New residence Cards
 

Can any of the local residents out there tell me if they have any updated info. on the replacement of the residence cards. They have been replaced by a useless piece of paper with your number on which of course is no help to those of us who are used to flashing our `residencias´as identity when paying with cards or making any large purchases as well as many other uses throughout a year. I have been living here for over 20yrs and it is so convenient to show our ID`s - it helps the spanish spell our names also!! I do not wish to carry a passport around in my handbag or purse - I suppose a driving licence will have to do??? Actually a passport would have a different number on it so that would not be proof in say a bank when your bank account is registered under your residence number. A disaster looming!!
Anyhow, my main reason for the post is whether anyone knows for sure what the situation is - was the British consul going to take the issue up on our behalf - can we get an official petition going and/or arrange meetings with the local councillors to take the matter up for us??? Is ESRA doing anything?? Was the Mallorca Bulletin taking it further?? I have seen bits and pieces in the paper but not sure what current situation is but I do know that the certificate paper is here and the foto card has gone!
My card expires in September and I am not looking forward to trading it in - they do take your old card of you when you renew your card. Would anyone like to join forces with me to get this issue sorted out??? Maybe I shall have to apply to become spanish and get a DNI???

Hi,

I needed to renew my residencia a few months ago and now have the useless piece of paper, when they issued it they asked for my old residencia card and cut it up, I am with you all the way if there is anything we can do to change things.

Pollensaman

New Residencia
 

I'm lucky that my residencia does not expire until 2010!
It's such a useful thing to have.
Friends who have had to change to the useless piece of paper (without a photograph) say that their driving licence is now taking the place of the residencia card as photographic identification.
If you have a Spanish licence it also has your NIE number on it.

Why did they have to change to the piece of paper? I'm told it's because of European legislation that says it is illegal for a country to expect foreign residents to have to have photographic identity if it is not required in their country of origin.

Cheers!

Frito

Thanks for your replies and yes, I was told the other evening that it had something to do with European Law and lack of cards in our own country. I would happily pay a sensible amount of money to have one if they could make it an option. I shall keep asking around and see if anyone has managed to get an official petition going as life is certainly more complicated without it. Fortunatley, I do have a spanish driving licence so that will be ok - until someone decide we do not need that either maybe!!!

Spanish Residence cards
 

I wonder if anyone can give me any pointers on this one?
My Dad lived in Mallorca for many years and held a Residence card latterly. He never wished to return to the UK and never left Mallorca during the last 6 years of his life.
Does anyone happen to know where I could get hold of a copy of one of the application forms that is used to obtain a Residence card?
I read somewhere that if you take up Residence status in Spain that you cannot be officialy domiciled anywhere else. Does anyone know if this is true? Does anyone have any articles I could read or know a good solicitor who is experienced in these matters who I could contact to find out for sure? Thanks for any help you can give me on this one!

The best general book on the law in Spain for foreigners is 'You & the Law in Spain' - see http://www.puertopollensa.com/Books3.html#misc It covers residency, buying & selling property & loads more.

Living & working in Spain
 

Thanks for that Pollensa.
I've just ordered the book you mention and will have a good read when it turns up. :)

I live in Tenerife, but obviously the same law applies. It is very hard to take a domicile off someone. The domincile of someone is usually the place where they are born.

As for the resident's card, a bunch of English do-gooders from Malaga area took Spain to the European Court of Justice about the resident's card and won, so it is their fault it was scrapped under EU law.

I have the stupid Certificado de Registro - A4 sheet of green paper. As you say it is of no use in banks etc. But if you want to benefit from the 50 per cent Balearic travel discount (we get it in Tenerife) then you need this document as the old residencia (even if valid) is no longer acceptable and neither is the certificate from the ayuntamiento. The law was amended in January of this year.

When I applied for my Cerificado de Registro I didn't have to hand my resident's card in. If they are taking it off you in Majorica and you want to hang on to it report it missing at the police station before you apply for the new one.