The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero), meaning – Foreigners Identification Number, is the identification number issued to people who are not a Spanish nationals.
The National Police, (Cuerpo Nacional de Policia), handle the issue of NIE’s, and any one planning to carry out a transaction in Spain, e.g. buying a car, holiday home, or various other interests, needs to have one.
The NIE identifies you whenever you do something official, or which involves the authorities. For example paying taxes, buying a property; signing a document at Notary; starting a business; or becoming a director of a Spanish company.
The NIE is not a fiscal (tax) residency identification – you can have a NIE and be fiscal resident in another country, however it is used to link payments to you that may be due, including tax amongst others. Both EU citizens and non-EU citizens are issued with NIE’s, and if you become resident, you keep the same NIE when you apply for your residence certificate or card.
How to Get an NIE
You can obtain an NIE via the Spanish embassy before you come to Spain. To do it this way, you take your application in person to the Consulate General, and it is then passed on to the National Police in Spain to be processed as usual. This can take anything from 2 – 4 weeks.
Most people apply direct when they arrive in Spain, or have someone handle it on their behalf. Often estate agents, or lawyers will do this for you when you’re using them for a property purchase. If your lawyer is getting your NIE for you, it’s worth checking if they are charging you. Lawyer’s fees for the service are usually quite a lot higher than a gestoria or other companies, like ourselves, who provide general assistance services.
If you’re doing this yourself, you first need to make an appointment at the National Police station in your area that has a foreigners department. Most appointments now have to be booked online, however the process does vary from one place to another and in some places you still have to book by telephone, or go in person to make your appointment.
At your appointment you’ll need your completed EX15 form, your passport, plus copies of each, and the same for anyone else applying at the same time. You’ll also need confirmation that you have paid the application fee. You can pay the fee online, and print of a payment confirmation or ‘justificante‘ once you’ve done so. This is the link to the online payment: Modelo 790, and another for the official guide to completing the EX15 form.
Once you have presented your application and it’s been accepted, depending on the Police Station, you will either be given your NIE there and then, or you may be asked to come back in a few days to collect it. The NIE is only valid when accompanied by an internationally recognised form of ID, such as a passport or national ID card.
NOTE: If you are planning to take up residence in Spain, it’s likely that you will need to get a few things organised first before you apply for you residency. When you attend your NIE appointment, if the Police Officer queries why you need an NIE or asks if you are moving to Spain, make sure you give the specific reason, e.g. buying a house, rental contract etc. The handling officer may refuse to process the NIE application stating that you need to apply for a residency certificate, if they think you are moving to Spain. Taking up Spanish Residency usually requires planning and in most cases isn’t something you should approach fully prepared.