The government has taken a new step—and it’s no small one—to ensure that your application for legalization doesn’t get stuck in a drawer. After mobilizing the Social Security system in April to receive applications, it’s now up to the Immigration Offices to lend a hand with the technical work. The order was published this Thursday in the Official State Gazette (BOE), and its aim is to take some pressure off the General Directorate of Migration Management.
Note: these offices do not decide whether to grant you residency—that’s up to the central authority—but they handle all the preliminary paperwork. They will do the following:
- Verify your identity
- They will assign or confirm your NIE
- They will review your personal and address information
- They will enter your file into the Central Registry of Foreigners
- They’ll verify that police and judicial background checks have been requested
In practice, this should speed up the process. At least, that’s the idea.
Back in April, the government enlisted the Social Security Administration to have its staff help you file your application in person. Now it’s time to process all of that. The government itself acknowledges that it needs more staff—and fast—to handle the massive backlog of cases generated by Royal Decree 316/2026.
The Immigration Office has 45 days to process the cases. But be aware: the process won’t start until the Treasury releases the funds to pay for staff overtime. If you’ve already submitted your application within the deadline, stay tuned—this should mean your case moves faster. That said, the official processing times haven’t been shortened, so don’t be misled.
If you’re having trouble with your appointment or the status of your application, don’t just sit back. Some people are already experiencing bottlenecks. So take action: here’s a channel where you can ask questions.
If you’re having trouble with your appointment or application, message us on Telegram: https://t.me/cita_extranjeria
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