I am an Australian living Illegal in Spain.

I first came to Spain 4 years ago. I missed the last amnesty a couple of years ago because I did not know!

I went back to Australia to apply for a work and temporary residency visa last year. I did not get my visa due to my sponsor owing money for past social security payments.

Due to the fact OZ is not my home anymore Spain is. I came back and overstayed my 90 days.

Now I want to get legal or at least start trying, I have been living in fear for to long.

I read posts in this forum and got registered to vote, empadronamiento.

I have been given a Car, however I can?t change it into my name without an NIE number.

MY questions:
1) Can I get an NIE number being an illegal Australian in Spain? If yes how (I am nervous of the Police)?

2) If I get stopped driving a car and I don’t have my passport on me,
only my International driver?s license, what will happen?
When the Guardia and Police stop cars of Aliens are the concerned with immigration issues?

3) If the worst happens will I be deported?

4) Any advice please on how to get legal, can anyone refer an English speaking lawyer in the Alicante area?

Kind Regards,
Desperately Seeking Freedom.

PS: Six weeks ago undercover Police where checking IDs on the Benidorm to Alicante train line. Does anyone know why?

Hmm… I have noticed a lot of questions about residential status, and the necessity (or not) for certain nationals to have certain documentation.  Being English myself, I do not have any documentation to say that I can reside in England, and over the years, I have also lived in France, Belgium, Scotland, Andorra Greece and Barbados - also without any sort of documentation other than my passport.

Currently living in Spain about 50% of the time, I have an ‘NIE’ number which came as part of the house-buying process, but I am a bit uncertain as to whether or not I need anything else.

I certainly don’t feel as if I am short of anything - I have all the same bits of paper I have when I am living anywhere else - so is there something special about Spain?

The other posts have made me feel a bit wary about walking into a Police or Government establishment and applying for something I might be breaking the law by not having already.

I always thought that I could just go and live wherever I wanted, for as long as I like, but if I need a bit of paper to do this, I have no objections - but I don’t want to end up in a Spanish jail for the lack of it.

Does any learned forum member have a definitive answer?

Trogg, you’re English? From the UK? Do you have a UK passport?

That’s all you need. You don’t need a visa or anything else. You ought to empadronarse but that’s about it. The problems auspain and others are talking about are for non EU nationals. UK is a part of the EU. You’re lucky!

I talked to many people about getting mi NIE.  It seemed like a nightmare.  IF you are non-eu, go to lawbird.com.  They got me mi NIE in 9 days for about 100 euro.  My friends couldn’t believe I paid money to get it, but the laugh is on them as THEY still haven’t got theirs and they applied through extranjeria in January 07! Actually, they were denied and to boot are EU citizens!!

😊

Flippy.

THANK YOU KINDLY FOR POSTING! It?s GREAT to have a lead to go on.
auspain

Indeed, you can get your NIE, same as others. It doesn’t really matter if you’re legal or not. Go through a lawyer/gestor as Flippy mentions if you’re nervous though.

One more thing.  Ask for Aine O’Donnel.  She was the one who helped me.  Tell her that John from California mentioned you. She was very professional.

Flippy, advised me to “go to lawbird.com and ask for Aine O?Donnel”

I have done just that and I am extremely gratefully to Flippy for the good advice.

I have spoken with Aine O?Donnel, and I can as well say she is very Professional and helpful. She speaks English and gave me clear helpful advice, as well as offered immediate service. Following my phone conversation with lawbird.com, I received an immediate email to proceed with obtaining my NIE.

I will leave feedback here in the coming weeks on receiving my NIE.

Thank You Flippy,
auspain (Breathing easier and feeling lighter).

Can you tell us if you had any trouble with the process…for instance in looking at the Lawbird web site, it says you have to get yout Power of Attorney they send you and your passport copy notarized in YOUR HOME COUNTRY.

How did you do this if you are residing in Spain.

Thanks for any reply

I strongly advise anyone needing legal advice on NIE, or immigration matters. To contact lawbird.com and speak with Aine O’Donnell.

I will post an update on obtaining my NIE.

auspain

so what happened? did you get your NIE auspain?

The stress and trouble I went threw to get my NIE was and a complete joke. It not only cost me allot of time, money and major stress it cost those around me even more. I did not get an NIE! The lawyers miss informed me that I could and they where denied 2 times when applying on my behalf.

I am now back in Australia living and making money stress free. I lived in 3 country’s over 10 years where I became illegal. There is a major void in my life from that time, it has changed me as a person. My heart goes out to anyone with a immigration problem. I wanted to have the choice of living and working in a another country. This is just not the case even though how much I tried.

My advise to anyone thinking of living illegally; If you are not a refugee or have a very serious reason for overstaying in a country don’t do it! If you want to work in a country and stay longer than your visa allows, get your work visa “NIE” everything sorted out before you leave your home country.

I started out before 911 when there was less tension and security. I never saw my mother and family in over 11 years.

I did not leave home alone, the young lady I left home with, who ended up illegal as well. Well, “her Family and Friends will never see her again”. RIP.

wow auspain,

  sounds disturbing. your story has really given me second thoughts. thanks so much for sharing your story! 10 years is a very long void…glad to hear you’re happy back in australia. all the best..!

The Expatriator - 25 May 2007 09:02 PM

Indeed, you can get your NIE, same as others. It doesn’t really matter if you’re legal or not. Go through a lawyer/gestor as Flippy mentions if you’re nervous though.

How did getting your NIE help people like Flippy? I saw the responses from auspain and the way it turned rather negative… I want to legally live and work in Spain because I have found a life with people that I am not ready to leave. I go home to the USA to visit family and friends every now and again so as not to fall out with them (also, internet/skype is a glorious thing!!)...

I wonder how a NIE can help… and I’m still a little behind the times on the “empadronarse” which I’m upset about—- I didn’t know about it before just now…. I have been living and working in Spain since June ‘08 and I am wondering if it’s at all possible to make up for lost time since I have a record of having a bank account as of Sept. of ‘08… I’d loose 3 months but still it’s better than losing 9!!!

Thanks!!!
mad4madrid