Hola,
As im going to be here a while ive decided to apply for my NIE number (its required I believe after 90 days) Its for fiscal reasons and a requirement for longer stays and residences 'Numero de identidad de extranjero'
Ive done some research online and some of it appears out of date, so, here's my journey in the hope it may help others. (If I also go for residency ill document that too)
Firstly there are two forms you need
1 - the Modelo 790
2 - The EX-15
These forms are both in Spanish so thanks to the internet and some very helpful sites I managed to complete them, sites listed here:
http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/HELSINKI/EN/Embajada/Documents/Instrucciones%20Modelo%20790%20English.pdf
http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/es/ServiciosAlCiudadano/InformacionParaExtranjeros/Documents/MODELO%20EX%2015.%20Solicitud%20NIE%20Inglés.pdf
I then saved them and emailed them to myself so they were on my iPhone.
As ive no printer I went to the Copyshop next to Ofipapel in Los Cristianos and they allow you to WhatsApp documents over to them and they print for a small fee. Fantastic!
It costs just 9.64 Euro to get your NIE (from the police station, there are two - one in Santa Cruz and one in Playa De Las Americas) BUT they don't take money there so you need to go to the bank with a completed Modelo 790 form and your payment.
I went to the Caixa bank in Los Cristianos and asked for assistance, where I was directed to an extremely modern cash machine.
Once id selected 'English' and 'make payment' the machine talked me through the process.
Helpfully you can scan the barcode on the Modelo 790 so it knows what you are paying. There are a few fields to fill in
Value - 9.64
NIE number - obviously you don't have one so you enter 000000001
First name
last name
Once completed the machine give two receipts, one for the Police and one for yourself.
The next step is a visit to the National Police Station either in Las Americas or Santa Cruz. Im going to Las Americas as its closer.
Ive heard they open at 08.30 and give out 95 numbers for queuing and that it each day so id better arrive early!
Will report back shortly:
Is 06.30 on Monday, this is the middle of the night for 95% of the island populous. I get a coffee and check on the map where the central police station is, hmm not far but its still dark so I decide to drive.
I leave at 7.45.
I parked at the free car park right next to the station, and joined a reasonable sized queue of people eagerly grasping paperwork, yes, am definatly in the right place.
At 8am a policeman appears and calls all Spanish people in, they get seen to first, fair enough!
Next, at about 8am the rest of the world enters.
I hear that they only accept 95 applications a day but I saw no evidence of this, the visitors just kept on coming.
When I reach the front of the queue im issued with a small piece of paper containing a number, and the approximate time im going to be seen, 10.21. As its so early I head back out to get a coffee. Luckily I find a nice coffee shop and order avocado on toast and an americano.
Theres a couple of very confused Brits on the table next to me who don't have all the forms they need so I assist them - that's my good deed done for the day.
At 9.30 I return to the station and the counter is on number 25 so I sit and read for a while. The numbers then go from 27-34 in one swift movement and I stumble up to the counter.
For some reason im really nervous, police do that to me, must have been guilty in a previous life... no comments please.
Im asked a few questions like 'why are you here' and in wing it successfully, after just 5 minutes or so I leave clutching my freshly printed NIE. Im officially here now so must behave!
Friday, 18 January 2019
Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Montana Roja
As much as I enjoy Tenerife its time to explore further than the beach, so today I took myself off to El Medano, its about a half hour drive so not too adventurous but lets not run before we can walk.
I followed the TF-1 (like the M1 but sunnier, warmer and far more mental) Living so close to the sea its not too bad finding your way around. My sat-nav is the sea - going north? Sea on right, going South ? Sea on left easy, inland ill conquer another day.
Heading off in the trusty Panda I enjoyed the wind in my hair and the frustrated honks of locals as I pooled my way up to 100km p/h - curly hair don't care, you can wait for me whilst I get to full throttle!
Arriving in El Medano its was just like everywhere else on the island, no where to park nearby, but that I declare is good! I need to get my 10k steps in so I parked half a mile away happily.
Walking toward the beach I turned a corner and it almost took my breath away, the brilliant blue sky and sea was awash with wind surfers and kite surfers, it was a riot of colour and action yet all you could hear where the waves, incredible.
I whipped off my trusty Teva sandals and picked my way through the beach, careful not to get myself tangled in a kite.
There were loads of little coves of lava on the beach to sit and read or sunbathe but I ploughed on as I had by then focused my sites on the small mountain in the distance - Montana Roja. Roja means red, and yes its red, its a small volcanic mass and the red rock is iron deposits, its quite resplendent - anyone who has landed in Tenerife can see it, by the airport.
There was a clear path up, I chucked my sandals back on and headed towards it. After about half an hour I reached the top, the views were stunning, the windsurfers now tiny coloured dots below me and the wind was brisk to say the least.
I enjoyed a cerveza sin alcohol (cracked open a can of alcohol free beer!) and headed back down.
Then to the beach for a couple of hours to watch the sails swirl and the holidaymakers pass by, I may have had a short nap...
I followed the TF-1 (like the M1 but sunnier, warmer and far more mental) Living so close to the sea its not too bad finding your way around. My sat-nav is the sea - going north? Sea on right, going South ? Sea on left easy, inland ill conquer another day.
Heading off in the trusty Panda I enjoyed the wind in my hair and the frustrated honks of locals as I pooled my way up to 100km p/h - curly hair don't care, you can wait for me whilst I get to full throttle!
