“A chronological summary of our Spain Non Lucrative Visa journey to date, from our application at Manchester till our TIE appointment in Lorca (Murcia):
- 24/09/24 – Submitted application and paperwork to BLS Manchester.
- 27/09/24 – Provided requested info directly to the Consulate.
- 25/10/24 – Visas received (1 month after application).
- 09/12/24 – Crossed the border from France into Spain.
- 13/12/24 – Applied for Padrón only to be told no appointments were available until January 15th.
- 15/01/25 – Tried to book an appointment at the town hall only to be told nothing was available and to retry at the beginning of February. A mixture of irate and worry at this point.
- 27/01/25 – Went to the town hall with a naturalized expat, who kindly kicked up a stink. The officials took our Padrón application and advised that the certificate would be issued by email within 20 days. They did supply an officially stamped document to allow us to book an appointment for our TIE.
- 29/01/25 – Picked up an appointment at the Policía Nacional in Cartagena. Application refused due to minor problems with the application form and, I suspect, being too close to closing time!
- 06/02/25 – Attended a new TIE appointment at Lorca Policía Nacional. All paperwork, including the new application form and bank receipts, was duly accepted by a brilliant police officer. Fingerprints were taken, and the form was issued. Approx. 45 days for our card to come.
One huge difference and certainly worth pursuing… We decided to apply for a Digital Certificate (Cl@ve) immediately after submitting our Padrón application.
This allowed us to log into the Town Hall and check our Padrón application status. We were surprised to find that our Padrón certificate was available through Cl@ve and had been completed/uploaded by the town hall on 27/01, the same day we submitted our application—despite being told it would take 20 days (which it still has yet to arrive in my inbox).
Moral of this saga: expect that Spanish bureaucracy will build unnecessary obstacles, but there are ways to successfully navigate them.
Questions and Answers
Q: “What were the minor problems with the application form?”
A: “I made a mistake when printing the Modelo 790. The printer default settings omit the footers on the form. You need to set it to ‘printable area’ to ensure the footers are included.”
Q: “How do you mean submitted info directly to the consulate? Isn’t that what BLS was supposed to do?”
A: “BLS is only ‘catch & dispatch.’ If any further documents or clarifications are needed, that request is generated directly from the Consulate.”
Q: “Do you have any recommendations for someone to help with the Padrón, TIE, driving license, etc.?”
A: “It all depends on who you hire. Some people can sort everything out in just 10 days, from Padrón to driving license.”
Q: “Worried about the driving license change. Have you heard any horror stories?”
A: “Our driving license took around three months. One thing we didn’t consider was renting cars on trips back to the UK. If a couple is applying, it’s advisable that one person exchanges their license while the other retains their UK one.”
Comments
- “I really don’t understand why getting a Padrón is so different from town to town. We are also in Murcia, and ours was issued on the spot!”
- “Mazarrón was a nightmare. They charged €2 for it, whereas in other towns, it’s free!”
- “Mine was issued the same day in Northern Spain. I didn’t even need an appointment—just waited until my number was called, took 10 minutes.”
- “Timeline matches mine. Arrived in Spain on December 1, Padrón on January 17, TIE on January 24 (told 45-day wait). Adjusting to the Spanish way of doing things takes patience!”
- “It’s definitely a rollercoaster ride, and you have to be patient, but it’s worth it in the end!”
Conclusion
Navigating the Spain Non Lucrative Visa process at the Manchester Consulate and settling in Spain requires persistence and adaptability. Key takeaways from this experience include:
- Expect delays with the Padrón – Some towns issue it instantly, while others require appointments weeks in advance. Having a local advocate can help.
- Printing matters – Ensure forms like Modelo 790 are printed correctly with footers intact to avoid rejections.
- Using Cl@ve can save time – A Digital Certificate allows online tracking of applications, sometimes revealing approvals long before they are officially sent out.
- TIE application can be tricky – Ensure all paperwork is correct before heading to your appointment to avoid unnecessary rejections.
- Spanish bureaucracy is inconsistent – Requirements vary by location, so researching local procedures and hiring professionals when needed can ease the process.
While obstacles are inevitable, persistence and proper preparation make the transition to Spain smoother!
