The complete guide
Moving to the Costa del Sol: the complete guide
The whole journey, from your first question to the day you get the keys: procedures, budget, housing, healthcare, schools and taxes.
Administration
The NIE: what it's for and how to get one
Your identification number in Spain. What it unlocks, who needs to apply, the forms and the traps to avoid.
What is the NIE?
The NIE, or Número de Identidad de Extranjero, is the identification number given in Spain to anyone of foreign nationality. It's roughly the equivalent of a personal tax number: it identifies you to the administration, to banks, to notaries and to an employer.
In practice, without a NIE you can do almost nothing official in Spain. It's the very first step to set in motion, before you even start looking for somewhere to live.
What is the NIE actually used for?
- Opening a Spanish bank account in your name
- Signing an employment contract or registering as self-employed
- Signing a long-term rental contract
- Buying a property and signing at the notary
- Paying tax and declaring your income in Spain
- Registering a vehicle, taking out insurance, connecting water and electricity
Do EU citizens need a NIE?
Yes. EU citizenship gives you the right to move and settle, but it doesn't exempt you from being identified for tax and administrative purposes. Two situations are distinguished:
| Your situation | What you apply for | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| You don't live in Spain but need to act here (buying a property, an inheritance, setting up a company) | A non-resident NIE | A NIE number evidenced by a document issued by the police |
| You're settling in Spain for more than three months | The EU citizen registration certificate | A certificate, often called the “green card”, which contains your NIE |
Confusing these two procedures is one of the most common mistakes, and it's expensive in time: you turn up at the counter with the wrong form, and you have to book another appointment.
How does the application work?
- Get an appointment. Everything goes through the cita previa, booked online. Slots are released irregularly and disappear very fast: this is the main bottleneck in the whole procedure.
- Fill in the right form for your situation (non-resident or EU citizen).
- Pay the administrative fee and keep the payment receipt, which you'll be asked for at the counter.
- Gather the supporting documents: valid identity document and a copy, plus the document that justifies your application.
- Turn up for the appointment, on time, with a complete file.
Worth checking when you actually apply
Spanish administrative procedures change, and practice varies from one province and one town hall to the next. This guide sets out the general framework and the points to watch; it doesn't replace checking the requirements in force at the time of your application. That's precisely what we do for our clients before every step.
The mistakes we see most often
- Waiting until you've arrived to deal with it. Appointments are sometimes booked several weeks ahead depending on the period and the province.
- Choosing the wrong form between a non-resident NIE and a registration certificate.
- Arriving without proof of your reason. The NIE isn't issued “just in case”: you have to show why you need it.
- Overpaying an intermediary for a procedure that, well prepared, isn't that heavy. If your case is simple, we'll tell you.
- Forgetting to apply for the children's NIE when the situation calls for it.
And after the NIE?
The NIE makes you identifiable; empadronamiento makes you officially resident at an address. The two go together, and it's that pair which unlocks the rest: the bank, public healthcare, school places and your residence certificate.
These two steps form the foundation of our Welcome Package: we prepare the file, secure the appointment and come with you to the counter.
Frequently asked questions about the NIE
Is the NIE permanent?
Yes. Once assigned, your NIE number stays the same for life. It's the document it appears on that may have a limited period of validity, not the number itself.
Does an EU citizen need a NIE?
Yes, as soon as it's a matter of acting economically in Spain: opening an account, signing a lease, buying a property, working or paying tax. Being an EU citizen doesn't exempt you from the NIE, it simply changes the procedure: beyond three months of residence, an EU national applies for a registration certificate, which contains their NIE.
Can you get a NIE from abroad?
Yes, the application can be made at the Spanish consulate covering your place of residence. Timescales and slots vary considerably; in many cases doing it in Spain is quicker, provided you can get an appointment.
What do you need to bring to the appointment?
The completed application form, your valid passport or identity card with a copy, proof of payment of the fee, and a document evidencing the reason for your application (a deposit contract, a job offer, a rental contract and so on). An incomplete file means a wasted appointment and several more weeks of waiting.
Read next
The other guides
Administration
Empadronamiento: your official address in Spain
Registration on your town hall's roll. Why it unlocks healthcare, schooling and your residence certificate.
Welcome Package
Shall we handle your NIE?
File prepared, appointment secured, someone beside you at the counter. That's the heart of the Welcome Package.