Talk Quesada forum

Hi can anyone advise what i should do to replace a lost original NIE (only have a photocopy left), what i will need, and where i should take it.

Many thanks.

If you're a resident it won't need replacing as your resident card has all the necessary details.
If not then you have to go to a National Police station or foreigners office and complete the EX15 again with an online appointment and pay the fee once more.
Elche requires a police report to claim it was lost or stolen. (Or did, things change quickly).

A lot of people will not have a resident card even though they could have been residents for a long time I just have the A4 green form

If you have a good copy I'm not sure I would bother obtaining an original. I don't know what the old NIE certificates looked like (I only had a copy of the application with my number on it.) In 17 years never needed the Certificate just the number. However had to obtain one in February as I was told Trafico would not put my car on Spanish plates without one. Went to Elche to do it, couldn't get an appointment for weeks in Orihuela. The guy processing this told me I would have to come back next day to collect it. I asked if I could have it immediately. Because of this I thought it would be a proper posh cert. Imagine my surprise when at his desk he printed off a black and white A4 sheet of a very basic doc with a little box in the middle with my number in it. He was going to make me come back the following day for this bit of tat! When I got home I made several copies of this 'precious' doc. Copies were indistinguishable from the original and Trafico just got a copy. So your copy may be all you need. However
If you do need to get an original, you need to make an appointment on line. You get a choice of 3 dates and you have to pick one. You have to fill out an online form to pay for the cert I think it was modelo 790. The price was around €9.40 if I recall correctly. Best to pay beforehand as he will send you off to the bank to pay and also to get a couple of passport photos if you don't bring them with you. If you have to wander off to do this you then have to wait to be seen again. Might be better to go to Orihuela as I don't think they spoke English in the Elche office.

Sorry forgot to add you also have to fill out the NIE application form
EX15 even though you already have a NIE number. They dont make it easy for you!

I have always used a photocopy of my NIE certificate to obtain any documentation needed. Don't know where my original is! Been here nearly 14 years.

my original was sent to me by email how did you received yours if you have email just print it off again I printed 6 off when I moved over and all look original