Key terms, in Spanish and in plain English
The words you will read on forms, on appointment confirmations and at the offices in Guadalajara.
A
- Alta
- Your registration with the Social Security, made by the employer before you start work.
- Arraigo
- Residence through ties to Spain: a route the Oficina de Extranjería decides on.
- Ayuntamiento
- The local council and its offices: in English, the town hall or city council.
B
- Brigada de Extranjería
- The Policía Nacional unit for foreigners and borders. In Guadalajara it is at Avenida del Ejército 12.
C
- Casilla
- One of the small squares you tick on a form. On the 790-012, it tells the State which procedure you are paying for.
- Certificado de registro
- The Spanish name of the green certificate: the paper that shows a European citizen (EU, EEA or Swiss) has registered as a resident of Spain.
- Cita previa
- An appointment booked in advance, online. The offices for foreigners in Guadalajara see you only with one.
- Corredor del Henares
- The line of towns along the Henares valley between Madrid and Guadalajara, such as Azuqueca de Henares, Alovera and Cabanillas del Campo.
E
- Extranjería
- The general word for everything about foreigners’ papers in Spain: the offices, the rules and the procedures.
N
- NIE
- Número de Identidad de Extranjero: the foreigner’s identity number, given once by the Policía Nacional.
- Número de afiliación
- Your Social Security number. The TGSS gives it once, and you keep it for life.
O
- Oficina de Extranjería
- The central government office that decides on authorisations to live and work. In Guadalajara: Avenida Francia 18.
P
- Padrón
- The municipal record of residents: every person who lives in a town should appear on it. The ayuntamiento keeps it.
R
- Resguardo
- A receipt that shows a request is in process, for example after your fingerprints.
- Resolución
- A written decision of the administration, such as the one that grants an authorisation.
T
- Tasa
- A state fee. Police procedures for foreigners use the form Modelo 790, código 012, to collect it.
- TIE
- Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero: the card of a non-EU resident, with a photo, the NIE and an end date.
- Toma de huellas
- Fingerprinting: the appointment where your prints are taken for a TIE.
- Trámite
- A procedure. On the booking website, you pick the trámite that goes with your form.
V
- Volante de empadronamiento
- A simple document showing that you are registered at an address. For the formal version, signed for official use, ask for the certificado de empadronamiento.