RESIDENCIA – Registration Certificate

For Citizens of the E.E.C. – new law as from 2^nd April 2007

Although not a difficult process it is most definitely over-bureaucratic and very inconvenient. 

You need to fill in an application form – in duplicate, take a photocopy of your passport and have your original passport, you then need to take them to LA OFICINA UNICA DE EXTRAJERIA, Calle Cuidad de Querétaro s/n 07006 Palma.  Tel: 971 989 450.  When you get there remember to enter through the main door to POLICIA, not EXTRAJANERIA office.  You will most likely find a queue there anyway, if not turn right as you enter and go to the desk and ask for ‘fachada principal – puerta accesoria de policia’.

Hand in your documents, as specified above.  This will be checked to ensure that everything necessary is there and you will then receive a blank form Modelo 790 which you use to pay for the Certificate.  I realize that, because I applied for my renewal in the winter months, it did go a lot quicker than normal.  I was asked to pay and come back that day to complete the process.  You will need to take the form Modelo 790 to either the La Caixa or Sa Nostra – they are just round the corner from the office – fill in your NIE/NIF number and name then pass it to the cashier to pay – now as far as I can gather you need to pay this in a bank where you have an account, not with cash over the counter.  I say this because the bank asked immediately whether I had an account even when not in that branch, and said without an account I would not be able to pay unless it was a Tuesday or Thursday, when they can take payments for this certificate.  The charge for the Certificate is now €10.00. Once taken from your account the cashier will stamp the form to say that you have paid and return the copy to you.

If you are also applying for a NIE number at the same time then the cost will be €19.18. (see NIE Application for relevant download).

Once I had this completed, I returned to the office and went once again to the same desk, where I was given a number ticket.  I waited around half an hour upon which I made my way to a table where a young lady took my papers, gave me a copy of my application and Modelo 790 back, and completed my application within two minutes.  I now have a pale green Certificate of Residencia.  All done and dusted on the same day.  Should you have to make this same ‘journey’ in the middle of summer I believe you may have longer waiting times and it is possible that you will have to come back to complete it all another day.

Please note that during the summer months when it is busy you do need to be at the office from around 8.30 to make sure that you get a number.  The office itself does not open until 9.00 and closes at 14.00, but they have a system and a certain quota of how many they can deal with on a daily basis.  So if you do not get a number you will be asked to come again the next day.

All adults and minors applying for this Registration Certificate do need to appear in person before the authorities.  Please note that if you are currently in possession of a Residencia that is still valid you do not need to take the above action until it actually expires.

Ok, now down to the nitty-gritty, filling in the form.  The form EX-16 itself, is available here, please download and fill in as follow:

 
Form EX-16 will appear on your screen and you can type onto it as follows:

Q.1 Personal details of the applicant [Datos personales del solicitante]

1) N.I.E.No.

2) Passport No:

3) Surname [Apellido]              Ignore “2nd Apellido” unless your name is double-barrelled

4) First name[s] [Nombre]

5) D.o.B. [Fecha de nacimiento]

6) Birthplace [Lugar de nacimiento]

7) Sex [Sexo]

8) Marriage state: Single /Married /Widowed /Divorced /Separated [S/C/V/D/Sp]

9) Country of birth [Pais de nacimiento]

10) Country of nationality [Pais de nacionalidad] i.e.Great Britain

11) Father’s name e.g. John SMITH [Nombre del padre]

12) Mother’s name e.g. Mary SMITH [Nombre de la madre]

13) Address in Spain [Domicilio en España]

14) House number [No]

15) Floor or apartment number, if applicable [Piso]

16) Tel. [Tel]

17) Town [Localidad]

18) Post code [CP]

19) Province [Provincia] e.g. Gerona

20) Period of time you are proposing to live in Spain [Periodo previsto de

residencia en España] Permanently [permanentemente]

21) Date you started to live in Spain [Fecha acreditada de inicio de la residencia

en España]

I did not fill in 20 and 21 as I was renewing my Residencia so this is probably only important if you are applying for the first time.

Ignore Q.2
Ignore Q.3

For Q.4 [Domicilio a efectos de notificaciones] type in the address at

which you wish to receive any correspondence about your application:

* Street name or Post Office box number [C/Pl]

* House number [No]

* Floor or apartment number, if appropriate [Piso]

* Town [Localidad]

* Post code [C.P.]

* Province [Provincia]

* Date e.g. 24 de Noviembre de 2007

You can’t copy this sheet onto your computer, so CHECK IT CAREFULLY ON

SCREEN and when you’re sure it’s right, PRINT at least 3 copies

NOW SIGN IT at the bottom, to the left of the date [If you find you’ve made a

mistake after you close the site, you will have to type it all again, though some of

the sections will be remembered once you’ve put in your NIE]

Repeat this process for each person wanting to renew his / her Residencia
Make black and white photocopies of your passport. [It doesn’t have to be certified by anyone]

Now you are ready to go through the process at LA OFICINA UNICA DE EXTRANJERIA.

The new certificate states that it is NOT evidence of your identity and it’s clearly not a convenient document to carry around with you so I suggest that you

1) Keep your old Residencia card with photo and signature, and use it till someone notices the date!

2) Photocopy the new Residencia certificate and ask your local police or

Ayuntamiento stamp it and certify the validity of the copy. (always better to be prepared!)