Originally Posted by snikpoh (Post 8963718)

Just to show how difficult Spain can be sometimes, in some towns you can not get a Padron without having an NIE!!!!!

We also needed photos when we got our residencia.

Originally Posted by NadiaN (Post 8963551)

I just went through this process last month with my parents. They didn't have NIE or residencia, and we got them both at the same time. The form you need to fill out is the Ex_16. You just leave the field where they ask for your NIE number blank, and when you get there they will assign you a NIE number on the spot. By law you have to have a residencia anyway, so you might as well do both at the same time and save yourself from paying the fee twice if you do the NIE and residencia separately. Not to mention that if you do them separately you'd have to endure the endless queues at the police station twice, too...

The documents you need to get your NIE and residencia are: a Padron certificate (you can get that at the Ayuntamiento downtown, or at a local office), your passport and a photocopy of your passport, and the completed Ex_16 form (must be completed in black ink). The problem is, I don't think you can get a padron certificate if you don't have a permanent address yet - to get on the padron you have to show them your rental agreement, give them a photocopy of it, as well as a photocopy of your passport. But you can go to the Oficina del Padron and try, at least. Here's a list of all the offices where you can get a padron certificate in Valencia - you can pick the one nearest you:
http://www.valencia.es/twav/tramites...=1_1&bdorigen=
Note that if you go to the main office - the Oficina del Padron in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento - the lines are very long, but if you go to a local office - a Junta Municipal - there are usually just a couple of people waiting in line.

You can find all the details of how we got my parents' residencias (where to get the form to fill out, the address to go to, etc) in this thread:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=689133

I wonder though why they are asking for your NIE in order to rent an apartment? I gave my passport number on both rental contracts I've signed since coming to Spain (the latest one was last year), and the landlords never had a problem with that.

Originally Posted by siggi (Post 8966765)

Thank you so for taking the time to share your experience - much appreciated!

Originally Posted by siggi (Post 8970627)

Can anyone familiar with Oliva, tell me where to get this Padron certificate. I went to the Ayunment office yesterday only to find out it was a police station :) I asked the police officer on duty where on earth I could get Padron certifica. He was very helpful, and gave me directions, all in spanish, and I couldn't understand a thing. I have to be in danger before asking a spaniard if he speaks english. So I just nodded my head, and smiled foolishly and thanked him for his help.

Siggi