Moving Abroad

TIE Process in Spain: A Guide for International Students

Moving Abroad /

Continuing your academic journey in Spain not only involves embracing a new culture but also navigating through stressful administrative processes. One pivotal step in this journey is obtaining your Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE). More than a mere piece of plastic, this ID card is your passport to a seamless and enriching experience during your time in Spain. Learn about the TIE application process, as well as comprehensive information and actionable steps. Preparing for Your TIE Appointment Before diving into the TIE application process, let’s outline the preliminary steps: Student Visa Approval: Lay the groundwork for your TIE journey by ensuring the successful approval of your Student Visa. Initiate the TIE process only after this crucial step is completed. Reserve Your TIE Appointment: Access to a Spanish cell phone is vital for booking your TIE appointment. Allocate sufficient time before your appointment to address other essential tasks, such as finding suitable accommodation, obtaining your padrón, and completing the associated tax payment. Link to TIE Appointment Reservation Booking Your Appointment Now, let’s break down the steps for booking your TIE appointment: Visit the Official Website: Navigate to the designated official website and choose the region where your educational institution is located. Enter Personal Details: Input your NIE as it appears on your visa, your full name (as per your passport), and the country that issued your passport. Appointment Availability: If no appointments are initially available, try checking the website at different times, with prime slots often released around 8:00 am, 11:00 am-12:00 pm, or 12:00 am. Contact Information: Provide your Spanish telephone number (foreign numbers are not accepted) and a non-Hotmail email address for confirmation purposes. Review and Confirm: Review your personal details, input the security code sent to your Spanish telephone number (if received), and confirm your appointment. Print Confirmation Page: After confirmation, ensure to print the confirmation page. This will be a crucial document to bring to your TIE appointment. Collect Your Documents These are the essential documents required for obtaining your TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) in Spain: Proof of Appointment: A printed page with the cita previa confirmation code. Completed EX-17 Form: The original and a copy, printed and signed. Passport: The original and copies of all pages. Tasa Modelo 790 Codigo 012: This needs to be printed, paid, and stamped by the bank. You are required to print out all pages and take them to the nearest bank for your tax payment before you go to your appointment. The bank will stamp all three forms, retaining one for their records. You should bring the two remaining pages to your scheduled appointment. Recent Passport-Sized Photo: A color photo of your face (32mmx26mm). Valid Empadronamiento (Padrón): The original and a copy, matching the address indicated on the EX-17 form. Valid Visa Document: The original and a copy, approving your stay in Spain. Proof of Valid Private Health Insurance: The original and a copy, covering your entire intended stay. Document Certifying the Reason for Stay: Such as a letter of acceptance from your university, work contract, internship contract, etc.   Pick-Up Your TIE The final steps involve collecting your TIE once it’s ready: Request an Appointment for Card Collection: After your digital fingerprinting appointment, you will need to request another appointment for card collection. Follow the instructions on the website, selecting the option POLICIA – RECOGIDA DE TARJETA DE IDENTIDAD DE EXTRANJERO. I recommend you arrange this appointment immediately after you do your fingerprinting. It should be between 30 to 45 days after your initial TIE appointment.   Attend the Appointment: Attend the appointment at the designated police office, where you’ll collect your TIE. Primary Identification: Your TIE now serves as your primary identification throughout your academic stay in Spain. Official Foreigner! The TIE process might initially seem intricate, but with comprehensive information and a clear understanding of the steps involved, you’ll find it to be a manageable and crucial part of your Spanish experience. Your TIE is essential to be in Spain more than 180 days. Should you encounter any challenges or have questions along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out to me for guidance. Enjoy every aspect of your  journey in Spain! Not all those who wander are lost – TTT

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Spain Student Visa Process at the New York Consulate

