How to get your NIE in Spain or at a Spanish consulate abroad in 2026

What is the NIE?

The NIE, or Número de Identidad de Extranjero, is the identification number given to foreigners who have an economic, professional, tax or administrative link with Spain. You may need it even if you do not live in Spain yet, for example to buy a property, open a bank account, pay certain taxes or sign official documents.

In practice, the NIE has 9 characters: a first letter, usually X, Y or Z, followed by 7 digits and a final letter. It is a personal, unique and permanent number. Once assigned, it follows you in all your dealings with the Spanish authorities.

Do not confuse it with an identity document or a residence permit. The NIE allows the Spanish authorities to identify you, but it does not replace your passport, your identity card or a residence authorisation. A NIE issued by a consulate, for example, lets you deal with the Spanish authorities, but it does not prove that you live in Spain.

You should also distinguish the NIE from the DNI, the NIF and the TIE. The DNI is the identity card of Spanish citizens. The NIF is the tax identification number used in Spain. The TIE is a physical card given to some foreigners who are authorised to live in Spain. The NIE is first and foremost an administrative identification number.

Whether you are an EU citizen (Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland) or not (UK, US), if you simply want to buy a property in Spain, the NIE is usually the first formality to plan for. To settle for more than 3 months, other steps may follow: registration as an EU resident for EU citizens, a visa and residence permit for UK or US citizens, and the empadronamiento depending on your situation.

What is the NIE used for in Spain?

The NIE is essential for many procedures in Spain. It identifies you to the authorities, banks, notaries, tax offices and some private service providers. It is one of the first documents to plan for as soon as your project goes beyond a simple tourist stay.

When you buy property in Spain, the NIE is particularly important. You may be asked for it to sign before the notary, pay the taxes on the purchase, open a Spanish bank account, take out certain contracts or be correctly identified by the various authorities. Even when there are ways to move forward with a purchase without a NIE straight away, you still need to regularise your situation quickly. The NIE may be requested, in particular, to:

• Set up an internet connection,
• Open a Spanish bank account,
• Receive a parcel,
• Sign up for gas (Iberdrola, Endesa, Feníe Energía…) and electricity (Iberdrola),
• Buy a property,
• Register your vehicle and many other useful everyday services.

Your health insurer may also ask for it if you plan to extend your cover to Spain. Check with your insurer before you travel.

If you are preparing a property purchase, it is best to apply for your NIE as early as possible. Waiting times vary between consulates, police stations and times of year, and appointments can be hard to get, especially in large cities or at some consulates abroad.

How do you get a NIE in Spain or from abroad?

There are two main ways to get a NIE: either directly in Spain, at a police station or the relevant office, or from your home country, at the Spanish consulate that covers your place of residence. The right choice depends mainly on your timetable, your project and how quickly you can get an appointment.

If you are preparing a property purchase in Spain from abroad, it is often better to apply before you travel. This way you do not depend on the sometimes limited availability of Spanish police stations, especially in large cities or popular areas. On the other hand, if you are already in Spain or your project is moving fast, applying in Spain is also an option.

Applying for a NIE from your home country

To apply for a NIE from your home country, you must go to the Spanish consulate that covers your place of residence. It is not necessarily the nearest consulate: each consulate covers a specific area.

You can submit the application yourself or through a person duly authorised to represent you. In all cases, the applicant or their representative must attend the appointment in person. The consulate then forwards the application to the relevant Spanish authorities.

In practice, the procedure usually follows these steps:

1. Find the Spanish consulate that covers your address.
2. Book an appointment for a NIE application.
3. Prepare form EX-15, form 790 code 012, your passport or ID card and the supporting documents requested.
4. Attend the appointment with your complete file.
5. Wait to receive your NIE, usually by email, as explained by the consulate.

The exact documents may vary slightly from one consulate to another. Check the instructions on the official page of your consulate before your appointment.

Applying at the Spanish consulate in your country

The Spanish consulate in your country can issue your NIE before you travel to Spain. If your address is in its area, follow the procedure it publishes and book an appointment as explained on its website.

