Mitzyboy

You want to take Spanish Nationality because of ID?

JulianWard

Sorry, when I offered my twopenth I did not realise how well integrated your were. However, I am surprised that with your extensive experience and Spanish associations through marriage and life here, that you have any problems with life in Spain.

I hope, however, that my comments may be of some assistance to those with less 'enchufe.'

bil

At the risk of repeating myself. We went to the Cadiz police office to get my residencia. The officer there said, 'Take it to the papeleria, and get them to make a reduced copy. Then take that reduced copy to the other office at the Cadiz police station, and get the officer there to stamp it as kosher. Then take it back to the papeleria and get them to fold it in half and plasticise it.'

This we did. My understanding is that with the stamps on it from the police station of issue, the reduced copy effectively becomes an original. Folded in half and plasticised, it fits into my wallet, being smaller than my passport, but bigger than a credit card.

The notary can't do it, the town hall can't do it, it has to be the police station that issued it.

JulianWard

After considerable correspondence between the British Embassy and myself last year an instruction was issued, as a summer 2010 only initiative, to the National Police and the Guardia to stamp copies of UK passports, however, when I tried at several stations, several times, they all refused to do it. And that was even when I produced a copy of the instruction which had been sent to them by the Police Dept in Madrid.

So Bil well done. I would think that the stamped copy (by the National Police or the Guardia, not the Local police) should work. However, if you are referring to the (useless) piece of green A4 paper /the Residencia Cert) and as you refer to having it reduced and folded over, it probably is, then that is, as has been said several times, not an ID in itself. What you seem to have is a certified copy of the cert (on which is printed that it is not proof of ID nor nationality) you will still need a legal ID.

bil

I will admit that my paranoia is so intense that I always carry Passport, reduced residencia and photo driver's licence.

I just wish to god it were possible to get ID cards here which would make our lives that bit easier.

EsuriJohn

I was one of the alert 15,000 who managed to get a pukka UK ID card it was valid for about 5 mths and then the stupid libdem (those that think EU is a good thing) end of this coalition decided that it was somewhere to the right of the Nazi system and it was scrapped in Mid January. It cost only £30 and some trouble to attend and be fingerprinted and photographed but much cheaper than the £77 I have just paid to renew my not as secure passport. I managed to use it twice at Stansted and Luton and on both occassions the passport officer was surprised but happy to accept it. I have not try'd since they scrapped it but mercadonna et al are more than happy because it has my picture and a format just like they get from all other Europeans. Not tried it with GC don't know if I would have the conjonnes to try it if stopped.

The Lie behind all of this was that it was a cost saving measure but they still have all the infrastructure for non-EU citizens who have to have the same card just a different colour. 15000 of UK citizens and 122,000 non-EU citizens were completed in the 5 mth that it operated for both.

We can only hope that when the next Government comes in they will reinstate it for all, not compel except for non-EU citizens and then all who want this handy credit card sized absolute form of ID get one at the bargin price I paid.

JulianWard

John and Kath you refer to the cost of the UK passport and the ID card. Again rip-off Britain. A Spanish 10 year passport is 20€, is issued at the National Police Office and the hold can go everywhere a UK passport can; a Spanish DNI (ID card) is 10€

As far as passports are concerned I am so glad I am now Irish, passport free as I am over 65.

Lenox

The ideal ID card has the NIE number on it - a number which is for life (unlike a passport number) and is good for driving licences, tax returns, weddings, funerals, standing for office, buying a house, national insurance, health and any other reason that the swollen tribe of Spain's funcionarios can come up with.
You can even memorize it...

EsuriJohn

I'm pretty sure the UK ID Card number would have been for life and would have had many uses with the passage of time.

inib

Julian, I am very grateful for your twopenth,(as well as the contributions of everyone else) and I'm sure it WILL be of use to many others. Until now, I haven't had any problems with life in Spain, and I suppose my only one now is that I'm grumpy about carting my passport around all the time. As the system is new for me I'm wondering if someone will even object to my passport as the number on it is different from the NIE with which I have opened accounts etc.
However, you are probably right. I will henceforth leave space for those who have more difficult problems.

HBG

It seems to be an expat obsession to walk about with original ID on the remote chance that our legitimate presence in Spain is questioned. Are we all on the run?

I’ve got all the legal documents and I leave the originals in the relative safety of my house, unless I’m visiting the authorities who want to see them or I’m in my car.

I make do with copies for the rest of the time, the 99.9% of time when I’m not speaking to daft funcinarios and merely enjoying life in this lovely, free country.

As for changing one’s nationality, I’m going to approach the Chinese embassy, they get all sorts of free tax breaks.

avocados

I think that y'all (been watching American Dance Crew lol) are stark raving mad!!

Been here a while and never bother with all the official documentation carp.

What's the problem with carrying ur passport - I Do !!!
Most women carry bags the size of a sack of potatoes. surely a passport doesn't take up so much room ?!

Another point, I have had the pleasure of unlawful arrest by the Policia Nacional - NOT ONCE WAS A CERTIFICATE OF RESIDENCE REQUESTED, NOR WAS MY STATUS OF RESIDENT, TOURIST OR FOREIGNER EVER QUESTIONED. They were so busy trying to set me up for something serious that they must have forgotten. I doubt that many of them have even heard of such a document.

Ironically, I GOT OFF at the court because it was decided that "HE IS ONE OF US". (I have connections, lol - if I didn't, jail time!!)

So, don't worry be happy. Forget the papeles and have another vino. Life is too short.

Saludos.

HBG

Good luck to you in the life that you lead, but you’re definitely not one of us. Well, maybe that’s not entirely true, but it’s more sensible to keep a bit quiet about it.