Glossary
The Spanish words of your paperwork
Each term as you will meet it on forms, appointment confirmations and office doors in and around Torrevieja.
A
- Acuerdo de Retirada
- The Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU. It protects British people whose home was already in Spain when 2020 ended.
- Ayuntamiento
- Town hall, and the elected council behind it. It keeps the padrón.
B
- Brigada Provincial de Extranjería y Fronteras
- The national police unit for foreigners and borders in a province. Alicante’s has offices on Calle Ebanistería, Calle Campo de Mirra and Calle Isabel la Católica.
C
- Certificado de registro
- Known as the green certificate. It records that a European (EU, EEA or Swiss citizen) has registered as a resident; it carries no photograph.
- Cita previa
- An appointment booked ahead. Foreigners’ procedures are booked on the administration’s website, province by province.
- Comisaría
- Police station. The Policía Nacional’s station in Torrevieja is on Calle Arquitecto Larramendi.
E
- Escritura
- The deed: the document a notario (notary) signs when a home is sold or bought.
J
- Justificante
- Written proof of something done: an appointment booked, a fee paid, a request filed. Keep every one you are given.
N
- NIE
- Assigned once by the Policía Nacional and never changed, the Número de Identidad de Extranjero also serves a foreigner as Spanish tax number.
O
- Oficina de Extranjería
- The State office that grants or refuses residence and work permits; it is not part of the police. The province of Alicante has its main one on Calle Ebanistería, in Alicante.
P
- Padrón / empadronamiento
- Padrón: the list of residents each town hall keeps; empadronamiento: putting your name on it. Its certificate is the everyday proof of address.
- Poder notarial
- A power of attorney made in front of a notary, letting someone sign or act in your name.
R
- Régimen comunitario / no comunitario
- The two sets of residence rules: one for EU citizens and their families, one for everyone else. policia.es lists both at the Torrevieja comisaría.
- Resguardo
- The receipt that shows a request is in progress, such as the one handed over when your fingerprints are taken.
S
- Subdelegación del Gobierno
- The State’s representation in each province. In Alicante, it runs the Oficina de Extranjería.
T
- Tasa
- A State fee. Foreigners’ police procedures use the Modelo 790, código 012, to collect it.
- TIE
- Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero, in full. The photo card held by residents from outside the EU, showing the NIE, the kind of residence and its expiry.
- Toma de huellas
- Fingerprinting: the step where a TIE card begins, booked after you arrive in Spain.
- Trámite
- A procedure. On the booking site you choose one first, and the offices you are shown depend on it.
U
- Urbanización
- A residential estate. Many homes around Torrevieja stand in urbanizaciones; each still belongs to a municipality, which matters for the padrón.
Not sure where you fit?
Send a few lines: your passport, whether you live here or visit, and the dates that matter. Our answer, by email, names your procedure and your office.
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