Almost everything you do in Spain sooner or later asks for your NIE. Opening a bank account, signing a rental contract, buying a car or a flat, starting a job, paying tax: the form will have a box for it. Getting one is short and cheap once you know the form, the fee and the office. It’s usually the appointment, not the paperwork, that holds people up.
Here is the 2026 process, step by step, based on the official sources.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees can change, so always check the official pages linked below before you apply.
What is an NIE?
The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is a personal, unique identification number that Spain gives to foreigners who have economic, professional, social or other dealings with the country. It appears on every document Spain issues to you or processes for you (Ministerio del Interior).
Spain’s consulates give typical reasons for needing one: setting up a company, buying property, filing tax returns, banking, and inheritances (Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores).
NIE, TIE and EU registration: which one do you need?
People often mix these three up:
- NIE on its own: a number, issued on a paper document. It identifies you, but it does not give you the right to live or work in Spain.
- TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero): the physical residence card for non-EU nationals who live in Spain, for example on a Digital Nomad, non-lucrative or student visa. Your NIE is printed on it. You apply with form EX-17.
- EU registration certificate (certificado de registro): EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who stay in Spain for more than three months register as residents (form EX-18). The certificate also carries your NIE.
If you’re moving on a long-stay visa or applying for a residence permit, you normally don’t need a separate NIE application: under Spain’s immigration regulations, the Policía Nacional assigns the NIE automatically as part of that procedure (Reglamento de Extranjería, art. 205, BOE). If your visa or permit is for more than six months, the next step is the TIE, which you must apply for in person within one month of arriving in Spain (Ministerio del Interior). The standalone NIE process below is mainly for people who need the number before or without residence: buyers, investors, new employees, students starting paperwork, and so on.
Who can apply?
According to the Policía Nacional, two conditions apply (Sede electrónica de la Policía Nacional):
- You must not be in Spain irregularly.
- You must explain why you need the number.
Bring evidence of your reason, such as a property reservation contract or a job offer.
Step 1: Fill in form EX-15
The application form is the EX-15 (Solicitud de Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE) y Certificados). You can download the current version from the Secretaría de Estado de Migraciones. Tick “NIE” as the document type and fill in your reason for applying. Print it, sign it, and bring the original plus a copy.
Step 2: Pay the fee (Modelo 790, código 012)
The government fee is paid with form Modelo 790, código 012, which you generate on the Policía Nacional’s fee portal. Select “Asignación de Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE) a instancia del interesado”. In 2026 the fee for this is EUR 9.84.
Pay it before your appointment, normally at a partner bank, and keep the stamped receipt (justificante). You’ll need to hand it in with your application (Plataforma ONE, Gobierno de España).
Step 3: Book an appointment (cita previa)
In Spain you apply in person at an Oficina de Extranjería or a National Police station that handles foreigners’ paperwork. You need an appointment first, booked through the government’s cita previa de extranjería system:
- Choose your province (for example, Alicante).
- Pick the police procedure for NIE assignment and certificates. Its exact wording varies by province.
- Enter your passport details and choose an available slot.
Slots in busy provinces can be scarce, so start looking early.
Applying from outside Spain
If you’re not in Spain yet, you can apply at the Spanish consulate that covers your place of residence. The consulate passes your application to the Comisaría General de Extranjería y Fronteras in Spain. Either you or an authorised representative must attend in person. One consulate says that, on average, the NIE is issued in about two weeks (Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores). Requirements and timings vary by consulate.
Step 4: Gather your documents
The official list (Ministerio del Interior) is short:
- The completed, signed EX-15 (original and copy).
- Your passport, original and a copy of the full passport. EU citizens can use their national ID card.
- Proof of the reason you need the NIE.
- The paid Modelo 790-012 receipt.
- If a representative applies for you: a power of attorney that expressly authorises them to submit the NIE application, plus their own ID.
Foreign public documents may need to be legalised or apostilled and translated into Spanish.
Step 5: Attend the appointment and collect your NIE
Arrive early with everything printed. The Policía Nacional should decide within five days of your application being registered. If you hear nothing in that time, the application is treated as refused (Sede electrónica de la Policía Nacional). In practice, how and when you receive the document depends on the office, so ask on the day.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying the wrong fee line on the 790-012 form. NIE assignment, TIE and EU certificates are separate items.
- Turning up without proof of your reason. “I’m moving here” is rarely enough on its own.
- Confusing the NIE with residence. An NIE doesn’t let you stay longer than your visa or permit allows.
- Leaving it too late. If you need the NIE to complete on a property or start a job, book first and gather the documents afterwards.
How Activities International can help in Alicante
You can do all of this yourself. If you’d rather not, we offer two options:
- NIE Appointment Booking Service – Spain (EUR 120): we secure the appointment, give you a personalised checklist, fill in your EX-15 and prepare the Modelo 790.
- NIE Booking with Personal Assistance (EUR 150): everything above, plus a team member who meets you at the appointment to translate and guide you.
Moving on a visa? Our Spain VisaReady document check reviews your whole file before you submit, and our Digital Nomad Visa service covers the full process from application to TIE. Once you have an address, the next step is usually the padrón: see our online Padrón registration.
Once the paperwork is done, meet people at our language exchanges: see our Communities page.
FAQ
How much does an NIE cost in 2026?
The government fee for NIE assignment is EUR 9.84, paid with Modelo 790 código 012 (Policía Nacional fee portal). Any agency or lawyer fees come on top.
How long does it take to get an NIE?
By law, the police should decide within five days of registering your application. Getting an appointment can take much longer. At consulates abroad, one consulate quotes about two weeks on average.
Can someone apply for my NIE for me?
Yes. A representative can apply in Spain or at a consulate if they hold a power of attorney that expressly covers the NIE application.
Does an NIE let me live or work in Spain?
No. The NIE is only an identification number. To live in Spain you need the right visa or residence status (or EU registration), and to work you need permission to work.
Does my NIE expire?
The number itself doesn’t change. It’s personal and unique to you, and the regulations require it to appear on every document Spain later issues to you, such as your TIE (Reglamento de Extranjería, art. 205, BOE). A TIE card does have an expiry date: it’s valid for as long as the permit it documents (Secretaría de Estado de Migraciones).
Last checked: October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Sources: Ministerio del Interior, Policía Nacional (sede electrónica and Tasa 790-012), Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Secretaría de Estado de Migraciones, Plataforma ONE, BOE (Real Decreto 1155/2024, Reglamento de Extranjería).
