The joys of getting the new Spanish (EU) Residencia form...
Friday, June 20, 2008 @ 6:12 PM
Most of you now know the process of how to get the new Spanish (EU) Residency certificate. Some National police stations seem to be dealing with this pretty quickly, but Marbella Police Station still likes to keep you waiting. A friend of mine was in the queue for 5 hours earlier this week. He turned up at 8am, collected his queue ticket number, (at 8:30am) and eventually (after various pit-stops across at the coffee shop opposite the police station), got through the door at 12:30 with his filled-in application form. The officials gave him a tax receipt to pay (about 6.80 Euros) at the nearest bank (cajasur - about a 500m walk), and within 30 minutes he had returned and was given his new Green Certificate of Spanish Residency.
Watching people's faces as they exit the police station with their new Green Certificate is truly priceless - it's as though they had just become the latest winner of the Golden Ticket to Mr. Wonka's chocolate factory. (At least that's how I felt when I applied). The actual process is pretty quick, but why Spain continues with its slow archaic queuing system still defies belief. Anyhow, I guess it is better than waiting 10 to 12 months to get the old Residencia card.
For those of you about to apply, the application form can be downloaded here together with some tips and guidelines.
Have a good weekend.