We updated our temporary TIE to permanent TIE (i.e. post 5 years residency) and we had to go to the Police Station in Ibiza last month as there had been no appointments in Palma since April. Now we know the reason.

Richard PearsonThe Daily Mail. It tells you all you need to know Richard x

Ulla JacksonI keep confusing it with DEI

Richard PearsonHow come you haven't got a clue what a NIE number is? I'm astonished!

Richard PearsonNothing for you to worry about. Just keep your head down and live a happy life under the radar. Once big brother gets your details life will never be the same again. Its why the UK has been so smart in not having ID cards, preferring instead to live in the 19th century where when a gentleman tells a policeman his name he is believed. The rest of the world is moving into the great electronic web of lies and deceipt. True Brits stay loyal and support our great achievements, our car industry, motorcycles, railways. We have it all, why change ?

This scam has been going on for many years now. Nothing new and nothing had been done about it. Just blah blah. As always.

Richard PearsonReally!

An NIE is a Numero de Identificación Extranjero (a bit like a National Insurance Number in the UK, needed for financial purposes) and a TIE is a Tarjeta de Identificación Extranjero (equivalent of the Spanish DNI - documento national de identitad - but for foreighners) which is also proof of identity and residence in Spain.

Been waiting 10 months now to change over my old green card to a new TIE card, Spanish bureaucracy is a fact of life we all get used to when we live here.

What’s a NIE ?