NIE Issues.

NIE is an abbreviation for Número de identidad de extranjero, this is a document that is issued by the Spanish authorities and is a fiscal identification number for non Spanish (‘foreigners’) people. The NIE is a requirement for anyone purchasing or selling a property in Spain whether resident or non resident and for anyone who is to lease a property, find employment or start work in Spain – it is used by the various government departments to keep a track on taxation due, you will also be asked for this number by utility service providers. If you are planning to purchase a property in Spain you will need to makle provisions to have this by the time you have your appointment to sign the sale deed – Escritura - at the office of the Notary.

How to apply for a NIE – EU Nationals.

Apply in person in Spain
Apply in person via a Spanish Consulate in your home country – or wherever you reside.
Authorise a third party to apply for the NIE on your behalf – via a power of attorney - poder.

NB. Non EU Nationals must apply in person in Spain or at a Spanish Consulate if outside of Spain.

Apply in person for your NIE number in Spain.

This is a relatively straightforward process, if you have all the documentation together and have some command of the Spanish language -you should present yourself at the local police station – comisaría de policía- that has a department dealing with ‘foreigners’ – oficinas de extranjeros – with all your paperwork . There is nearly always a huge queue for this service so be prepared for a long wait – also be prepared, if you are not at the police station early enough to find yourself in the position of being told to return the next day – even if you have been waiting patiently for some time. The offices close promptly and it matters not that there are people who have not been dealt with!

Some autonomous communities now charge a fee for issuing the NIE certificates, you will be given a payment form at the police station and you will have to pay the fee at a designated bank, the payment form will be receipted – this proof of payment* will be required to be produced at the time you collect your NIE certificate. You can also apply at the local tax office of the region where you intend to be domiciled, this may be a faster option for you, it also alerts the tax authorities in Spain to your fiscal position immediately. The documentation you need for your application:

Your original passport, plus a good photocopy of the main page – this is the page that contains all the details about you. please note that UK passport holders are required now to produce (at some police stations) a copy ALSO of the first 2 pages of the passport, as this determines whether the holder of the passport is a resident of The Channel Islands (non EU).
If you are a Non EU national you will need additionally to produce evidence that you have entered Spain legally -such as the document completed for the Spanish customs -declaración de entrada.
2 copies of the appropriate form for the NIE application – Solicitud de NIE. – download here – pdf format.
Although NOT generally required take 2 passport size colour photos
Although NOT generally required take your contract to purchase or lease contract or employment contract with you – in case you are asked to justify why you are applying for the NIE.
RETURN in person – or give the receipted documents to someone who will act on your behalf – to the police station at a later date – be guided by the officials who deal with your request. The time to prepare such documentation varies enormously throughout Spain – in Oveida Asturias for example you can apply for and receive the NIE within the hour but in Tortosa Cataluñia you will have to wait for approximately 2 weeks. Remember to return with your receipted copy of the NIE application and (if you had to pay a fee) the receipted payment form (see above*)

Apply in person via a Spanish Consulate outside of Spain.

You will need to telephone the Consulate and make an appointment beforehand, to avoid wasted journeys – e.g. appropriate staff absent, only deal with such matters on certain days etc. You have to attend in person to deal with the application at the Consulate, who in these matters merely act as a representative of the Spanish government and after posting off your application to Madrid will have no further input into the matter, so if you have any problems you will need to deal direct with Madrid – Comisaría General de Extranjería y Documentación, Dirección General de Policia, C/ General Pardiñas, 90, 28006 Madrid, España. – If you need to contact the Embassy in Madrid at a later date the telephone number is +34 91 322 68 24/26. The documentation you need for your application:

Your original passport, plus a good photocopy of the main page – this is the page that contains all the details about you. please note that UK passport holders are required now to produce (by some authorities) a copy ALSO of the first 2 pages of the passport, as this determines whether the holder of the passport is a resident of The Channel Islands (non EU).
2 copies of the appropriate form for the NIE application – Solicitud de NIE. – download here – pdf format. Complete these but DO NOT SIGN them as you have to sign these in front of the Consular officials.
Although NOT generally required take 2 passport size colour photos
Although NOT generally required take your contract to purchase or lease contract or employment contract with you – in case you are asked to justify why you are applying for the NIE.
A self addressed envelope to you at an address you have in Spain – this could be your lawyers office – or maybe the company you are dealing with in the purchase of the property. Generally the Embassy in Madrid does not mail NIE’s outside of Spain – please check on this when you are with the Consulate – as how they deal with this type of administrative procedure changes on a regular basis!
An envelope addressed to: Comisaría General de Extranjería y Documentación, Dirección General de Policia, C/ General Pardiñas, 90, 28006 Madrid, España. – If you need to contact the Embassy in Madrid at a later date the telephone number is +34 91 322 68 24/26.
You may be charged a fee and generally Consulates do not accept credit cards so take cash or a cheque – be guided by official here.

Authorise a Third Party to apply for your NIE on your behalf.

Spanish law dictates that as from 1st January 2004, any ‘foreigner’ wishing to obtain a Número de identidad de extranjero, has to apply in person, unless they authorise a third person to apply on their behalf. This authorisation will be in the form of a specific power of attorney – poder- and has to be notarised. Here you have three choices;

Go to a Notary in Spain and authorise- grant a specific power of attorney- to another person to apply for the NIE on your behalf
Go to the Spanish Consulate in your home country and grant this power of attorney to a third party to apply for the NIE on your behalf
Go to a Notary in your home country – outside of Spain and if NOT in Spanish you will also need (i) Hague Apostille – An Apostille Certificate is an official certificate issued to documents so they will be recognised in member states without further Legalisation and (ii) Have an official translation of the Power of Attorney into Spanish. You will have to pay for (i) the power of attorney (ii) the Hague Apostille (iii) the official translation.

The person to whom you gave granted the power of attorney will then require the same documentation as if you were attending yourself to apply for the NIE.

Lost NIE certificate

If you have lost or misplaced your NIE certificate then to get a duplicate is exactly the same procedure as the initial application. Be careful to enter the exact same detail as on your original application to avoid a duplicate number being issued.

If you have an Escritura – title deed- to a property you have purchased in Spain in recent years that should hold a photocopy of your original certificate.

Spanish Property Check can apply for a NIE on your behalf. Contact Us at spc@irl353.com

Spanish Property Check