Who can apply and where can I get NIE?

You can apply for a Foreigner Identification Number (NIE in Spanish) that is assigned for economic, professional, or social reasons:

• in person by submitting an application in Spain at the immigration office or at the nearest police station.
• through a representative who will submit an application in Spain
• in person by submitting a request at the Spanish Consulate or diplomatic missions located in the applicant's country of residence and corresponding to their place of residence.

Reasons for obtaining NIE:

• buying real estate
• buying a car
• company registration

Documents required to obtain NIE?

Here is a list of the main documents that are required when applying for your Foreigner Identification Number (NIE):

• Correctly completed and signed standardized application form (EX-15). Click here to download it.
• Original and photocopy of the passport.
• Confirmation of the economic, professional and social reasons that give ground to request a number.

If the request of NIE is made through a representative, he must prove his authorization.

Getting NIE in Spain

NIE can be obtained in Spain in person or through a representative..

To get a personal number, you can contact the immigration office (Oficina de Extranjería) or the nearest police station.

At the immigration office (Oficina de Extranjería))

In order to visit the immigration office you need to make an appointment. You can do this by clicking on the following link: https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/icpplus/index.html

At the police station

Getting NIE outside of Spain

If you are located outside of Spain, you can get NIE through a representative. He will need the following documents:

• Correctly completed EX-15 form (original and copy). You must fill it out in Spanish, using capital letters. Click here to download the form.
• A photocopy of all passport pages confirmed by the Spanish Consulate (with the Consulate's apostille).
• Confirmation of the economic, professional and social reasons that give ground to request a number.
• Confirmation of the representative’s authorization to submit the request. There are two ways of doing this:

- contact a notary who will certify the endowment of the necessary powers to the representative. Before the notary, you will also sign the documents that will be sent to Spain. The document on the endowment of authorization must be confirmed by an apostille and translated into Spanish.
- contact the Spanish Consulate, where you can confirm the endowment of authorization and secure this document with an apostille. The Consulate will immediately do this in Spanish, so there is no need for translation.

In both cases, you must send certified copies of the documents specified in the power of attorney (the passport is most often used).

Getting NIE at a Consulate outside of Spain

If you are located outside of Spain, you can apply for NIE at the Spanish Consulate in Your country. In this case, you must provide the following documents:

• Correctly completed EX-15 form (original and copy). It must be typed in capital letters in Spanish and signed in the presence of a Consulate employee. Click here to download the EX-15 form.
• The original passport and a copy of the passport pages containing the owner's data.
• Payment of the consular fee.

If the person applying for NIE is a minor, the following documents must be provided:

• Correctly completed EX-15 form (original and copy). It must be typed in capital letters in Spanish, indicating the personal data of the minor and his legal representative. This form is signed by the legal representative in the presence of a consular officer. Click here to download the EX-15 form.
• The original passport of the minor and a copy of the pages containing the owner's data.
• The original passport of the legal representative and a copy of the pages containing the owner's data.
• Original and photocopy of the child's birth certificate.
• Payment of the consular fee.

Applications are submitted by the Consulate via email to the general department, and within 5-7 business days the NIE certificate is received in PDF format. After receiving the certificate, it is sent by email to interested parties. These certificates are valid for 3 months from the date of issue.

List of Spanish consulates abroad: Click here