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Residency Appointments / Certificados UE (Exclusivamente Para Reino Unido)

Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2019 9:42pm
23 replies791 views9 members subscribed
RoisinF

Posts: 7

Location: Alicante City

Joined: 12 Aug 2019

Hi everyone, I'll be working as a language assistant this year near Alicante city, and as such have been trying to get an appointment for residency (not just NIE, as I think from looking at helpful guides that that's just for a stay of <3 months?) as I'll be living in Spain for longer than three months. The issue is that there are never any appointments available for the Alicante province on the booking website. I was wondering if anyone has any idea when appointments usually open up again? Or if there's a particular time of day that's likelier to have appointments, maybe? I've also seen people suggest paying a company to give you an appointment as they seem to make block bookings, but I'm not too sure about this. I've looked at myNIE as an example but it seems quite iffy in terms of the service it provides. I'm also a student, so naturally I'm trying to save as much money as possible, but if a company is the only way to go then I'd be glad for recommendations! 

Apologies for the long post, but thanks for reading :) I'm quite stressed about all this so any info/advice would be much appreciated!

Villas

Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2019 10:30pm

Villas

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 4317

3505 helpful points

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Joined: 29 May 2017

Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2019 10:30pm

RoisinF wrote on Fri Aug 16, 2019 9:42pm:

Hi everyone, I'll be working as a language assistant this year near Alicante city, and as such have been trying to get an appointment for residency (not just NIE, as I think from looking at helpful guides that that's just for a stay of <3 months?) as I'll be living in Spain for longer than thr...

...ee months. The issue is that there are never any appointments available for the Alicante province on the booking website. I was wondering if anyone has any idea when appointments usually open up again? Or if there's a particular time of day that's likelier to have appointments, maybe? I've also seen people suggest paying a company to give you an appointment as they seem to make block bookings, but I'm not too sure about this. I've looked at myNIE as an example but it seems quite iffy in terms of the service it provides. I'm also a student, so naturally I'm trying to save as much money as possible, but if a company is the only way to go then I'd be glad for recommendations! 

Apologies for the long post, but thanks for reading :) I'm quite stressed about all this so any info/advice would be much appreciated!

You are in centre of the information of confliction. (in a forum)

I´m sure you will receive good & differing information, longer than mine. I hope you gain information with your positive hope.

Villas

jimtaylor

Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2019 7:36am

jimtaylor

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Posts: 5612

8738 helpful points

Location: Mudamiento

Joined: 2 Feb 2017

Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2019 7:36am

Block bookings are no longer possible as they have to be done with the name and passport number of the applicant.

The online system has effectively been down for months.

Some police stations are still processing applications, but you have to make a personal visit.

MeathMaria

Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2019 11:24am

MeathMaria

Very helpful member

Posts: 599

580 helpful points

Location: Alicante City

Joined: 9 Jun 2019

Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2019 11:24am

RoisinF wrote on Fri Aug 16, 2019 9:42pm:

Hi everyone, I'll be working as a language assistant this year near Alicante city, and as such have been trying to get an appointment for residency (not just NIE, as I think from looking at helpful guides that that's just for a stay of <3 months?) as I'll be living in Spain for longer than thr...

...ee months. The issue is that there are never any appointments available for the Alicante province on the booking website. I was wondering if anyone has any idea when appointments usually open up again? Or if there's a particular time of day that's likelier to have appointments, maybe? I've also seen people suggest paying a company to give you an appointment as they seem to make block bookings, but I'm not too sure about this. I've looked at myNIE as an example but it seems quite iffy in terms of the service it provides. I'm also a student, so naturally I'm trying to save as much money as possible, but if a company is the only way to go then I'd be glad for recommendations! 

Apologies for the long post, but thanks for reading :) I'm quite stressed about all this so any info/advice would be much appreciated!

Hello Roisin

The following link might provide information for you.   Internations.org is an interesting forum in general.  

https://www.internations.org/go/moving-to-spain/working

Perhaps when you arrive in Spain to take up your job, the school may assist you in getting set up as regards employment formalities?  They should as an employer??🥺

Make sure you have your EIIC card from your health board.  It needs to have same name/names as on your passport.  Both passport and EIIC have to be presented at medical center should you need it.  

