Getting Your NIE in Spain: What It Is and How to Apply
No NIE, no property purchase, bank account or tax payment in Spain. Where to apply, which documents to bring and how long the Spanish foreigner identity number takes.
Contents
Key points
- The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is the personal identification number Spain assigns to foreigners, EU and non-EU alike.
- It is not a residence permit and gives no immigration status.
- You apply in person or through an authorised representative: in Spain at the police station or Foreigners' Office, or abroad at a Spanish embassy or consulate.
- Core documents: form EX-15, passport, Modelo 790 Código 012 with bank receipt, and proof of why you need the number.
- In Spain it often takes a few days, sometimes up to two weeks; via a consulate it takes considerably longer.
As of 13 April 2026.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Forms, fees and procedures may have changed since then – always check the current instructions of the office handling your application.
A number, not a status
The NIE is a unique personal number used for official legal, financial and administrative procedures, and it stays with you for life. What it does not do is prove legal residence. If you plan to live in Spain, that requires a separate permit.
When you will need it
Practically any contact with Spanish authorities or banks requires an NIE, for example to:
- buy or sell property,
- open a Spanish bank account,
- pay taxes such as property tax, income tax or VAT,
- sign official contracts for utilities or rentals,
- start a business or work self-employed,
- apply for a loan or mortgage,
- register vehicles or investments.
Where to apply
NIE applications cannot be submitted online. You have two options:
- In Spain, at the local police station or Foreigners' Office (Oficina de Extranjería).
- From abroad, at the Spanish embassy or consulate in your country of residence.
Either way, you or an accredited representative must attend in person, usually with a booked appointment. Requirements vary slightly by office, so check local instructions first.
Building your application
Form EX-15. The official NIE request form, completed and signed, original plus one copy. It must state your reason: economic, professional or social.
Passport. Your original passport (EU citizens may use a national ID card) and a copy of the data page or both sides of the ID. Through a representative, certified copies may be required.
Fee form Modelo 790, Código 012. Select the right procedure, typically "Asignación de NIE", and pay before your appointment. Without the bank-stamped receipt the application will not be accepted.
Proof of your reason. The office must be able to verify why you need the number. Typical evidence:
- a reservation contract, purchase contract or title deed documents,
- a bank letter about opening an account,
- a job offer or employment contract,
- company formation documents,
- a notary letter for an inheritance or other legal transaction.
Representative and power of attorney. If someone applies on your behalf, they bring their own passport or ID (original and copy) and a power of attorney explicitly authorising them to file your NIE application.
Possible extras. Depending on the office or consulate you may also be asked for proof of residence in the consular area, a birth certificate or family book plus the guardian's ID for minors, a printed appointment confirmation and passport photos, according to the source often 32 × 26 mm in colour.
How long it takes
Applying in person in Spain, the NIE is usually issued within a few days, though it can take up to two weeks. Applications through an embassy or consulate abroad take longer: plan for several weeks and, according to the source, often two months or more. Apply well ahead of any notary appointment, bank account opening or completion date that depends on it.
What you receive
Once approved you get a written document, usually a paper certificate, showing:
- your full legal name,
- your NIE in the format letter + 7 digits + letter,
- your nationality and date of birth.
Keep it safe, because you will be asked for the number again and again in Spain.
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