Seeking practical advice about getting NIE/Certificado

Ok I will try to help, this is how I got my NIE. Went to the local Police Station that issues the numbers. In my case Sabadell, I was given the form which I completed giving my girlfriends address and my passport as proof of ID. Handed it back and was given an invoice for about €10-15 which I had to take to the local Caxia (Building Society) to pay, 2 mins walk away. Went back to the Police Station with the receipt and was issued a NIE. Total time taken about 20mins most of which was waiting around.

I got mine done in July, and, essentially followed the same procedure, only using my address from the flat I had agreed to rent. My whole procedure - about an hour. I was there at 8.40, and it opened at 9am. The only problem I had was that I had been originally told to go and get it from the Psg de Sant Joan office, but found out, after queueing up there for a f***ing hour, that that was in fact for non-EU people. So jumped in a cab to the Balmes cop shop. Voila.

Thanks guys.

Can anyone tell me what the "Certificado" is?

It can't be that useful because apparently it's not valid as ID - you still have to show your passport.

I got my NIE from Balmes office and it was quite straightforward. had pics taken but you do not need them anymore.
The form on the website was also out of date but people there were helpful and did speak a little english.

Does anyone know how to get Social Security No?

andyTHEO wrote:

Thanks guys.

Can anyone tell me what the "Certificado" is?

It can't be that useful because apparently it's not valid as ID - you still have to show your passport.

It the same as a NI number in the UK.

Also I went late in the afternoon to get mine done as there was no queues.

Also...
https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=48457

Hi,
Things could have changed since I last renewed my NIE but generally EU citizens have to go to a police station in Passeig Joan Borbó 32 (nearest metro stop Barceloneta-itŽs the main street leading down to the beach. I canŽt remember all the details but take at least one copy of your passport plus the original, they wonŽt make copies for you. I needed a copy of my employment contract or a letter from someone offering work- I donŽt know whether this is still the case. They give you a form to fill out and you have to go to the bank a couple of doors down and pay something like 2euros before they will process it. In the end you get a green piece of paper which will have your NIE number on it. Make sure you make copies and if you do anything official they will want to see the original and quite often you will need a copy. Most of all, if you donŽt speak Spanish or Catalan try and get someone who does to go with you because most of the staff there are quite short tempered. I think it opens at 8 in the morning-get there at least 15mins before because thereŽs always a queue.

I've got the bit of paper (Certificado) with my NIE.

This is how I did it (may be useful for anyone else reading this in the future)

I went to the Office in Balmes 192, filled in a form, waited, was asked some questions then given a proof-of-payment form to take to a bank and pay (10eu I think it was), returned to the Office, waited again, was given Certificado.

Total time: 3 hours.

HoveActually wrote:

Hi,
Things could have changed since I last renewed my NIE but generally EU citizens have to go to a police station in Passeig Joan Borbó 32 (nearest metro stop Barceloneta)

No, I was originally told to go to that one but then found out it had (apparently) closed and it was now at Balmes...