Arriving in El Medano its was just like everywhere else on the island, no where to park nearby, but that I declare is good! I need to get my 10k steps in so I parked half a mile away happily.
Walking toward the beach I turned a corner and it almost took my breath away, the brilliant blue sky and sea was awash with wind surfers and kite surfers, it was a riot of colour and action yet all you could hear where the waves, incredible.
I whipped off my trusty Teva sandals and picked my way through the beach, careful not to get myself tangled in a kite.
There were loads of little coves of lava on the beach to sit and read or sunbathe but I ploughed on as I had by then focused my sites on the small mountain in the distance - Montana Roja. Roja means red, and yes its red, its a small volcanic mass and the red rock is iron deposits, its quite resplendent - anyone who has landed in Tenerife can see it, by the airport.
There was a clear path up, I chucked my sandals back on and headed towards it. After about half an hour I reached the top, the views were stunning, the windsurfers now tiny coloured dots below me and the wind was brisk to say the least.
I enjoyed a cerveza sin alcohol (cracked open a can of alcohol free beer!) and headed back down.
Then to the beach for a couple of hours to watch the sails swirl and the holidaymakers pass by, I may have had a short nap...
Thursday, 10 January 2019
Tenerife musings
My days are taking shape and having a little structure. Even without work its strange how easily you fall into a pattern.
The day begins any time between 445-630 – whenever my menopausal body decides its time. I don’t mind as I enjoy the solace of early mornings. What were suspicious glances from the two ginger cats, Ronnie and Ricky are now more, ‘oh hi its you, can you feed me or can I go out?’ which is easily fixable.
Then coffee – those that know me know I love a decent coffee. With recent events I haven’t progressed past instant (yuck) but luckily Roma (in the apartment downstairs) brought up a coffee press today I could have kissed her! tomorrow will be all about getting some decent ground coffee. Ive sourced oat milk so an instant coffee with milk followed by a social media catch up. Then reading – ive got a couple of books on the go and am enjoying having the time to enjoy them. Then a few housework jobs, want to keep the place nice for my friend and then to tame the mane. Thos of you with unruly hair will feel my pain in warm climes. As I abandoned hairdryer, straighteners and any form of comb or brush I am at the utter mercy of the hot sun and dry winds here. So my choices are thus – large mop of homeless looking hair or high bun type thing which actually gives me a smile face lift if I do it tight enough – believe me at my age you need all the help you can get.
Im becoming fond of my friends little blue Fiat Panda, its nippy and dented in all the right places, which means you can wizz about with gay abandon on the other side of the road, unlike all the tourists I their pristine rental cars! Hell im practically a local.
Off to the hospital to see my friend and check on any progress with treatment etc plus of course any local gossip and what’s happening in the world etc. not sure which is most important but equally interesting. The hospital is fantastic, there are no visiting hours, the parking is free and they even offer you a meal if you are there at dinner time! I do have to add at this point that its not NHS.
After visiting I scoot to the local supermarket Mercadonna to pick up any supplies. Im loving the fresh veg on offer, peppers the size of your head, huge nets of fragrant oranges and tomatoes that smell divine. Im determined to cook fresh and often and find the prices aren’t unlike UK.
Afternoons are spent reading, writing and enjoying the sun on the balcony. Its very strange here without my friend but I know shell be back very soon.
Evenings are cooking, more reading and local radio ‘Atlantis FM’ There is a TV here and UK programmes available but im not the type to sit and watch so im not about to begin.
The day begins any time between 445-630 – whenever my menopausal body decides its time. I don’t mind as I enjoy the solace of early mornings. What were suspicious glances from the two ginger cats, Ronnie and Ricky are now more, ‘oh hi its you, can you feed me or can I go out?’ which is easily fixable.
Then coffee – those that know me know I love a decent coffee. With recent events I haven’t progressed past instant (yuck) but luckily Roma (in the apartment downstairs) brought up a coffee press today I could have kissed her! tomorrow will be all about getting some decent ground coffee. Ive sourced oat milk so an instant coffee with milk followed by a social media catch up. Then reading – ive got a couple of books on the go and am enjoying having the time to enjoy them. Then a few housework jobs, want to keep the place nice for my friend and then to tame the mane. Thos of you with unruly hair will feel my pain in warm climes. As I abandoned hairdryer, straighteners and any form of comb or brush I am at the utter mercy of the hot sun and dry winds here. So my choices are thus – large mop of homeless looking hair or high bun type thing which actually gives me a smile face lift if I do it tight enough – believe me at my age you need all the help you can get.
Im becoming fond of my friends little blue Fiat Panda, its nippy and dented in all the right places, which means you can wizz about with gay abandon on the other side of the road, unlike all the tourists I their pristine rental cars! Hell im practically a local.
Off to the hospital to see my friend and check on any progress with treatment etc plus of course any local gossip and what’s happening in the world etc. not sure which is most important but equally interesting. The hospital is fantastic, there are no visiting hours, the parking is free and they even offer you a meal if you are there at dinner time! I do have to add at this point that its not NHS.
After visiting I scoot to the local supermarket Mercadonna to pick up any supplies. Im loving the fresh veg on offer, peppers the size of your head, huge nets of fragrant oranges and tomatoes that smell divine. Im determined to cook fresh and often and find the prices aren’t unlike UK.
Afternoons are spent reading, writing and enjoying the sun on the balcony. Its very strange here without my friend but I know shell be back very soon.
Evenings are cooking, more reading and local radio ‘Atlantis FM’ There is a TV here and UK programmes available but im not the type to sit and watch so im not about to begin.
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