For a NIE application at a Spanish consulate, you will usually need:

• form EX-15, completed and signed;
• a valid passport or ID card, with a photocopy;
• form 790 code 012 or payment of the fee as instructed by the consulate;
• proof of the reason for your application, for example a planned property purchase or a tax, professional or administrative procedure;
• proof of address if the consulate asks for it;
• a notarial power of attorney if a representative applies for you.

A NIE obtained at a Spanish consulate lets you deal with the Spanish authorities, but it is not a residence permit. If you want to live in Spain for more than 3 months, other formalities will be needed: EU citizens register as residents in Spain, while UK and US citizens first need a visa.

Applying for a NIE directly in Spain

If you are already in Spain, you can apply for your NIE at a police station or at the relevant foreigners' office (oficina de extranjería). In most cases, you must book an appointment in advance through the official appointment system, cita previa de extranjería.

This option can be useful if you are already in Spain for your property project or if you have local support. It may require patience, though: depending on the province, appointments can be scarce, and waiting times are not the same in every city.

On the day of the appointment, you must present a complete file, usually made up of form EX-15, an identity document, the paid fee form 790 code 012 and a document showing the reason for your application. If you do not speak Spanish, it can help to be accompanied, as everything is done with the Spanish authorities.

Can you get a NIE in Spain online?

Some NIE steps can be done online, such as booking an appointment, downloading the forms or filling in certain documents. However, applying for a NIE is not usually a fully online procedure for an individual applying on their own.

In most cases, you will have to attend the consulate, police station or relevant office in person, or appoint a representative with a suitable power of attorney. This is an important point: searching for "NIE Spain online" can give the impression that everything can be done remotely, but the procedure almost always involves an identity check or official representation.

To save time, you can still prepare most of the file in advance: fill in form EX-15, print form 790 code 012, gather the supporting documents and book an appointment online when the consulate or the Spanish authorities allow it.

Which documents do you need for a NIE application?

The documents for a NIE application may vary slightly depending on where you submit your file: a Spanish consulate abroad, a police station in Spain or a foreigners' office. Before your appointment, always check the official instructions of the office concerned, as a missing document can delay your application.

In most cases, you will need to prepare the following documents:

• Form EX-15 (one per applicant), completed and signed;
• Valid identity document: passport, or national identity card for EU citizens;
• Photocopy of your identity document;
• A passport photo may be requested;
• A document showing the reason for your NIE application (employment contract, internship agreement or other);
• Form 790 code 012, used to pay the administrative fee. The fee is €9.84 for a first NIE and €7.31 for an update

Note: the Spanish consulate in your country publishes its own instructions for the form. Read them before you fill it in, to avoid mistakes.

Documents needed if a representative applies or if the application is for a minor

If a representative submits the application, remember to set up a notarial power of attorney. This person will need to attend on the day with your documents and their own. If you apply for a minor or for a person with a disability that prevents them from applying themselves, bring a copy of the family record book, a birth certificate or the guardianship document. A copy of the identity document of each parent or of the guardian will be requested.

For a NIE application for a minor, the documents required are stricter. You will usually need the minor's identity document, a copy of the family record book or birth certificate, and the identity documents of the parents or legal guardians.

Depending on the consulate or office, the parents may need to attend. Here again, it is best to check the official instructions before the appointment, as the rules can vary depending on where the file is submitted.

NIE at a Spanish consulate abroad: appointment, documents and steps

Who can apply for a NIE at a Spanish consulate?

If you live in the UK, the US, Ireland, Germany or the Netherlands, you can apply for your NIE at the Spanish consulate that covers your address, without travelling to Spain. Buyers often use this route when they need a NIE to buy a property in Spain, sign a private purchase contract, open a bank account or complete a Spanish administrative formality.

How do you book a NIE appointment at a Spanish consulate?

If you live in the area covered by a Spanish consulate, you can submit a NIE application there. This applies in particular to people who live abroad and need a NIE for a property purchase, an inheritance, or a tax, professional or administrative procedure in Spain.

