NIE Idea When I'll Get It!!

Wednesday, 09 April 2008

For many Costa Blanca residents the task of applying for your NIE, DNI national identity cards and foreign resident certificate’s has been one fraught with problems and infuriating delays over the last 12 months.

The introduction in 2007 of the new laws for foreigners living and working in Spain has been confusing to say the least, and in most cases to obtain the essential documentation a very long and tedious process. To be honest I am still somewhat confused about the documentation I need, by law to live and work here in Spain, so if you see a reduction in the articles here on Javea News, you will know I didn’t have the correct documentation and have probably been deported! The opening of the new Foreigners Office in November on Avenida Marquesat in Denia has seen the end of the notorious 6am queue snaking its way around Denia’s national police station, but delays in the system are still abundant.

The Spanish authorities promised with the opening of the new foreign office, a reduction to the excessive waiting times for the necessary documentation. The new system has abolished the all too familiar 6am queue, but the process times are still much the same.

Now it’s a matter of being logged into their new super efficient all singing, dancing computer queuing system. After being subjected to all this high tech excitement and well organized somewhat unexpected administration, you would obviously expect some rapid deployment of your certificate, BUT NO, you are then told to return in 3 months, when you’re “necessary by law” documentation will be ready to pick up and by then probably out of date anyway!

Spanish authorities in the government delegate office in Alicante have said that due to the rapid growth of the population in the Provence of Alicante this is the reason for the delays in the system. They also state the backlog of requests is being addressed, and new applications are being processed faster and with more efficiently. I am sure for many the introduction of the new system is a most welcome and positive change to the never ending 6am queues, but there is certainly a way to go before we see a major reduction to the excessive waiting times.

Well I for one am going to adopt the famous Spanish mantra of Manana and just keep smiling, that is until I am forcibly ejected from this beautiful country, for not having my papers and required to return to my English homeland and all its red tape!

Viva Espana!