Do I need to change my green residency card? And where?

It is not compulsory, although it will make certain procedures easier allegedly.

The easiest method is to ask your local friendly Gestor to do the basics for you, although no  reason why you can’t do it yourself. The reason for the Gestor is that it’s easier and they also have magic ability to make the necessary appointments online.

You need

1-       Original and copy of your residency, passport and “padron” (updated, less of three months)

2-      1 passport photo 32x26 mm.

3-      Tax paid (790 form). 

4-      Appointment 

5-      Form EX-23 duly completed 

Armed with this little lot you turn up at the police office for estrangeros in Denia at the appointed time. They will take your fingerprints, check all the paperwork and send you away with a Resguardo and instructions to make another appointment in roughly a month. Your friendly Gestor can do this for you. Then you return to collect your shiny new TIE card and they confíscate the green one. Don’t forget to take your passport!

The Gestor charged us 20 Eu each which we felt was very worthwhile for the convenience.

You do not say how long ago the exchange happened, but the charge was of exceptional value depending on the extent of your own input.

Earlier this year I started to organise  the change to TIE, in Denia, using a German "expert" (as per my local friendly Gestora) for the four members of my family. after much pressure from me. When some months later it transpired that Denia had given up its ability in such matters, and that Benidorm nor Alicante had no appointments on offer even for a single applicant. The "expert's"fee was quoted at €120 each, with the fourth applicant dealt with for free. This included all fees and transport to and from Benissa - a tight squeeze for five persons. In the end I gave up. I am not blaming either of the Gestoras involved, rather the authorities.

Given that compulsion is not (yet) involved, they can stuff the change, Having lived here since the last century I feel that the described debacle may or may not recur, thus circumventing current problems. Until then, sine die. One of my daughters can pick it up if they wish.

I rather think your so called ‘expert’ was no such thing. Denia admittedly only this year started appointments again, but we had no problems, We did this around the end of April this year, I think our TIEs are dated May 17 .

I have heard of no one being charged anything very different to our fees of 40 eu for the two of us. A few euros perhaps but not the outrageous figures you have been quoted.

There has to be a gestoria in Benitaxell, or go to the one whom we used in Jalon:

[email protected]

She does speak English if this is an issue

Edit forgot to say I did nothing other than supply requested documents and copies but she supplied the official tax forms etc, I supplied passports padron and so on

Thank you Stephanie for the encouraging reply. I may well take up your suggestion re using Mavi given that my one daughter and son in law live in the campo in Jalon.

Yes there is a Gestora in Benitachell, it is she who introduced "the expert". I may even change my tax return to Jalon next year as her charge has just this year been increased!

I am in the grip of various medical problems just now so it will be on the shelf for as while