hear for 8 years and held our NIE cards (permanent residencia) for over 5. We came to renew them recently and ran into the same brick wall. We had to go through the same procedure and at the end of it were handed a sheet of A4 paper that is the new certificate. No photo I might add. Since then we have had problems buying articles that require proof of NIE. Slowly the shops are becoming used to this new way and prefer to see our driving licence with photo for proof. Seems daft to us that they changed the original method! I have a spare tent or two if you need them!! Seriously, best of luck. I hope you get sorted soon.

Thanks Dunroamin. The problem I am having is not with the residencia certificate (although I will have to go through this all again with that). It is the certificate showing that you have been entered onto the register of foreigners. This used to be a white A4 piece of paper. The guy in my local social secutiry office has checked for me again and says that I can get this from the comesaria de policia, so I guess I’ll give them a go (hope it’s better that the foreigners office).

I think they changed the whole NIE thing when they introduced the residency certificate. Lord knows why.

Thanks again.

Ok, here goes. I’m completely in the dark on the, for want of a better phrase, legalisation process for EU members wishing to reside in Spain (I’m Irish), but having browsed around the internet, this is my understanding of what I need to do in order to make myself “legal” here. I’d appreciate if anyone can point out any errors I’ve made ‘cos I’m sure there are some!

Step 1. (As outlined at http://www.allthingsspain.net)
Register at the local town hall (ayuntamiento). This requires me to provide:

(a) A completed and signed hoja de empadronamiento, available at the ayuntamiento or junta municipal.
(b) Original ID (in my case, my passport) plus one copy.
(c) Proof of where you live (a lease with your name on it or the deed to a house that you own).
- If your name is on the lease, you also need to bring a copy of a utility bill in your name or a copy of receipts for bills that you have paid.
- If you are renting a room in a shared flat and your name is not on the lease, you can bring in a copy of the lease and have your flatmate or landlord verify that you are living there. For this, they will have to sign your hoja de empadronamiento and give you a copy of their ID. They do not need to accompany you when you register (but they can if they want to).

Step 2. (As outlined at http://www.webexpressguide.com)
Apply for a ?Certificado de Inscripcion en el Registro Central de Extranjeros? (certificate of registration in the central register of foreigners).

To do so, firstly you must go to your local Policia Nacional Police station and ask for a Form 790. Then take this form to a Spanish bank and present the form with 6.70 Euros to the cashier, who will stamp it and return it to you. The stamped document, duly completed, will then be presented with your application at the Police station.

(You can print your application form off from the Spanish Interior Ministry website http://www.mir.es  or obtain one from the same police Station. If you need help with completing the form it is best to ask your lawyer or at the Police Station.)

You then take the completed application form, stamped Form 790 and your passport with a photo copy of your passport to the Police station. You will then in due course be issued with your certificate which will also include your NIE number (the NIE number is a form of tax identification number and is explained in more detail in the NIE article on this website). Obviously it is important to keep this certificate in a safe place and make several copies of it.

A couple of doubts I have about this procedure (having read of peoples experience on the net, this just seems too straightforward), which I’d be delighted if someone could clarify;

- Is registration at your local town hall a prerequisite for you to complete the application to the central register of foreigners.
I’m presuming that you need to produce this Town Hall Residence in order to get through Step 2 outlined above? And if you do need it, does the Volante de Empadronamiento suffice, or do you require the “official version” - the Certificado de Empadronamiento?

- I know you can print off your Central Register of Foreigners application form from mir.es, however does anyone know if this “Form 790” is available to download & print-off online?

Hoping someone can confirm if what I’ve outlined above sounds right & can also shine a light on my doubts! 😊

Saludos,

Hi Sean,
sounds about right to me but things seem to vary slightly with each visit to official offices, just make sure to take all documents in triplicate (just in case).
Best of luck

Dunroamin - 24 April 2008 06:41 PM

Hi Sean,
sounds about right to me but things seem to vary slightly with each visit to official offices, just make sure to take all documents in triplicate (just in case).
Best of luck

Cheers Dunroamin. They’ll probably have moved the goalposts again when I apply, but fingers crossed, eh? 😉

Thanks.

Hi Olvera-guy, I had read that early issued NIEs (ie those on the original yellow or blue ?) paper were now invalid but I had not heard of them being actually rejected. According to Blevins Franks (who write widely on Spain they are financial advisers) this change took place 1st Jan 2007!! and is all part of the tax clamp down. Yes try the nacional policia they issue them here.

