It’s official! After all the paperwork, waiting, and a bit of last-minute panic, I have finally finalized my Spanish NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero).
While I received my number yesterday, today was the day I submitted my final forms and proof of payment to make it all real. Holding that official paper feels like a massive weight has lifted. It truly feels like divine favour.
But the journey today wasn’t without a little drama…
I thought I lost it.
This morning, I had that heart-stopping moment every applicant dreads: I couldn’t find my TASA 790-012 payment slip.
My first thought was to just panic and pay the fee again at the nearest bank (BBVA was right there, tempting me). But I stopped myself. Why pay twice if I didn’t have to?
I had a thought: “Can’t I just get a reprint?”
I asked my bestie (ChatGPT) if it was possible. She said YES. Thank God.
Pro-Tip for Anyone Getting Their NIE/TIE:
If you lose your TASA payment slip (the resguardo), do not pay it again! Go back to the exact same ATM where you originally paid. The bank can access your transaction history and reprint the proof of payment for you.
The First Taste of “Official” Life
With the most important document of my new life secured, it was time to celebrate and just breathe.
I headed straight for the playa (the beach) to soak it all in. The environment here is exactly what I’d hoped for: pretty chill and just full of life. A light rain was falling, but it wasn’t aggressive at all, my bonnet handled it just fine!
To celebrate, I grabbed a gelato (€4) and then ducked into a small Chinese restaurant for a €6.95 plate of shrimp fried rice. I asked the chinese resto to keep my gelato for me in their fridge, and I honestly forgot about it after eating. It was a good one tho!
A Powerful Reminder
On my way home, I had a really powerful encounter. I met a fellow Filipina, and we started chatting about our journeys.
She shared that she had been an au pair in Norway and was now in Spain, planning to stay “TNT” (Tago ng Tago), a Filipino term for being undocumented. Her plan was to wait the two or three years it takes to potentially get papers through arraigo (a regularisation process).
She looked at me and said, “You are so lucky you’re getting the DNV (Digital Nomad Visa). You’re here legally.”
It was such a grounding moment.
Hearing her story put my small “lost payment slip” panic into sharp perspective. It reminded me just how fortunate I am to be on this path.. to have a direct, legal route to residency and, one day, the possibility of citizenship.
Today was a day of huge wins, small, funny mishaps, and a powerful dose of gratitude.
The NIE is more than just a number; it’s the key that officially unlocks this new chapter.
See you in Spain,
Abie
