Fast-track residence cards experiencing delays at Central Police Station

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Fast-track residence card applications are taking longer than usual at the Central Police Station at San Felipe in Madrid. New procedures have been put into place to balance workloads amid high applicant demand.

What does the change mean? Applicants are no longer able to book appointments; instead, the first 30 applicants who arrive at the station receive a number and everyone else will be turned away. Numbers will only be given to the individual applying for or retrieving the residence card, not third-party representatives.

• Implementation time frame: Immediate and ongoing.
• Visas/permits affected: Residence cards.
• Who is affected: Applicants whose permits have been processed through the fast track and are proceeding with residence applications in Madrid, as well as foreign nationals applying for the NIE number (assigned to foreign nationals who request it) in Madrid.
• Business impact: Applicants should anticipate having to arrive at the station early in the morning to obtain a number and the possibility that they may need to return another day if they are not among the first 30 customers.

Background: Foreign employees and all dependents must appear in person and submit their applications for residence cards to the police station that has jurisdiction over their place of residence. The process normally takes about 30 days between submission of the application and receipt of the cards.

BAL Analysis: Companies should work with their BAL professional to arrange suitable days and times to go to the Central Police Station, as well as to discuss whether there are options to go to other police stations for those in need of faster service.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Spain. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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