Moving Abroad /

Moving to Spain is a life-changing choice and it is well worth it! Despite the excitement of moving abroad, the logistics are overwhelming and stressful. My goal is to make this process as easy as possible for you. Beginning your visa journey is the first step to your next chapter. This comprehensive guide aims to simplify the process for individuals applying for a Spain student visa at the New York Consulate. If you are not applying to the NY consulate, learn which one you need to apply to here. This information is helpful to any consulate, but the specific documents mentioned align with the requirements at the New York Consulate. Whether you’re pursuing full-time studies, training, internships, or voluntary work, this guide covers all the essential details, providing clarity and ease of navigating the student visa process. Student Visa Overview A Spain student visa is essential for people looking to stay in Spain for more than 90 days for various educational activities, including studies, training, internships, or voluntary work. The visa is also applicable for au pairs and teaching assistants. It’s crucial to note that study stays of less than 90 days may require a short-stay visa, depending on the applicant’s nationality. Family members of students, including spouses, unmarried partners, and minor or disabled children, can also obtain a visa to accompany the student. Importantly, visas for family members do not constitute work permits, meaning your family members cannot legally work in that country. If they would like to work abroad, they need to apply for a work visa.  Student visa applications are accepted at the New York Consular District if your legal residence or current university is in one of the following states: New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Eligibility for a Study Visa A study visa may be obtained for various activities, including: Full-time studies leading to a degree or certificate. Doctorate studies. Training activities. Student mobility programs at secondary education levels. Training placements at public or private bodies. Volunteer services for public interest goals. Au pair programs. Conversation class assistants. Required Documents for your Visa National Visa Application Form Complete and sign the visa application form, with a parent’s signature if the applicant is a minor. Valid Passport Submit the original and a photocopy of the passport containing biometric data. The passport must be valid for the planned stay duration with two blank pages.  Note that when your visa is being processed, the consulate will keep your passport. Do not plan any international travel while your visa is pending. You will not have your passport. Photograph Provide a recent passport-size color photograph. Make sure you have two copies.  This can be collected at USPS for $15. I would recommend doing this early in the process. You are required to obtain a TIE, the Tarjeta de Identidad Extranjera, if you are a non-EU student planning to stay in Spain for over 180 days. The TIE is the identification card provided to non-EU citizens residing in Spain. This card serves as a tangible document housing essential personal information, including your NIE and visa details. If you know you will be in Spain for more than 180 days, make sure to have an extra copy of your photograph for that application. Criminal Record Check Certificate For applicants of legal age staying more than 180 days, submit the original and a copy of the criminal record check certificate(s) for the past 5 years. As stated on the consulate site, “Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. The US records issued by the F.B.I. are valid. Local Police or State Police background checks will not be accepted.” I used this site to help with getting my criminal record check. You can go to USPS to get your fingerprinting done as that is required when receiving a background check. While you are there, you can get your passport sized photos. The identification record request form was $18. The fingerprinting for the FBI was $50. I recommend this is done first as you have to get your background check apostilled for the NY Consulate which takes a very long time. Learn about apostilles in NY here.  Since I had limited time to get my government apostille before moving to Spain, I paid US Express Apostille $150 to expedite the process. I highly recommend this if you are stressed about time. Since an FBI background check is a federal document, it requires apostillation by the U.S. Department of State (USDOS) in Washington, D.C. which takes longer than your local state apostille.  Note, the document must have an official translation in Spanish. I contacted an official translator and they assisted with translating my document. I scanned the documents and emailed them to the translator. It was $70 to get the official translation. Proof of Acceptance You will need an original and a copy of the document proving acceptance at an authorized teaching or research center, or into a student mobility program. This will be sent to you via your program and should be easy to obtain. Since it is sent from Spain, you do not need to get this apostilled or translated. If it is not from Spain, you need to have it apostilled and legally translated.  Proof of Financial Means It is essential to have an original and copy of documents proving sufficient financial means to cover expenses, equivalent to 100% of Spain’s Public Multiple Effects Income Indicator (IPREM). If you are teaching abroad, your program will send a document that states your monthly income while there. That will suffice as your proof of financial means. If you are concerned, you can print a copy of your bank statement, but they did not need that for my appointment.  Note, my program sent this in English and Spanish so I did not have to worry about getting the official translation. Since the document was sent from Spain, I also did not need to get it apostilled.

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Requesting a Padrón: Registering Your Spanish Address

Moving Abroad /

Settling into a new life in Spain comes with exciting adventures, cultural discoveries, and, of course, a few administrative tasks. If you are planning to stay in Spain for more than 180 days, you will need a TIE. A TIE is your Spanish Foreign Identity Card. It serves as official documentation verifying your foreigner status in Spain. One crucial step in obtaining a TIE is registering your address, a process governed by Spanish law. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the ins and outs of obtaining your padrón or empadronamiento – a document that holds more significance than you might think. Understanding the Basics According to Spanish law, anyone residing in Spain is obligated to register in the place they call home. This essential task should be on your to-do list shortly after arriving at your destination. While the process is free, a little preparation and awareness of your specific location’s requirements can go a long way. Make sure you know where you will be living before starting the process. The Padrón: More Than Just a Piece of Paper Upon successful registration, you’ll be handed a padrón certificate, a document that becomes your key to various administrative doors. Most notably, you’ll need it for: NIE/TIE Appointment: If you’re a foreign resident, your padrón certificate is essential for your NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) or TIE (Tarjeta de Identificación de Extranjero) appointment. Spanish Health Card: To request your Public Health Card and be assigned a doctor within the Public Health System (Seguridad Social), your padrón certificate is a must. Where to Register In most cases, your municipal register is located in the administrative building of your municipality. For many, the Town Hall is the go-to place for this process. You can go to the office and inform them that you would like an appointment. They will guide you in making an appointment. Since I am in Bilbao, I used this site to make my appointment online, but I could have asked the people at Town Hall to assist me. Not all places in Spain allow you to make an appointment online.  Your Padrón Roadmap to the Registration Process Requirements to Apply While the registration process may vary slightly depending on your municipality, you’ll generally need the following documents: Passport or VISA Proof of residence, which can be: A rental contract lasting at least 6 months An authorization form from your host family along with a copy of their DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad) Keep in mind that specific requirements might differ between municipalities. Initial Steps to Take If this is your first time registering your address in your municipality, follow these initial steps: Online Instructions: Familiarize yourself with the registration process by checking your city’s instructions online or searching for “Your city + padrón or empadronamiento.” Make an Appointment: If required, schedule an appointment at the town hall or online, and find the location of your local municipal register. I think it is easiest to do this by going in person to your town hall. Fill in the Form: Each city has a unique registration form, usually available online or at the local municipal register. You may be able to grab this form if you register in person for your appointment. Attend Your Appointment: To ensure a smooth process, attend your appointment or drop in at the municipal register with the necessary documentation.  Padrón Success Navigating the details of obtaining your padrón doesn’t have to be daunting. By understanding the importance of this document and following the specific steps outlined for your city, you’ll breeze through the process. Knowing that your padrón is not just a piece of paper – it’s your key to fully enjoying your new life in Spain. Not all those who wander are lost – TTT

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