Have you looked into taking out an annual travel insurance which covers whole year in Europe?   For instance if a student was going to study on Erasmus course for a year abroad there is an insurance for that.  Perhaps VHI may offer cover for language assistant?  

Please don’t feel too worried about getting residency sorted until you hear what your employer may advise.

Wishing you every success.  Hope that you enjoy a great year in Alicante.  Please let us know how everything goes for you. 😎

MeathMaria

Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2019 11:33am

MeathMaria

Very helpful member

Posts: 599

580 helpful points

Location: Alicante City

Joined: 9 Jun 2019

Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2019 11:33am

Oops sorry Roisin

Of course I meant valid EHIC.  European Health Insurance Card.  

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Kimmy11

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2019 11:08am

Kimmy11

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Posts: 6869

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Joined: 8 Aug 2017

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2019 11:08am

Hi Roisin,

NIE and Residencia are two different things.  The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is an identity number for foreigners.  It's needed for all sorts of things and, as you've said you will be working in Spain, you will definitely need one, as it's also your unique tax identifier (whether you earn enough money to pay tax or not).

If you're not yet in Spain, you could try obtaining your NIE through the Spanish Consulate in London or Edinburgh.  When you go onto their website, you'll see that it says not to use their services if you intend to live in Spain or for seasonal work, but when you fill out the application, simply say that your reason for wanting an NIE is to open a bank account in Spain:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.es/faq/nie-application-uk-spanish-consulate-london-edinburgh/

You should apply for Residencia, as you intend to be here more than 90 days, but you need your NIE for your Residencia appointment, so obtaining your NIE should be your priority.

There's a backlog in processing residency applications at National Police stations and Foreigners' offices all along the Costas, in large part due to British immigrants trying to become legal before the UK leaves the EU, which is why it's so difficult to obtain an appointment online.  A gestor will charge around €70 to help, but there's no guarantee they will be able to secure an appointment either.

Kind regards, 

Kim

jimtaylor

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2019 11:17am

jimtaylor

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Posts: 5612

8738 helpful points

Location: Mudamiento

Joined: 2 Feb 2017

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2019 11:17am

Slight correction, Kim. 

You can apply for residency without an NIE number, and that will be granted as part of the residency application process.

Kimmy11

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2019 1:03pm

Kimmy11

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Posts: 6869

12554 helpful points

Joined: 8 Aug 2017

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2019 1:03pm

Hi Jim,

Yes, my neighbours applied for Residencia and obtained their NIEs at the same time, back in 2016.  Hubby and I obtained our NIEs before moving to Spain that year and obtained Residencia once here.  I explained the difference because Roisin's post seemed to suggest that she thought she didn't need an NIE, when we all know you can't do much related to living and working in Spain without one! 😀

Given her comments about timing and cost, I thought it may also be more practical for her to apply for her NIE through a Spanish consulate in the UK before she moves to Spain.  Whilst we know of the current difficulties getting a residency appointment in Spain, I've seen recent reports that it's still possible to get an NIE for Spain in the UK in about 3 weeks - unless August holiday season affects that too?

Kine regards, 

Kim

RoisinF

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2019 9:28pm

RoisinF

Original Poster

Posts: 7

Location: Alicante City

Joined: 12 Aug 2019

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2019 9:28pm

Villas wrote on Fri Aug 16, 2019 10:30pm:

You are in centre of the information of confliction. (in a forum)

I´m sure you will receive good & differing information, longer than mine. I hope you gain information with your positive hope.

Villas

Thanks :)

RoisinF

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2019 9:32pm

RoisinF

Original Poster

Posts: 7

Location: Alicante City

Joined: 12 Aug 2019

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2019 9:32pm

jimtaylor wrote on Sat Aug 17, 2019 7:36am:

Block bookings are no longer possible as they have to be done with the name and passport number of the applicant.

The online system has effectively been down for months.

Some police stations are still processing applications, but you have to make a personal visit.

Thank you very much for the info! Glad it wasn't just on my side that appointments aren't available haha. Would you suggest just turning up to the Alicante police station and asking them if there are any appointments, then? 

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