Since the approval of the regulation for the regularization of undocumented immigrants, activity at the consular office in Tarragona has surged. This situation has forced the consulate, the only foreign country's consulate based in the city, to extend its services to meet the needs of its citizens.
The demand for documents, ranging from criminal record certificates to passports and national ID cards, has been massive. Initially, the consulate experienced a true deluge, attending up to 600 people by appointment and another 400 for document collection in a single day. This situation normalized after two weeks, although there are still peak days.
“"The hours will be extended for as long as necessary to serve all citizens."
Currently, since February 4, the diplomatic office operates from nine in the morning to six in the evening on weekdays, and from ten in the morning to two in the afternoon on weekends and holidays. To manage this workload, the staff has been reinforced with three new officials.
Procedures are carried out using applications connected in real-time with Morocco, where the documents are prepared. These are then sent to Tarragona via diplomatic pouch, with a current waiting time of about seven days, a significant improvement from the month and a half it took a few weeks ago.
In addition to basic documents, the consulate also issues "concordance certificates" to resolve possible data discrepancies, and processing certificates for those who do not yet have their passport or criminal record certificate, allowing them to continue with the regularization process. Consular registrations are also included, serving as proof of residence in Spain before the deadline established by the regulation.
