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How to Get Your NIE Number in Spain

The Número de Identidad de Extranjero is your gateway to renting, banking, working and paying tax in Spain. Here's the fastest route to obtaining one.

8 min readUpdated February 20265,000+ readers
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What is the NIE?

The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is the unique tax/identification number Spain assigns to every non-Spanish person. It is NOT a residence permit — it's just a number.

You need a NIE to:

  • Open a Spanish bank account
  • Buy or rent property
  • Sign a labour contract
  • Pay tax (IRPF, IVA, IBI)
  • Buy a Spanish SIM card on contract
  • Set up utilities
  • Register a company

NIE numbers are permanent — once issued you keep the same one forever, even if you leave and return decades later.

Three Ways to Get It

Option 1 — In Spain (Comisaría / Oficina de Extranjeros) Best when you're already in the country. Book an appointment ("cita previa") at sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es. Fee €9.84.

Option 2 — From abroad (Spanish consulate) Available in most Spanish consulates worldwide. Submit Mod. EX-15 with a stated reason (e.g., "compra de propiedad"). Fee €9.84. Processing 2–8 weeks.

Option 3 — Power of Attorney (notarised abroad) Authorise a Spanish lawyer or gestor to apply on your behalf. Useful if you can't travel. Add €120–€300 to the gestor's fee.

Documents Required

Bring originals + 1 photocopy of each:

  • Passport (valid, original + copy of personal page + entry stamp)
  • Completed Mod. EX-15 form
  • Justification of need ("motivo económico, profesional o social") — examples: job offer letter, signed pre-contract for property purchase, university enrolment, employer letter
  • Mod. 790 código 012 (tax form for the €9.84 fee — pay at any Spanish bank, get stamped receipt)
  • Single passport-sized photo
  • Two completed copies of all forms (originals are stamped and returned)

Step-by-Step (In-Spain Route)

1. Book the cita previa on the official portal — choose your province + "Asignación NIE". 2. Download Mod. EX-15 and Mod. 790 código 012 (PDF, fillable). 3. Pay the €9.84 fee at any Spanish bank using Mod. 790, get the receipt stamped. 4. Gather supporting docs (justification letter is the most-rejected — be specific!). 5. Attend the appointment, hand in everything, get a "resguardo" (receipt). 6. Same-day issuance in most offices; some provinces post a "resolución" with the number 1–2 weeks later.

Common Reasons NIE Applications Get Rejected

  • ✗ Vague justification — "I want to visit Spain" isn't enough.
  • ✗ Mod. 790 not signed/stamped at the bank.
  • ✗ Passport scan not zoomed-in enough.
  • ✗ Booking the wrong appointment type (NIE ≠ TIE ≠ Empadronamiento).
  • ✗ Arriving without 2 copies of everything.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does the NIE expire?

No. The number itself is permanent. The **certificate** (white A4 paper) is technically only valid for 3 months for procedures like banking, but the number remains yours forever.

Is a NIE the same as a TIE?

No. The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is a physical card containing your NIE plus residence/work authorisation. The plain NIE is just the number on a piece of paper.

Can I get a NIE without entering Spain?

Yes — via the Spanish consulate in your country, or via a Power of Attorney to a Spanish gestor/lawyer.

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