Getting legal is a priority - not a panic
Expats on the Costa Blanca are becoming frustrated in their bid to obtain appointments to apply to become officially resident in Spain have been asked to be patient.
EXPATS on the Costa Blanca are becoming frustrated in their bid to obtain appointments to apply to become officially resident in Spain have been asked to be patient.
The process involves a visit to a foreigners office at a National Police station to obtain the green card - but the ‘officina extranjeros’ in Benidorm has indicated on its website there are no appointments available ahead of October 31 and Brexit.
Instead, UK citizens wanting to regularise their status are invited to try other offices, including: Denia, Elche, Elda, Alcoy and Alicante.
And CBNews was told there are also long delays in obtaining appointments to apply for an NIE number; the Spanish personal identification code needed to buy a house, car or for a contract of employment.
Britain is scheduled to leave the European Union on October 31 and it was always predicted there would be a rush to become legally resident ahead of Brexit.
British Consul for Alicante Sarah-Jane Morris said her team were aware people in some areas were having difficulty in getting residency appointments - and added “we are doing everything we can to address this”.
She said: “Every week we check the residency appointments system right across Spain to identify where the problem spots are and bring them to the attention of the Spanish authorities. We have also asked people to message us on Facebook telling us where they are having persistent problems - we are aware there is a particular problem around Benidorm, for example.
Status
“The Spanish authorities have reassured us that they have this in hand and will be taking on additional staff in the coming months; so that all British nationals who were living in Spain before we leave the European Union are able to regularise their status.”
Mrs Morris said even in an event of a no deal Brexit there was still time for people to obtain ‘residencia’ certificates.
“The Spanish government has said that even in the event of no deal, there will be a 21month grace period from the moment we leave the EU for British nationals to regularise their status,” she said.
“It is therefore important if you live in Spain and have not yet registered as resident, you make it a priority to do this as soon as possible; but at the same time, please do not panic.
“We would also advise you have evidence that you were living in Spain before Brexit, such as a rental contract or ‘padron’ certificate.”
It is understood consulates representing a number of different nationalities in Spain are aware of the problems obtaining NIE numbers and it is a subject regularly raised with the provincial authorities.
The British consulate team runs an open Facebook group Brits in Spain and official Brexit information is updated at the gov.uk website; with pages dedicated to Loving in Spain.