What is NIE?

Foreign national identification number

The NIE, or "Número de Identidad de Extranjero", is a unique personal identification number issued by the Directorate General of Police to every foreigner in Spain. 

This number is indispensable for all interactions with public administrations and for the majority of socio-economic and professional transactions between private individuals, including the purchase of real estate.

The EIN format includes an initial letter (X, Y or Z), followed by seven digits and ending with a verification letter, e.g. Y6671688B. 

This number remains valid throughout your life for all activities in Spain. The NIE serves as both a physical identification number (NIE) and a tax identification number (NIF).

Not an identity document

It is important to note that the NIE is not an identity document. European citizens must therefore possess, in addition to the NIE, a valid identity document from their country of origin (passport or national identity card). 

For Europeans living in Spain for less than three months, a national identity card or passport is sufficient.

Buying as a couple

If you are planning to buy a property as a couple, each person must obtain their own NIE.

In Spain, other identification documents exist, such as the DNI (documento nacional de identidad) for Spanish citizens, the CIF (código de identificación fiscal) for companies and legal entities until 2008, and the NIF (Número de Identificación Fiscal). 

Since 2008, the NIF has replaced the CIF for companies, corresponding to the DNI for Spaniards and the NIE for foreigners.

Buying via an SCI

To purchase property in Spain via a French SCI, you need to obtain a NIF from the Spanish Tax Agency.

What is NIE used for?

The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is a key element for carrying out a multitude of formalities in Spain, which is why it's so important to apply for it as soon as possible.

The process can take up to two months. 

This number is crucial for many activities, some of which would be impossible without it. Here are its main uses:

1. Housing : For buying or selling real estate, signing mortgages, registering properties and managing notarial documents.
2. Administration: For census-taking, housing permits, property tax payments, motor vehicle taxation, capital gains management, building permits, civil registration and access to health cards.
3. Social security: Necessary to register for social security, request services from INEM (unemployment management), and transfer unemployment benefits from a member state of the European Economic Area.
4. Economic relations: Indispensable for payroll management, national and regional tax payments, non-resident taxation, business start-ups, corporation tax, VAT, as well as inheritance and gift tax.
5. Other: Used to open a bank account, enroll minors in school, certify diplomas, buy or transfer a vehicle, obtain a driver's license, and subscribe to services such as electricity, water, telephone and internet.

Where can I get my NIE?

Whether you're in Spain or abroad, patience will be your indispensable ally. The process can vary considerably, from one week to up to three months.

If you are in Spain

To obtain an NIE in Spain, you must contact your local police station. 

Appointments can be made on the official website administracionespublicas.gob.esbut be warned, getting an appointment can be very complicated!

How to make an appointment in the provincial capitals :

1. Select your region from the "Seleccionnar" drop-down menu in "PROVINCIA DISPONIBLES".
2. Under "TRÁMITES CUERPO NACIONAL DE POLICÍA", select "POLICIA-CERTIFICADO DE REGISTRO DE CIUDADANO DE LA UE".
3. On the page that opens, click on "Entrar".
4. Select "Pasaporte", enter your passport number and your first and last name.
5. Click on "Solicitar Cita".

The site may indicate that no appointments are available. In this case, follow these tips.

Tip 1: Log on to the site at 8 a.m. on Monday mornings, when new slots often become available. If necessary, refresh the page every 5 minutes until 9 a.m.

Tip 2: Try a police station in a smaller commune of the same Autonomous Community, where demand is lower. Arrive early, an hour before opening time, and be prepared to go back several times if necessary.

Tip 3: Hire a lawyer (cost approx. €400 per person, plus a notarized power of attorney at approx. €80). We can provide you with the contact details of a lawyer.

Once you've booked your appointment, fill in the EX-15 forms and modelo 790 codigo 012 for the tax (€9.84 in 2022). Bring all the required documents with you on the day, and allow for a wait of up to 3 hours. 

After paying the tax at a bank, return to the police station to collect your NIE.

If you're not in Spain

Apply personally for your NIE at the Spanish consular authorities in your country of residence.

