How to get a NIE number in Spain

Your route

The routes that also exist

• A National Police immigration office in Spain

  You apply at a Policía Nacional office with an extranjería desk, by appointment booked through the online cita previa system. The certificate is usually printed the same day.

• A representative acting under a power of attorney

  A gestor, lawyer or trusted person applies on your behalf using a notarised power of attorney that names the NIE application specifically.

What to take

• Form EX-15, completed and signed — the standard NIE application
• Your passport, plus a photocopy of the photo page
• The stamped 790/012 receipt proving the fee is paid
• Evidence of why you need it: the reservation contract or nota simple for a purchase, the job offer, the notary’s letter for an inheritance
• Your appointment confirmation, printed
• Two passport photographs

Official feeForm 790 código 012, paid at any Spanish bank before the appointment.

€10

AllowA planning figure for your timeline, not a promise: the appointment is the queue, not the paperwork.

5 working days from the appointment to the certificate

People who can help with this

Independently listed, experienced with international retirees, free to contact.

• Gestorium 360°

  Licensed gestoria in Barcelona — document, visa and administrative support for foreigners.

  Barcelona

  View profile →

• Imont Legal & Taxes

  Legal and tax advice for international property buyers in Spain.

  Region of Murcia

  View profile →

• MyMoveSpain

  Murcia-based relocation specialist coordinating visas, property purchase/rent and post-arrival settling-in for retirees and other international clients.

  Region of Murcia

  View profile →

Questions people ask

How much does a NIE cost?

The tax itself is €10, paid on form 790 código 012 at any Spanish bank before your appointment. That is the whole official cost. A gestor or lawyer acting for you will charge their own fee on top, typically a few hundred euros including the power of attorney.

Is a NIE the same as residency?

No, and confusing the two is the most expensive mistake on this subject. A NIE is only a number: it identifies you to the tax office and says nothing about where you may live. Residency is a separate status with its own application, and a non-EU citizen who has a NIE still needs a visa to live in Spain.

Does my NIE expire?

The number itself is yours for life and never changes. The white A4 certificate that proves it used to carry a three-month validity for some purposes, so banks and notaries occasionally ask for a recent one — the number on the new sheet will be the same number.

Can somebody else get it for me?

Yes, and for anyone not already in Spain it is often the faster route. It needs a power of attorney signed in front of a notary and, outside Spain, apostilled — allow two to three weeks for that alone, which is usually still less than the wait for a consular appointment.

Do I need a NIE if I am only buying a holiday home?

Yes. The notary cannot complete the purchase deed without one for every buyer, the tax on the purchase is filed against it, and the annual non-resident tax return that follows is filed against it too. It is the first thing to arrange, not the last.