The situation
Restrictive process steps for temporary residents.

A closer look
The changes to the fast track applications for residence cards and Número de Extranjero (NIE) certificate process at the central police station at San Felipe Madrid include:

• No more appointments.
  Instead of appointments being assigned, officers will provide an application number to the first 30 attendees each day.  Foreign nationals who do not receive an application number cannot apply.
  • This can potentially prolong the process because previously, applicants only had  to be present at the police station for up to an hour at the appointment, whereas now, they must stand in line for at least three hours before the opening of the police station, depending on the assigned number. 
• No third parties.
  Applicants must now personally appear at the police station to apply for a residence card or NIE certificate, since third parties will no longer be able to appear on behalf of an applicant.
• Background.
  The process change was made in response to significant delays at the central police station at San Felipe Madrid, where the fast track applications for residence cards and NIE certificates take place. NIE certificates include a foreign national's identification number but do not confer residency rights.
• How Fragomen can assist.
  Affected foreign nationals should contact their immigration professional to determine whether there are other police stations that will still accept appointments and for information on how Fragomen can assist with the new process.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to emea@fragomen.com.

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