Today, I went to Alicante to get that magical number
~ the NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) ~
which you basically need for anything in Spain.
Renting an apartment? NIE.
Opening a business? NIE.
Buying a coffee? Okay, maybe not, but it feels like it sometimes.
Finding a Slot Was a Nightmare
It took me almost a month to book an appointment. Even when I was in the Netherlands, I was scouting under a VPN, trying to get a slot anywhere in Spain. The only one I found? Alcoi, Alicante. Three hours away from Valencia.
No choice but to take it.
I booked a Renfe train which is only a few steps away from my Airbnb.
16.60 euros for a round trip.
Not bad, considering how clean, efficient, and scenic the ride was.
Mountains, coastline, Spanish countryside… 10/10 would recommend.
Paying the NIE Tax ~ A 🐣 Problem
Before heading to my appointment, I had to pay the NIE tax (790 Form) at Santander Bank.
Here’s the fun part: you need an NIE to open a bank account, but you need a bank account to pay for the NIE. Make it make sense.
Luckily, I had somehow convinced Santander to open an account for me under “compassionate grounds” or maybe just luck.
Otherwise, I would’ve been stuck in Spain’s infamous bureaucratic loop.
Even EU citizens struggle with this.
But hey, I paid the tax. One obstacle down.
Exploring Alicante & A Little Self-Care
Alicante is colder than Valencia and feels more like a quiet province.
But the mountain views? Stunning. Especially with snow-capped peaks in the distance.
I booked an Airbnb 15 minutes from my appointment 🚶
but before that ~ self-care time.
I popped into a salon to get a hair volumizing treatment.
Because when you look good, you feel good,
and if I was going to get my NIE, I might as well do it in style.
21 euros well spent.
The Big Day: My NIE Appointment
Woke up early, squeezed in my morning meetings, then headed to the police station. It was 6°C ~ too cold for my tropical soul 🥶
I took a cab even though it was nearby.
Better early and waiting than late and stressed.
And then… plot twist.
Rejected.
The police officer took my passport, flipped through it, and frowned.
He stared at it like an eagle hunting prey. I started sweating.
Was he about to rip it apart? Deport me? Call the FBI (lol)?
Turns out, my passport didn’t have a Spain entry stamp because I had entered via the Netherlands. He looked at me like I had committed a crime.
I tried to explain, but my Spanish is still at “order a coffee, not defend my legal status” level. Luckily, a kind British woman nearby stepped in to translate.
Once she explained my case, he looked less angry.
She told me, he probably thought I plan on overstaying since I had no ‘formal’ proof of when I arrived in Spain.
And my boarding pass? Not enough.
Lesson Learned: Get That Stamp.
If you enter the Schengen Zone, make sure to:
✅ Ask for an entry stamp at immigration—even if you’re connecting through another EU country.
✅ If you don’t get stamped, visit the Policía Nacional within 72 hours and file a declaration of entry. They are strict with this.
✅ Your boarding pass is NOT enough proof.
Otherwise, you might end up like me ~ rejected at your NIE appointment that you worked hard to get a slot for, questioning all your life choices.
Is Spain Really for Me?
I came here excited about the lifestyle, the weather, the culture.
But honestly? Spanish bureaucracy is exhausting.
Shops randomly close.
People start their day late, sleep late.
Everything moves at a frustratingly slow pace.
It’s not exactly the high-performance, hustle-friendly environment I thrive in.
If I’m being honest, I’m only considering Spain because of its fast-track to a second citizenship.
But maybe I just haven’t found the right city yet.
I want a Spain that’s ambitious ~ a place that pushes me to grow.
And for the love of God, can we get more English speakers?
I love learning Spanish, but I also want to keep improving my English while I’m here.
So, we’ll see. Maybe another Spanish city will change my mind.
Or maybe… it’s time to look elsewhere.
Love,
Abie
