The Identity Number for Foreign Nationals (NIE) is a unique number granted to foreign nationals in Spain.
It is issued by either the Foreigners Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) or by the Police, and will give you permission to both live and work in Spain.
There are two types of NIE that EU citizens can obtain, you can either get a NIE number (a number written on an A4 piece of paper) or a NIE card (a physical green card).
The NIE number is written on a white piece of A4 paper along with your full name, date of birth and nationality. Once you obtain your NIE number in Barcelona, the number itself has unlimited validity, however the actual NIE certificate is only valid for three months at a time and will therefore need to keep being be renewed.
The application process can either be completed by the applicant in person or through a legally authorised person (power of attorney), and requires you to fill out the EX15 form beforehand.
The NIE card contains your personal NIE number as well as your name, date and birthplace, address in Spain and date of application. The validity of the card is also unlimited.
The application process can only be completed in person by making an appointment, and requires you to fill out the EX18 form beforehand.
The permanent NIE card will only be awarded if you can provide proof of one of the following:
There is usually a lot of confusion between the terms ‘identity number for foreign nationals’ (NIE), and the ‘identity card for foreign nationals’ (TIE).
The NIE is a unique and exclusive number that allows the administrative identification of foreign nationals with the institutions of the Spanish state. It appears on all the documents identifying the foreign national.
The TIE is a physical identification card which has recently been updated to prevent counterfeiting. It must be held by non-EU nationals authorised to stay in Spain for a period of more than six months or by all foreign nationals with a long-term permit. It contains a chip with biographical data and images concerning the holder, as well as the identity number for foreign nationals (NIE) and the type of authorisation for the stay or residence of the foreign person
You can make an appointment (cita previa) at the Oficina de Extranjeros via the link below.
As there is a limited number of appointments allocated every week, it can be quite challenging to get one. Our advice would be to search for an appointment on this website from 8:30am every day until you are successful. You can also contact an agency to help you get your NIE quickly and efficiently.
Documents required:
In addition to bringing these forms and documents, you will also need to pay a state fee (€9,54 for the NIE number or €12 for a permanent NIE card), prior to receiving your official paperwork. The form allows payment to be made either in cash, or by direct debit from a current account. You can download the form from the link below.
For NON-EU residents to apply for a NIE number, instead of making an appointment online you must either go to the Directorate-General of Police, or the immigration office on Passeig Sant Joan, 189.
For NON-EU residents to stay in Spain for longer than three months, the application process is generally more complicated and depends on the type of visa (student, work etc.), which must be obtained in the home country beforehand.
Documents required:
Please note that there are certain procedures that can be done online, these include:
If your NIE has been stolen, the first thing you should do is file a police report with the Mossos d’Esquadra via the link below. Filing a report assures that you will not be held accountable if someone else uses them.
In the event of loss, you don’t need to file a report, but you do need to notify the police.
The next step is to request a duplicate of your NIE, you can do this by making an appointment online and completing the ‘Loss or subtraction of document’ form via the link below.
After you have submitted all the required documents at your appointment, it can take a maximum of 40 days for the immigration office to send you your duplicate NIE. Bear in mind that you only have 30 days to request the duplicate after the moment in which your NIE is stolen or goes missing.
Thanks to Spain’s Golden Visa program, investors and their families who aren’t from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, and invest at least €500.000 in either real estate, business, government bonds or a bank deposit, are offered a quick and easy way to obtain a Spanish residence permit.
An initial residency card is granted for one year (two years if you visit Spain), which can then be renewed every five years. Residency can be applied for after the investor or qualified family members have lived in the country for a period of five years. Citizenship can only be acquired after having lived full-time in Spain for ten years.
You can apply for a Spanish Golden Visa from your country of residence by filing an application in person at the nearest Spanish Embassy or Consulate.
You are required to submit the following documents in order to prove your eligibility:
There are certain fees applicable to this type of visa. Remember to ask the Embassy/Consulate prior to your application. Please note: All documents must be submitted for both the initial application and for each renewal.
The visa application process is known for its speed and benefits, such as:
