Resident Card

[redswanlady]

Hi, need some info on how to apply for a resident card, I have read that you need to go to the local police station fill in the forms, take 3 passport photo's, your passport and a copy. Stand in a really long queue (but we are getting used to that) and they issue it, Is that correct? if someone can point us in the right direction I'd appreciate it.

Thanks

[vecino]

More complicated than that - it takes two to three months (a friend has just been through this and has got it). Easiest thing to do is to get a gestor to do the initial paperwork (costs about 150€) - english-speaking one in the gran Chaparral in Playa del Inglés is one possibility - but they can't do everything for you as they used to be able to. Then once the application is approved you'll need to pay govt charges at a bank, go to the Subdelegacion del Gobierno Oficina de Extrajaneros in Las Palmas to collect the final approval form. Policia Nacional in Playa will do the processing of photos and fingerprint, but you will have to pay more local fees again.

[mary]

I did it all myself but cant remeber where i got the inital forms. Then you take them up to the government offices in Plaza Feria ( as vecino said) Get them checked, return one month later to pick up the final form, then you'll return 3 months later for your fingerprints. We only paid one amount - about 35 euros I think.
I was asked this before and only knew the Las Palmas way and wasnt sure if you could do it all down here. Obviously not - except for the police bit

[mary]

http://spain.othercountries.com/pages/articles/index.asp?page=residencia-NIE
According to this site it says if you take your NIE paper to the comiseria de policia -so, the main one in LP - they will give you the form

[redswanlady]

So I can't go to the police station in PDI where I got my NIE done?

[vecino]

Yes, you can get the forms to fill in from the PdI police station - but unless you are certain you have all the appropriate financial information etc. they need, you may still find it helpful to get a gestor to handle the first stage and just phone you once the paperwork comes back. Worth paying for, in my view.

A gestor used to be able to do it all for you, but now, once the initial paperwork has been processed and your application approved, you can't get out of going to Las Palmas once. Not too difficult, as they've done up the offices a lot and it's well-organised (with tickets and numbers etc.) compared to what it was three years ago.

Then you can do the rest in PdI. With the usual amount of waiting and hanging around.

[Bubblemaker]

Hi

Our lawyer did ours in April and we didn't have to go to Las Palmas. They did everything and we just turned up at the Police Station in Playa del Ingles for the fingerprints and signature. we then also had to go in person to pick up the cards.

[CSI Fan]

I had to renew mine in November last years. A friend of mine got me the form from the offices in Plaza La Feria in Las Palmas. I filled it in and went along to the offices with my Certificado de Empadronamineto (certificate from the town hall to say where I lived), my passport plus copy, my old residencia, the last nomina from work and 2 photos with white backgrounds.

I was given a form to go and pay the 5 euros odd at a bank nearby. Went and paid it and went back to the office went straight in, had my finger prints taken all forms stamped and looked at then told to go back in 45 working days to collect it. Did that and no hassle.

Didnt have any hassle getting original residencia either, as long as you have all the right documents with you there shouldnt be if you are from an EU country. If you havent got a job here you will need proof that you can afford to live here, ie copies of bank statements or proof of pensions but shouldnt be a hassle.
Ony cost me the 5 euros odd certainly wouldnt pay 150 euros for someone else to do it, Rip off if you ask me.

[J1969]

As an EU citizen, you are not required to provide proof of income. You have an entitlement to a residencia, irrespective of your financial state (ie no confirmation of work is required).Obviously, due to local ignorance, etc, the reality may be different.

[vecino]

Yes, the reality is different. You'll be asked for the financial info.

And whether or not you consider paying a gestor is a rip-off depends on how much time you have (business, workload etc.) and how confident you are in dealing with the staff in the offices, as they don't usually speak english (or don't choose to). Friends of mine who don't speak Spanish have found it very confusing trying to manage on their own, particularly if the income paperwork has been a private pension statement from the UK rather than bank details from here.

Don't know how bubblemaker's lawyer pulled that one off, but lawyers here have ways and means. If you are trying to process your residencia in person (or are using a gestor for the initial processing) through the PdI Oficina de Extrajañeros you will be sent to Las Palmas to collect the approved application (which wasn't necessary before as I understand it) before they'll do the fingerprints and photo. This has certainly been the case since late last year, as it applied to my mother and to a friend of mine last month.