(Dun roamin - your post is talking about Residencia - not NIEs)

Other points arising:

NO the 790 is NOT available online because it is a multi parted carbonated form.

YES you are now supposed to have the Padron certificate issued free by your town hall before applying for Residencia (which is applied for on an EX16 which is available online)

Also see:
N.I.E. (EX14) / RESIDENCIA (EX16)

Application Forms and the
Regulations Governing EU citizens in Spain document.

http://extranjeros.mtas.es/

For forms - Click: Modelos de Solictudes

Or direct link
http://extranjeros.mtas.es/es/general/procedimientos_Solicitudes_index.html

For the Regulations document (from Home page)
Click UK flag & R?gimen de los ciudadanos Comunitarios en Espa?a

Actually I have now re-read the original post and you said:

’ But once they were sent to the provincial capital in Cadiz, they were returned saying the NIE number was ?old?. After explaining that and NIE number stays with you for life, the officer contacted Cadiz and they have told him that I need to get another new style NIE certificate (Certificado de inscription en el Registro General de Extranjeros). I thought this is exactly what the old one was.’

The Certificado is the NEW residencia (replacing the card) which does have the NIE number on it BUT IS NOT the NIE which is applied for via a different process (EX14) for a different purpose and is issued on a computer printed usually/always white sheet and officially stamped.

Also mine (residencia, my card expired) is called Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Union.

I also apologise to the other poster whom I thought had got confused (in fact it was me who was confused)

However - I have read an item by Blevins Franks - saying that old NIEs have to be re-issued and I thought the original post was the first to hit the problem of an old NIE!

As the subject has come up…
I have changed address recently - and have re-newed empadronmento & all car docs.. but… cannot face the trip to the Policia Nacional to advise them of a change of address - for my Certificado de Extranjeros - and my original NIE cert for that matter.
Am I legally obliged to advise them of a change of address? 
(And if so, what happens if I don’t?)..

ps - I have changed addresss 4 times since arriving in Spain 10yrs ago - and have never updated my original (white) NIE
My old Tarjeta de Residencia only got an updated add when I was handed my paper Ceterficado de Extrajeros.

For now, I just produce an (offcial) copy of my passport if I am ever asked for ID
Any replies welcome!

Hi Susan,

No I do not believe there is any need to register a change of address for an NIE - I think the address part of that process is a little crazy anyway as we have clients applying for NIE before they have decided on their house (or even if they have and its new it may not yet even have an address!) so we use the office address.

On the certificate I would guess (the brochure on it does not specify) that they would intend you to register a COA but I dont think many bother because of the hassle. I dont think there is any penalties etc.

They have other ways of finding you anyway! With you NIE they can find all of your bank accounts and the banks have your address or the tax authorities (for IBI etc)

A padron will now not be issued unless you have reg at the police station and obtained a green form with all details on it .
This has to be done for everyone entered on the padron.
All this info is from the town hall in Mijas Costa

Hi Pepsi, I am guessing you mean by the green paper you are referring to the new ‘Certificado de Extranjeros’ (the one that replaced the Tarjeta de Residencia?).
I am near Mijas - and find their foreigners department VERY helpful! (Although they did not tell me about the copying of the car docs not being kosher.. but live and learn! ).

hi, I live in Valencia and getting this certificate (Certificado de Registro de cuidadano de la uni?n) was very time consuming.  I had to renew my drivers licence and my old style NIE was not accepted.  They required a new style (green - Certificado de Registro de cuidadano de la uni?n).  I previously downloaded the form from the internet but when I arrived in the Comisar?a in Patraix the police were very unhelpful.  There was nobody to give information on spec, the ONLY way to obtain information was to queue up (language was not an issue as I have been here for a few years).  I queued for 3.5 hours and got the form.  There were no exceptions, everyone I saw arrive had to do this.  I then went to the bank, paid the tasa and returned to the Comisar?a in Patraix.  Once again I had to wait for another 3.5 hours before I got attended to.

As regards what time to go, if you go early in the morning (around 7) then you either get served in the morning or a given a number when you will get served in the afternooon.  (afternoon is open from 17:00-19:45).  if you arrive at around 15:30 then you have a good chance to get served.  However if you arrive in the afternoon and do not get served then your time waiting is wasted as you do not get a number.

I understand this will vary greatly from province to province but this was my experience in Patraix, Valencia.