The first step is to check which consulate covers your address. Each Spanish consulate covers a specific area: in the UK, the US and Germany, for example, there are several, and if your home falls under another consulate, you must apply there.

Once you have checked this, book an appointment as explained on the consulate's official website. Appointments can be limited, especially for NIE applications. It is best to apply as soon as your project in Spain becomes concrete, especially if you are preparing a purchase with a signing date to meet.

To avoid unnecessary trips, prepare your application in this order:

1. Check which Spanish consulate covers your address.
2. Read the consulate's official page on the NIE.
3. Book an appointment through the system or instructions given by the consulate.
4. Prepare all the documents requested before the day of the appointment.
5. Go to the consulate with your complete file, or send a representative if you have given a valid power of attorney.

On the day of the appointment, the application must be submitted by the person concerned or by a duly authorised representative. If you send someone, the power of attorney must clearly authorise them to apply for the NIE on your behalf.

Applying for your NIE at the Spanish consulate in London

Who can apply at the Spanish consulate in London?

If you live in the area covered by the Consulate General of Spain in London, you can apply for your NIE there. This applies in particular to people living in the UK who want to buy in Spain, prepare a property transaction, open a Spanish bank account or complete a formality that requires a foreigner identification number.

How do you request a NIE appointment at the Spanish consulate in London?

At the Spanish consulate in London, NIE appointments are requested by email, at the address given on the consulate's website. Send a clear request with your identity, your place of residence in the UK and the reason for your NIE application. The consulate will then tell you the steps to follow, the documents to provide and any waiting times.

Which documents do you need for a NIE in London?

The documents usually requested are similar to those of any other Spanish consulate: completed form EX-15, valid passport or identity card, a copy of the identity document, proof of the reason for the application and proof of payment of the fee if required. For a property purchase, it can help to attach any document showing that the project exists: emails with an agency, a private purchase contract, a reservation or a request from a notary.

Timescales, delivery and receiving your NIE

Once your file has been submitted to the relevant office, allow about two weeks for the Comisaría General de Extranjería y Fronteras (Dirección General de la Policía) to generate this unique number. Sometimes it takes longer.

When it comes to the NIE, patience pays. Appointments are often hard to get and, once there, you may have to wait, especially in large Spanish cities.

If you apply at a consulate, your NIE is usually sent to you by email. In Spain, it depends. It can be sent electronically or by post. Some police stations will give you the document on the spot, while others will ask you to come back and collect it in person (or the person holding your power of attorney, called a “poder”.)

Good to know: getting your NIE can be fasterat a consulate abroad than in a large Spanish city, depending on the consulate.

Many investors have been held up or slowed down by this formality, but an agreement has been reached between notaries and the authority that collects taxes: you can now buy before you have your NIE. You will have 3 months after the sale to regularise your situation. To find out more, read our article: Buying without a NIE is now possible!

Alveo Search can take care of this formality for you and save you time.

Provisional NIE or resident NIE: what is the difference?

There are two types of NIE. The paperwork is the same, but you need to choose the right one for your situation:

Provisional NIE

Issued as a white A4 sheet, it is valid for 90 days. It lets you carry out all the formalities you need in Spain, without exception. The documents needed to obtain it are listed above.

Resident NIE

It is compulsory for EU citizens who wish to stay in Spain for more than 90 days (retirees, workers, long-term students): they must register as residents. UK and US citizens follow a different route: a visa, then a residence card (TIE). You will often get a NIE certificate first, as it is almost essential from your first day of settling in Spain, while resident registration becomes compulsory once your stay exceeds 3 months in Spain. You will be asked for different documents depending on your situation.

Which NIE do you need to buy a property in Spain?

To buy a property in Spain, a NIE certificate is usually enough if you do not plan to become a resident straight away. It allows the notary, the tax authorities and the other parties to the transaction to identify you.

If your purchase is part of a plan to settle in Spain for good, you will then need to deal with residence (registration certificate for EU citizens, visa and TIE for UK or US citizens), the empadronamiento, tax and possibly social security or health insurance, depending on your situation.

