How to get your NIE in Spain (2026 guide)

By Expat Welcome team · Published 21 October 2026

As a foreigner in Spain, buying property, starting a job or dealing with the tax agency all require one thing: your NIE. This guide explains what the NIE actually is, who needs it, the three usual ways of getting it and the mistakes we see most often when people try to do it on their own.

In short

• The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is a personal identification number for foreigners. It is yours for life and does not change.
• Getting the number is not the same as getting residence. A NIE on its own does not give you the right to live or work in Spain.
• You apply with form EX-15, pay the fee with form 790 código 012 and show your passport plus a reason for needing the number.
• You can apply at a Spanish consulate abroad, in person in Spain with an appointment (cita previa), or through a representative.
• If you are moving to Spain to live, you will usually get your NIE as part of your residence process instead, on a TIE card or an EU registration certificate.

What the NIE is (and what it is not)

People use the word “NIE” for several different things, which causes a lot of confusion. It helps to separate them:

Term	What it is	Who it is for
NIE number	A personal number (a letter, seven digits and a control letter) that identifies you before the Spanish administration.	Any foreigner with economic, professional or social dealings in Spain.
NIE certificate	A paper document issued with form EX-15 that states your number. It is not an ID card and does not prove residence.	Non-residents, or people who need the number before any residence process.
TIE	The foreigner identity card, with photo and fingerprints, issued to non-EU nationals who hold a residence or stay authorisation. It shows your NIE.	Non-EU residents, and UK nationals covered by the Withdrawal Agreement.
EU registration certificate	The “green certificate” (Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión) for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who live in Spain. It shows your NIE.	EU, EEA and Swiss citizens staying more than three months.

The number is the same in all of them. If you get a NIE certificate now and a TIE later, the TIE will carry the number you already have. For a more detailed overview of the number itself, see our page on the NIE number in Spain.

Who needs a NIE

You need a NIE if you have economic, professional or social interests in Spain. In practice, that covers situations such as:

• buying or selling property, or a car;
• receiving an inheritance in Spain;
• starting work, registering as self-employed or setting up a company;
• studying, when the institution or another procedure requires it;
• paying taxes in Spain or dealing with the tax agency.

Two groups normally should not apply for a standalone NIE certificate:

• EU, EEA and Swiss citizens moving to Spain for more than three months. They register as residents and get the green certificate, which includes the NIE. See our guide to the EU registration certificate.
• Non-EU nationals who already have, or are about to get, a residence authorisation. Their NIE is assigned in the residence process and appears on the TIE card.

The three routes to getting your NIE

1. From a Spanish consulate abroad

If you are not yet in Spain, you can usually apply at the Spanish consulate or embassy that covers your place of residence. Each consulate sets its own appointment system and requirements, so check its website first. This route is useful when you need the number before you travel, for example to sign a property purchase.

2. In person in Spain, with an appointment

If you are in Spain, you apply at an Extranjería office or at a National Police station that handles foreigners’ documents, depending on the province. You need a prior appointment (cita previa), booked online. In some provinces the certificate is handed over the same day; in others you return later. This varies, so do not plan around a specific timeframe.

3. Through a representative

The EX-15 form allows a representative to act for you. A representative can be useful if you cannot travel, if you do not speak Spanish, or if you would simply rather not deal with appointments yourself. The representative needs proper authorisation, and a copy of your passport is still required. Some offices may still ask the applicant to appear in person, so confirm the requirements for your province before relying on this route.

Step by step: applying for the NIE in Spain

1. Confirm that a standalone NIE is what you need. If you are moving to live in Spain, check first whether you should be applying for residence instead (see the table above).
2. Download and fill in form EX-15. The official forms are published by the Ministry of Inclusion. Use the current version and tick the box for “Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE)”. Print it and sign it.
3. Prepare proof of the reason. You must explain the economic, professional or social reason why you need the number: for example, a deposit contract or private purchase agreement for a property, a job offer, a letter from a university, or a notary’s document. A simple statement without evidence is often not enough.
4. Pay the fee with form 790 código 012. Fill in the form online on the National Police website, select the option for the NIE certificate and pay at a bank (some banks also allow online payment). The fee is updated periodically, so check the current amount on the 790 form itself. Keep the stamped or validated copy.
5. Book the appointment. Go to the appointment portal at sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es, choose the province, then the procedure for foreigners’ certificates and NIE. Fill in your passport details and pick an available office and time.
6. Attend the appointment. Bring originals and copies of everything: passport, EX-15, proof of payment, proof of the reason and your appointment confirmation.
7. Collect the certificate. Depending on the office, you get it on the spot or on a later date. Check every detail on it before leaving.

Documents usually requested

• Valid passport (original and a copy of the pages with personal data). EU citizens can use their national ID card.
• Form EX-15, filled in and signed (usually original and copy).
• Form 790 código 012, paid.
• Document justifying the economic, professional or social reason for the application.
• If a representative applies for you: the authorisation and a copy of their ID.
• The appointment confirmation.

How appointments work

Appointments for NIE and other foreigners’ procedures are booked through the cita previa system of the Spanish public administration, at sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es. Availability varies a lot between provinces and over time. In busy provinces, slots can be hard to find and are released at irregular intervals. A few practical points:

• Select the right procedure. The names change from province to province, but look for the one mentioning “certificados” and “NIE”.
• Have your passport number and full name exactly as in your passport.
• Be wary of anyone selling appointments. The appointment system is free to use.

Common mistakes

• Applying for a standalone NIE when you need residence. If you are moving to Spain, the residence process will give you a NIE anyway. A separate certificate may be unnecessary.
• Not justifying the reason. Applications without a clear economic, professional or social reason, backed by a document, can be refused.
• Paying the wrong fee. The 790 código 012 form has several options. Choose the one for the NIE certificate, not the one for the TIE or other documents.
• Using an old version of EX-15. Forms are updated from time to time. Download the current one from the official website.
• Booking the wrong procedure. If your appointment is for a different procedure, the office may not process your application.
• Thinking the NIE allows you to live or work in Spain. It does not. It is an identification number only.

What to do after you get your NIE

• Keep the original certificate safe and make several copies. You will be asked for it often.
• Use the number for the purpose you applied for: the notary, the bank, the employer or the tax agency.
• If you need a Social Security number to work, that is a separate procedure with the Social Security administration.
• If you later move to Spain to live, apply for the residence document that matches your nationality and situation: the EU registration certificate or the TIE. Your NIE number will stay the same.

Frequently asked questions

Does the NIE expire?

The number itself is permanent and stays with you. Some people find that banks or other entities ask for a recently issued certificate, so you may need a new one in certain situations, but the number does not change.

Can I get a NIE without being in Spain?

Yes. You can apply through a Spanish consulate abroad, or have a duly authorised representative apply for you in Spain, subject to the requirements of the office handling the application.

Is the NIE the same as a residence permit?

No. The NIE identifies you, but it does not grant residence or the right to work. Residence is obtained through a separate process, and as a resident you will receive a TIE or an EU registration certificate showing your NIE.

How long does it take to get the NIE?

It depends on the office and on appointment availability, which change by province and over time, so we do not give fixed timeframes.

Official sources

• Sede electrónica de las Administraciones Públicas (appointments and online procedures)
• Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration
• Policía Nacional (foreigners’ documentation and fee forms)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Spanish consulates abroad)
• Boletín Oficial del Estado (immigration law and regulations)

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