NIE stands for Número de Identificación de Extranjero, it’s essentially a ‘Foreigner Identification Number’ for those who are not Spanish citizens.
It’s needed for both economic and professional reasons. If you’re an EU citizen you’ll get one when you apply for residency with your green certificate and if you’re from a third country coming to live in Spain, you’ll get one when you apply for your TIE – Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (Foreigner Identity Card).
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In both cases, the NIE will appear on your residency cards.
There are certain circumstances, however, that you’ll also need a NIE if you’re a non-resident. This includes those who want to buy a house in Spain, a car or open a bank account for example.
This is what’s known as a non-resident NIE. It’s important to remember, it does not authorise you to reside or work legally in Spain, only to make economic transactions.
READ ALSO: 14 things you should know about Spain’s NIE number for foreigners
EX-15 form you need to complete. Source: Spanish government
If this is your case and you need an NIE for one of the purposes above, here’s how to apply.
Firstly, you need to download and complete modelo or form Ex-15, which you can find here.
The first section asks for all your personal details such as name, date of birth, name of parents, address etc. The second section is for professionals who are filling it out on a client’s behalf, so you can leave that blank. The third section are contact details for where you want to receive information regarding your application.
In the fourth section, check the boxes for NIE and De No Residente for non-resdident. Then select your reason for applying, it will usually be Por intereses económicos (for economic interests).
The second to last box is about where you’re applying – Oficina de Extranjería (foreigners office) or Comisaría de Policía (police station) for example. And the very last one is your situation in Spain. If your non-resident you will check ‘Estancia’.
Sign and date it at the end.
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Next you will need to apply for an appointment to get your documents processed and actually apply for the number.
If you’re in Spain you will do this via the following government website.
To do this, select the province that you’re in and then the local police station that’s nearest to you. If you need a NIE for buying a property for example, this will be the one nearest to where you want to buy.
From the dropdown menu, select – ‘Policia – Asignación de NIE’. On the next page it will tell you the documents you need, but we’ll explain below, so don’t worry if you don’t understand as it’s all in Spanish.
Then click on ‘Entrar’ and fill out your details. Under ‘Tipo de documento’ (document type) you want to click ‘passaporte’ or passport. You’ll then enter that number, along with your name, date of birth and nationality and then click ‘Aceptar’ at the bottom.
This will give you the date and time of your appointment. Be aware, sometimes it will say that no appointments are available. This is very common, don’t worry, just keep trying. Here are some tips.
If you are still in your home country, you’ll need to make an appointment with your nearest embassy or consulate.
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This is what your non-resident NIE will look like. It will come on an A4 white document. Source: Spanish government
While you’re waiting for your appointment, gather the necessary documentation. Here’s what you will need.
- Your original passport, plus a copy.
- Document showing the reason why you need an NIE. This could be evidence showing you’ve put an offer on a property, documents from the bank saying you need one to open an account or papers showing that you have started the process of buying a car.
- The documents must be translated into Spanish by a sworn translator and legalised. If you have a multilingual standard EU form, this is not required. If it’s an official document from abroad, it may also require a Hague Apostille stamp.
- You will also need to complete Modelo 790 Código 012, which is the payment form, where you’ll pay your application fee. You can usually do this at a local bank. The fee is currently €9.84.
- Bring proof that you’ve paid this fee to your appointment. As with everything it’s important to have the original documentation, plus a copy.
If you’re applying from a consulate in your home country they may also require additional documentation, which they will tell you about.
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At the appointment, all your paperwork will be processed. It’s important to note that often these officials will only speak Spanish, so you may want to bring a translator or Spanish friend along to help.
It can take up to five days (or more in some cases) for your paperwork to be processed and for your NIE to be ready.
You may also be required to present additional documentation, depending on your circumstances, meaning you’ll need to return for a second appointment in order to present them. Ask what you need to do for the second appointment because often it will be different from applying for the first, but it differs between regions and even different police stations.
When everything is in order, you will receive a white A4 piece of paper with your number on that you can use for all your future purchases in Spain. Once you have this, it’s yours for life. You can use it to open up a bank account and purchase a property and then later down the line, a car if you need.