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Documents for an EU registration certificate

Documents by category (EU registration certificate)

Students or trainees

• Form EX-18, duly completed Receipt forthe 790-012 fee paid at a bank counter. European Health Insurance Card. Certificate from the university where you study (students) or original internship agreement in Spanish (trainees). Photocopy of your national identity card or passport. Municipal registration certificate less than 3 months old (padrón)

Future employees

• Form EX-18, duly completed Receipt for the 790-012 fee paid at a bank counter. Handwritten job offer letter from your future employer, with the company stamp (registered office address and NIF), your full name, date of birth and, above all, the length of your employment contract. Photocopy of your national identity card or passport.

Employees

• Form EX-18, duly completed Receipt for the 790-012 fee paid at a bank counter. Your last 3 payslips or your “vida laboral”, a record of all your declared work in Spain, available from the Social Security. Photocopy of your national identity card or passport. Municipal registration certificate less than 3 months old (padrón)

Spouse or children of the employee or worker

• Form EX-18, duly completed Receipt for the 790-012 fee paid at a bank counter. Marriage certificate, apostilled and translated by a sworn translator (for a spouse). Copy of the children's birth certificates (for children). Photocopy of your national identity card or passport. Municipal registration certificate less than 3 months old (padrón)

What if you cannot find a NIE appointment?

It is common to struggle to get a NIE appointment, whether at a Spanish consulate abroad or directly in Spain through the cita previaplatform. Availability depends on each consulate, police station or foreigners' office, and it can vary over the year.

If no appointment is available, start by checking the official page regularly. New slots may be added gradually or reappear after a cancellation. Avoid unofficial platforms or intermediaries that promise a guaranteed appointment without being clear about their role.

You can also consider several alternatives, depending on your situation:

• check whether another competent office in Spain can handle your application;
• apply from your home country at the consulate that covers your address;
• appoint a representative with a suitable power of attorney;
• get help from a professional used to Spanish administrative procedures;
• apply as soon as your property project becomes concrete, without waiting for the signing date.

If you are preparing a property purchase in Spain and cannot get an appointment, tell your notary, lawyer or adviser quickly. In some cases, they can tell you what to do, adjust the timetable or point you to a solution that works for your project.

Above all, do not wait until the last minute. The NIE remains an essential formality for many procedures, but appointment waiting times are never fully predictable.

Understanding Spanish identification documents

The Spanish identification system can be confusing, especially when you are preparing a property purchase or a move to Spain. NIE, NIF, DNI and TIE do not mean the same thing, even if these terms are sometimes used together in administrative procedures.

Here is an overview of the different identity documents and how they compare with the NIE.

The NIE, or Número de Identidad de Extranjero, is the identification number given to foreigners who have an economic, professional, tax or administrative link with Spain. It is the number you will usually need to buy a property, pay certain taxes or deal with the Spanish authorities.

The DNI, or Documento Nacional de Identidad, is the identity card of Spanish citizens. It therefore concerns people of Spanish nationality, not foreigners who apply for a NIE for a project in Spain.

The NIF, or Número de Identificación Fiscal, is the tax identification number used in Spain. For a Spanish citizen, it usually matches the DNI. For a foreigner, the NIE also serves as the tax identification number in many procedures.

The TIE, or Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero, is a physical card given to some foreigners authorised to live in Spain. It mainly concerns non-EU nationals with a residence authorisation, such as UK or US citizens living in Spain. The TIE shows a NIE, but the two are not the same: the NIE is a number, the TIE is a card.

For an EU citizen (from Germany, the Netherlands or Ireland, for example) who settles in Spain for more than 3 months, the key distinction is between the NIE and the registration certificate for EU citizens. This certificate confirms registration as an EU resident and shows the NIE, but it serves a different purpose from the simple NIE certificate requested for a one-off procedure.

Key point: if you buy a property in Spain without moving there straight away, you usually need a NIE. If you want to live in Spain long term, other administrative steps may follow depending on your situation.

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