NIE (2nd round)

Last Thursday I successfully got my NIE number.

The process was relatively easy, but painfully slow. I applied for an appointment online on page https://sede.mpt.gob.es/icpplus/citar. The option I selected was Barcelona and CERTIFICADOS UE. The place was Oficinas de Expedición de Barcelona (Cataluña), at Rambla Giuposcoa 74.

The time on the appointment was 12:15, but I got there little more than an hour earlier. At the door, there was a lady, to whom I showed the appointment registration printed out, and she gave me a number (A50). When I sat down in the waiting area, I realized that they are currently processing A30 at the desks, so it will take a while before my number shows up on the screens. It was after a mere 2 hours, and my number started blinking.

When I sat down with the bureaucrat, I was happy to discover he spoke a little English, so I might have a chance. I showed him the papers I prepared, which were the following:

1. Form EX-18 filled out (required for EU citizens, non-EU citizens should apply with E-15) (photocopy of the filled-out form)
2. Passport (+photocopy)
3. Official job offer in Spanish (+photocopy)
4. Apartment rent contract + photocopy (was not needed)

The bureaucrat quickly scanned the papers, and he said everything is OK, so he typed the data into the computer, then gave me a "modelo 790" to get to the nearest bank, and pay 10.40 EUR for the process.

Unfortunately, the nearest bank did not accept cash, nor the second, nor the third I found. After approximately one hour of finding the suitable bank, finally a ranch of Caixa Penedes accepted the payment with cash, so I could rush back to the office to present the payment.

When I arrived, the time was 13:50, and the office is only open until 14:00. I got a number (B90), and waited. At 14:00, they locked the doors, so no one could get in, but of course, you could leave the building.

The waiting time was not so long as before, in 10 minutes, I was called. The current bureaucrat unfortunately did not speak English, but this was not the problem, she gave me the NIE number on the card in approximately 5 minutes.

When I left the building, I headed straight back to my apartment, because the office for the Social Security Number is only open till 14:00, so it was my next-day journey.