Spanish Bureaucracy - Getting the NIE Number, Residence Card etc

First thing to say is, I'm very happy, as the whole process was a lot simpler than I thought. Which deserves a wahay!

I had read many conflicting reports on websites and in books on what you actually need to do and was put off the whole process by this mis-information, which the internet can sometimes be guilty of. What was correct procedure in 2001 or 2004 is now totally out of date, at least in Spain anyways.

So just to be clear, in case any other expats find this info and want to refer to it - this relates to an application for NIE Number/Residence Card, 5th October 2007, in Barcelona city.

The first step that I needed to take was to register in my local community, which is called 'empadronar' and you get issued with a 'certificado de empadronamiento'. This was simple, although I had to go twice, second time to bring a Spanish language version of my rental contract, as the English language version would not be accepted for official purposes. The deal here is that local communities get funds from central/local govt based on the number of registered citizens they have, so they're always happy to see people register. In fact, it was a very nice experience, in an old atmospheric building and I chatted with the clerk about Barca.
Note: I think doing this first really helped speed up the whole process afterwards.

Then after this, I mistakenly downloaded some application forms for the NIE number from one of the mis-informing websites, but it was out of date, so a waste of time and effort.

Next step was to go down to the Comisaria/'Police Station with foreigners dept' in Barceloneta, which is in Paseig de Joan Borbo. I'd heard about and seen many big queues outside this place when I lived in Barceloneta for a few months earlier this year, but getting there at about 1 pm I was happy - hardly a queue, only 3 people in front of me, one of whom walked off without her passport and the guy behind the counter had to shout after her for her to get it back - I made a note not to do that myself!
My turn, so I went up to the counter. The guy had a look at my EU passport and  asked me if I was going to stay in Spain for more than six months, which is definitely the plan(!) and said in that case instead of applying for NIE I could get a Residence Card instead (which is what I'd read about taking months and months to get on various web sites) but this meant going to another building, about 10 minutes walk away, up past the Barceloneta metro station, to C/Marques de Argentaria, number 2. First through the security check, then you meet an old frustrated guy behind a window, who asks you what you want. NIE I said, so he was getting the forms for me, when I said I already had them filled in (not knowing I had the old ones). So next, he gives me a waiting ticket, my lucky number was C064. Round the corner and then look around puzzledly for a few minutes like everyone else is doing. Eventually went up a small staircase and saw a large notice board, which tells you where to go for what, in a confusing manner.
Eventually figured out that for my case - EU citizen - I needed the floor called 'entresuelo'.
Went in there, basically a waiting room filled with people waiting their turn. The clerks working there call out a mixture of names and numbers (all in Spanish, so make sure you know your large Spanish numbers).
Took about 15 minutes for my turn and then found out all the forms I'd downloaded, filled in etc were out of date. So the clerk gave me another form - this is updated with a Spanish law - Real decreto 240/2007.
He circled the bits that were needed to be filled in and this wasn't much, which was good. Section 3 of the form is where people sometimes struggle, as its where they have to put all the reasons they need the NIE/Residence Card, but as I had the 'Certificado de Empadronamiento' that was all I needed.
The clerk disappeared for a while then came back and gave me back the application form, stamped and with a form 790 attached to it. Then he told me all I needed to do was pay the €6.70 charge for getting the Residence Card/Tarjeta de Residencia Comunitario at a bank on Monday morning, then take the paperwork to the Comiseria in Barceloneta (where I'd started) and then they'd issue the card.

So, I think three things really helped the whole process - 1) essential - being able to speak spanish at least fairly well 2) registering with the local communinty and 3) being an EU citizen.

Phew, thats enough of this exciting talk for one evening I think!

Comments

[shinkaide]

[this is good] I remember when I worked on getting mine... I was empadronado en Villalba, and next, hopped on over to the Comisaria in Pozuelo de Alarcon. I wish I had been more proactive in processing this... I basically just followed my mom and aunt around; I bet it would have been more fun If I had just done it on my own.

Though now a citizen, I live outside of Spain, so whenever I have to go do something that has to do with government forms, I'm really intimidated (afraid to screw up or get screwed over). If you asked me right now, I'd be completely lost on how to get any of my government papers in order!

[bush]

hello evry body,

for american citizen, how can i get residency card here? i already have empadronamiento, pls any one with good answer.

[International Man of Mystery]

[this is good] Thanks, your information has been so helpfull. cheers