[jonjboy]

go and see anna stromberg,just below mcdonalds opp.side of road,she did my wifes and mine 180e for both,saves all the hassle,still have to wait 3 months though.john.

[J1969]

Serious question - why bother getting a residencia ? I believe its not required anymore anyway. I've been here a while and it certainly hasn't caused me any problems not having one. I am happy to show my passport whenever necessary.I found this funny - my local friend was renewing his DNI, but his application was rejected because there was a very small shadow on his photo - she said it might have been modified. I wanted to punch the nice woman, but he simply accepted her argument and got new photo. Draw your own conclusions.

[2-islandangie]

I have been reading this thread with interest. As we only spend about 6 months a year in GC at the moment it would be helpful to know the fors & against. We are both pensioners.

[mary]

I find it much easier to have a residencia. We can get residents rates at the water park, rsidents rates for flights and ferries off the island (although mainlanders cant get cheaper travel to us) and generally residents rates
I dont like carrying my passport around as it would be a real pain to lose it. I dont mind having an ID that is used to check my credit cards etc.

[vecino]

Serious question - why bother getting a residencia ? I believe its not required anymore anyway.

It's not needed if you are working here. It is required for pensioners and people who are living here from independent means; so if you move here and live off savings income, you have to have one.

But in practice the card is much more convenient than having to carry your passport in order to pay by credit card, and has your NIE on it: also, you don't have to go and get a certificado de empadronamiento every time you want a resident's discount on a ferry or plane.

[shirley]

Do parents have to have one to get there child in school??????
(for a friend of mine) As well as everything else they have to have.

[vecino]

To register your children for attendance at a Spanish State school you and your family will need to be registered at the local town hall as residents. For this you will need to prove that you own or are renting a property within the area. You also need to provide the parent's identity (passport or residence card) and the child's birth certificate. In some areas you will also need proof from a Spanish doctor of the child's vaccinations and a medical certificate of health. All documents must be originals with photocopies available to be left with the local authority office. Ensure you retain the originals.





Do parents have to have one to get there child in school??????


(for a friend of mine) As well as everything else they have to have.

[redswanlady]

You also need social security numbers and your NIE (originals and copies)

[shirley]

THANKS FOLKES!:nodding:

[jonjboy]

as a resident you can have a resdential bank account with between 5 and 7% interest as opposed to nothing for non resident, also if you own property and rent it out (and pay tax)as you are supposed to, you only pay 15% instead of 25% . john.

[coolcreen]

I came across this article in the grancanarianow website http://www.grancanarianow.com/blog/index.php?pagename=forum&rs_discuss_where=topic&rs_discuss_forum=living&rs_discuss_topic=133&recent=137 stating that as and from the 28th March, residency cards will no longer be issued. It may be of interest to all of you members living permantly on the island or living for more than 3 months of the year. Wonder how this will affect prices of flights between the islands etc where a 40% ?? discount is given to residency card holders

[mary]

Update and information regarding residencias in Canaries - Certificado de Registro

As of the 2nd of April 2007, you can now process the new Certificado de Registro applications at the national police station.

The new forms have been printed and are now available. There is a processing fee, which has to be paid in the bank and the forms for that are again available at the police station.

All EU citizen's that have stayed or intends to stay in Canaries for a period of longer than 3 months, is obliged to get themselves entered onto the foreigners' register - even those people who used to be exempt from having residencias under the previous legislation.

If you already have a residencia you can wait until it expires.

This affects a lot of people who are currently living or working here, and that under the old scheme, did not have to do anything except have a contract or work for themselves. Now they must go in person to the national police station.

Non EU citizens who are married / dependants of EU citizens have to follow a different procedure.

There should be a help desk at the national police station, but if you don't know at least some Spanish you may struggle.

I understand you can download one of the forms off the internet - but i cant find it yet and the other is carbonised and you have to pick it up.

Info from www.tenerifeforum.com (http://www.tenerifeforum.com)

More info here (http://www.pattinson.co.uk/public/content/articles/Residencias_revoked_by_Royal_Decree.htm)

And even more here (http://www.livespainforlife.co.uk/default.aspx?id=18)

[BlonDane]

The forms can be found here: http://www.ambmadrid.um.dk/NR/rdonlyres/B9C8CF1C-1F2C-4D66-92A9-01E265164383/0/SkemaEX16.pdf