Hi Angela,

There is another way to get a NIE number quickly, although it is still a pain in the ar*e, and means a trip to Barcelona.
The only other way i know is to apply from the UK at a Spanish Consulate, but then it takes up to 12 weeks to receive the number.

Also remember that it is now August, so some of these official departments could well be closed for the holidays!

Step 1: Go to the police station (Paseo Juan de Borbón, 32) to pick up the tax form that you’ll eventually use to pay 6.70EUR at La Caixa bank. Ideally you’ve get this in advance as the police station only opens at 9am and you really need to start queuing (in step 2 below) from about 8am. The form is Modelo 790: (Centro Gestor – TASA: Reconocimientos, autorizaciones y concursos. Codigo 012).



Step 2: Go to Oficina de Extranjeros, Marqués de l'Argentera, 4, Porta 1 (next to Estació de Francia) as early as you can, but no later that 08:30am. Take a good book (2 hour wait), your passport (and a photocopy) and a pen (you’ll need to fill in the new NIE application forms that they hand out). I downloaded the application forms from the web but was told that they had only recently been updated, so best be careful if you plan filling them out in advance. You’ll walk out with a NIF number that the clerk will also write on your 6.70EUR tax form.



Step 3: Take the tax form to any branch of La Caixa bank and pay. There’s a branch on Paseo Juan de Borbón (on the way to police station, see step 4)



Step 4: Then walk to the police station  (Paseo Juan de Borbón, 32 – no more than 500m) and hand in the paperwork and they’ll print out a green A4 certificate with your new NIE number - Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Union.


I hope this helps.