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NIE Number in Spain: What It Is and How to Get One

The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero, or Foreigner's Identification Number) is a unique number assigned to foreign nationals in Spain. It is needed for any financial or legal transaction in the country, on the mainland and on the islands (the Balearics and the Canaries).

You will need it in many situations: opening a bank account, signing an employment contract and, above all, buying a property. Without it you cannot buy a house or flat in Spain, so it is an essential document for anyone wishing to invest in property.

It also allows you to carry out other formalities, such as registering a car or setting up a business. In practice, it is the identifier that lets a foreigner function fully in Spanish life and the Spanish economy. You are even asked for it for something as simple as taking out a mobile phone contract or connecting the internet in your new home.

When to apply

Ideally, start the process early, while you are still looking for a property. That way, when you find the house or flat you want, your NIE will already be in hand and the purchase can go ahead without delay.

Note that the NIE is also usually required to open an account with a Spanish bank, although our clients sometimes manage without it. In some cases the NIE is arranged later on, once the client has reserved the property.

It is for life

You obtain an NIE only once and it stays the same for good. It is comparable to a Polish PESEL or NIP, or a British National Insurance number. Keep it somewhere safe together with the other purchase documents, such as the title deed, and it is worth learning it by heart.

Documents you will need

  • A valid passport and a copy.
  • The completed application form (EX-15).
  • Proof of payment of the applicable fee.
  • Passport-size photographs, if the office asks for them.

Requirements and the amount of the fee may vary by office and over time, so it is best to confirm them before you go.

If you would rather skip the queues

Applying in person at the police station can mean waits of several hours, and English is not always enough. If you would rather avoid the queues and the language stress, you can have someone else handle it for you, for example our agency.

Need help with your NIE? Get in touch and we will point you in the right direction.