Glosses

The Spanish words of the procedures, glossed

Written in the margin of a manuscript, a gloss explains a hard word. These are the words you will read on Spanish forms and hear at the counter, each with its meaning in plain English.

A

Acuerdo de Retirada: Withdrawal Agreement: the treaty that set the terms of the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU. It protects British people who lived in Spain by the end of 2020.
Apostilla: Apostille: a stamp that confirms a public document for use in another country. Papers issued abroad often need one before they are translated.
Autorización de regreso: Authorisation of return. For a non-EU resident whose card is being renewed or replaced, it is the paper that opens the way home to Spain after a trip.

C

Casilla: Box. On the 790-012, the casilla you tick names the procedure you pay for.
Certificado de registro de ciudadano de la U.E.: The green certificate. It proves that a European (from the EU, the EEA countries or Switzerland) has been entered as a resident. It shows the NIE, but no photograph.
Cita previa: Literally “prior appointment”: a booking made online before you go. At Ronda de Buenavista 57, the police procedures are served only with one.
Comisaría: Police station. In the province, the Comisaría de Talavera de la Reina is the only other police office that lists foreigners’ procedures.

J

Justificante: Proof, on paper or on screen. The justificante de cita proves your booking; the justificante de pago proves the fee is paid.

N

NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero): Identity number of a foreigner. The police assign it once (asignación de NIE); it never changes, and it is also your tax number.

O

Oficina de Extranjería: Office for foreigners’ affairs: the government’s immigration office, which rules on permits to live and to work. It is not a police office. In Toledo it shares Ronda de Buenavista 57 with the police unit.

P

Padrón and empadronamiento: Padrón: a town hall’s list of the people who live in its municipality. Empadronamiento: the act of being entered on that list. A volante states it simply; a certificado is the formal version.
Prórroga: Extension, for example of a stay for studies. You ask for it before the end date on your card.

R

Recogida de tarjeta: Collection of the card: the second visit, when you pick up your finished TIE with the resguardo and your passport.
Régimen comunitario: Literally “community regime”: the set of rules that applies to EU citizens and to their relatives. On police lists it stands for the green certificate and the family member’s card.
Resguardo: Proof that your request is being handled. You receive one at the toma de huellas; keep it, because you show it to collect the card.
Residente / no residente: Resident / non-resident: a person who lives in Spain, or a person who deals with Spain but lives abroad. The difference decides how your NIE reaches you.
Resolución: A decision in writing. When an authorisation is granted in Spain, the resolución is the paper that says so.

T

Tasa: Fee. Any payment to the State for a procedure is a tasa; for the NIE, the certificates and the TIE, you pay it on the Modelo 790 código 012.
TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero): Identity card of a foreigner. Residents from outside the EU carry it: photograph, NIE, type of residence, end date.
Toma de huellas: Word for word, “taking of fingerprints”. The police record your prints and signature, and your TIE card is made from them.
Traducción jurada: Sworn translation, made by a translator the Spanish State has authorised. Offices ask for it for any paper not written in Spanish.
Trámite: Procedure: one official step, with its own name, form and fee. The Delegación’s page writes their names in capital letters, each one starting with POLICIA.