1. Make an appointment with your nearest Spanish consulate. Each consular site has its own appointment procedure, which may vary.
2. For some consulates, such as Paris and Brussels, you can make an appointment online or by telephone. Others, such as Geneva, offer walk-in service.
3. Make sure you go to the consulate corresponding to your place of residence. For example, if you live in Grenoble, you should go to the Lyon consulate, not the Paris one.

To make it easier for you to book an appointment for your NIE, here is organized and detailed information for the main consulates:

1. Algiers: Make an appointment by phone 021639354
2. Beirut: embassy located at Palais Chehab, Hadath Antounie. Contact by phone 05 46 41 20 or by e-mail emb.beirut@maec.es
3. Bordeaux: Click on "REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT" (Link in the middle of the page for Bordeaux)
4. Brussels: Make an appointment from 9am to 1pm. Phone: 02 509 87 72 or email: cog.bruselas@maec.es
5. Casablanca: Make an appointment by phone 05 22 22 07 52
6. Geneva: No appointment necessary. Opening hours: 8.15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Address: 53 Avenue Blanc, 2nd floor, 1202 Geneva. Telephone: 0041 (0)22 749 14 60
7. Lyon: Go to the bottom of the page and click on "RDV ici" (Link to make an appointment in Lyon).
8. Luxembourg: Click here for NIE (Link to NIE appointment booking process in Luxembourg)
9. Marseille: Click on "ENLACE//RENDEZ-VOUS" (link in the middle of the page for Marseille)
10. Montpellier: Appointments from 9am to 2pm. Phone 04 67 58 20 21 or email cog.montpellier@maec.es
11. Paris: Click here for NIE (Link to Paris NIE appointment booking process)
12. Strasbourg: Appointments from 9am to 2pm. Phone: 03.88.32.67.27 or email cog.estrasburgo@maec.es
13. Toulouse: Click here for NIE (Link to Toulouse NIE process)

Be sure to click on the links provided to go directly to the specific instructions for each consulate.

On the day of the appointment, bring the EX15 and 790 forms, a photocopy of your identity card or passport, proof of address, and a stamped envelope to send the NIE. 

Payment of the fee (€9.84) is required, payable by cheque or cash.

It takes 2 to 4 weeks to receive the NIE by mail or post.

Note: If you are abroad and do not wish to handle the NIE application yourself, a specialist lawyer in Spain can take care of it for around €150 per application. This will require a notarized power of attorney and its certified translation. 

It usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to receive the NIE.

Alternatively, companies such as NIEnumberfast.com and e-residence.com are specialists in the field and can help you for around €200.

What forms do I need to fill in?

To obtain your NIE, two essential forms must be completed: EX-15 and 790, in CAPITAL letters, either directly on the computer or by hand.

Form EX-15

Download form EX-15 by clicking here. This document is in Spanish and must be completed in CAPITALS and in SPANISH.

To help you, here's a step-by-step guide to filling in forms EX-15 and 790-012, with a few additional tips:

• "Nombre" means first name in Spanish, while "apellido" is the family name.
• For the "Sexo" (gender) question: H for homme (hombre) and M for femme (mujer).
• For "Estado Civil" (civil status): S for single (soltero), C for married (casado(a)), V for widowed (viudo(a)), D for divorced (divorciado(a)), Sp for separated (separado(a)).
• Don't forget to enter your e-mail address in the dedicated question.
• Do not fill in parts 2. and 3.
• In section 4.2 "Motivos", tick the appropriate reason - economic, professional or social. For example, for a property purchase, tick "Por intereses económicos" and add "compra de una vivienda en Espana" or specify the city or region.
• Sign in the "Firma del solicitante" box.

Form 790 Código 12

Form 790 is used to pay the fees associated with obtaining an NIE. You can download it here: Tasa modelo 790 Código 012.

Here are the instructions for filling it in (in capital letters):

• NIF/NIE: identity card or passport number.
• Apellidos y nombre o razón social: surname and first names.
• Calle/plaza/avda: type of road (street, square, avenue).
• Nombre de la vía pública: street name.
• Número: street number.
• Teléfono: telephone number.
• Municipio: municipality/city.
• Código postal: postal code.
• Provincia : indicate your country of residence (France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, etc.).
• Check "Asignación de Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE) a instancia del interesado".