How to Get an NIE Number in Spain: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Updated: 13 October 2026

If you need to get an NIE number in Spain, first check whether you already have one and which procedure applies to your circumstances.

Some foreign nationals receive their NIE during an immigration procedure. Others need to request a separate assignment because they have economic, professional, social or other relevant connections with Spain.

This guide explains the standalone NIE application: choosing the submission route, preparing the documents, completing form EX-15, paying the government fee and obtaining the confirmation of your number.

A NIE identifies you before the Spanish authorities. It does not itself grant permission to live or work in Spain. If your aim is relocation, the appropriate visa or residence procedure must also be assessed.

What are you applying for?

The NIE, or Número de Identidad de Extranjero, is a personal identification number assigned to a foreign national.

A standalone application requests the assignment of that number. It is different from applying for a residence authorisation, obtaining a physical TIE or registering as an EU citizen.

Article 205 of the current Immigration Regulation establishes the framework for NIE assignment, including assignment during certain immigration procedures and assignment requested because of an individual’s connections with Spain.

Our guide to the differences between NIE, TIE and CUE explains how those documents and identifiers relate to each other.

Before booking, identify the result you need. An appointment for a physical residence card will not substitute for the procedure to request a standalone NIE.

The NIE application process at a glance

1. Check whether you already have a NIE

Before applying, review your existing Spanish documentation.

A NIE may already appear in immigration correspondence, an approval decision, a residence card or an EU registration certificate. Depending on the procedure, it may also have been assigned during visa preparation.

If you have previously dealt with Spanish authorities, check the documents from that process rather than assuming that you need a new number.

Where a NIE already exists, use that number in subsequent procedures. Losing the paper confirming it, changing your passport or moving to a different immigration category does not mean that you should request a second assignment.

If you cannot locate the number, ask the relevant authority or representative to confirm the existing record.

When might a standalone application be appropriate?

A separate application may be relevant where you need identification for a transaction or administrative activity connected with Spain and no number has already been assigned.

For example, the reason may concern a proposed property transaction or a professional or social matter requiring identification before the Spanish authorities.

Explain the actual purpose. A vague request to obtain a number “just in case” does not clearly communicate the connection on which the application relies.

If your main objective is moving to Spain, begin by checking the immigration route. Our Spanish visa application guide explains how to organise that preparation.

2. Choose where to apply

The Interior Ministry’s NIE guidance describes the available submission routes.

Applying in Spain

A standalone NIE can be requested personally through the relevant immigration office or National Police office. Applications in Spain can also be presented through a representative whose authority to act is properly established.

Confirm which office handles the procedure and what its presentation instructions require.

The standalone assignment procedure requires that the applicant is not in Spain in an irregular situation. The National Police’s official NIE procedure states this condition.

If your immigration status needs clarification, assess that issue before treating a NIE application as the solution. Obtaining an identifier does not regularise an unauthorised stay.

Applying from outside Spain

Applications made from outside Spanish territory are submitted through the Spanish consular office responsible for the applicant’s country and district of residence.

Consult that office’s NIE instructions before arranging an appointment. Its requirements may address proof of consular jurisdiction, the documents to bring, representation, payment and delivery of the result.

Follow the instructions for the NIE service. Do not assume that a visa appointment uses the same booking or submission process.

Applying through a representative

Representation can help with preparation and presentation where the procedure permits it.

Confirm the accepted evidence of authority to act, together with the identification documents required for both the applicant and representative.

Check these requirements before paying for notarisation, certification or other formalities. The receiving office needs documents that establish the authority required for the particular application.

3. Prepare the supporting documents

For a standard standalone application, prepare the following core items.

Identification

The Interior Ministry’s guidance lists the original and a copy of the complete valid passport or another accepted identity or travel document.

Follow the receiving office’s instructions about the document accepted in your circumstances and the copies required.

For a consular or representative application, check whether certified copies are needed and who may certify them. A scan prepared for an initial review may not meet the requirements for formal presentation.

Form EX-15

Use the current official form and complete the relevant sections accurately.

Keep the original and copies required for submission.

Explanation of the reason for applying

Communicate the economic, professional, social or other reason supporting the application.

Make the explanation specific enough to identify the activity connected with Spain. Where supporting evidence is requested, ensure that it corresponds with the purpose described.

For example, correspondence identifying a proposed transaction may help explain the request. The competent office assesses whether the evidence is sufficient.

Fee documentation

Prepare the appropriate payment form and proof of payment, following the instructions for your submission route.

Additional documents for the circumstances

Depending on the application, these may include:

• The representative’s identification.
• Evidence establishing the representative’s authority.
• Proof that the consular office is competent for your place of residence.
• Documents supporting the reason for requesting the number.
• Evidence relevant to your immigration situation in Spain.

Keep the checklist specific to the NIE application. Do not substitute a TIE or residence-application checklist.

4. Complete form EX-15 correctly

Download the official EX-15 application form. You can also locate it through the Ministry’s current forms catalogue.

The form covers NIE requests and certain certificates, so selecting the correct option matters.

Review each section:

Copy names and passport details carefully. Explain any difference between supporting records before submission.

Do not select a resident or non-resident certificate merely because those options appear on the same form. Confirm the request that corresponds to the result you need.

The form also includes an electronic-notification option. Check the access requirements before selecting it, and ensure that the designated person can receive and review the communications.

5. Pay the correct government fee

For NIE assignment requested by the individual, the state fee in Spain is €9.84 as of 13 October 2026.

The amount appears under item 5.12 of the official fee schedule in Order PJC/617/2025.

Use the Police’s Modelo 790, código 012 fee form and select the option for:

Asignación de Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE) a instancia del interesado.

Check the identification details, selected procedure and amount before payment. Retain the payment evidence required by the receiving office.

A different option on the form may concern a certificate, a physical card or another procedure. Those options are not interchangeable.

For applications through a consulate, follow its current payment instructions, including the accepted currency and payment method.

The government fee is separate from professional assistance, document certification or other services you choose to engage.

6. Arrange the correct appointment or submission

For an application in Spain, start with the official immigration appointment information and access page.

Follow the instructions for the relevant province and office. Select the procedure corresponding to NIE assignment; the available category names can vary.

Before confirming an appointment, check:

• That the office handles your intended procedure.
• That the applicant’s identity details are correct.
• That the appointment concerns the application being prepared.
• Which documents and copies must be brought.
• Whether attendance is by the applicant or an accepted representative.

Keep the appointment confirmation with the application file.

What if no appointments are available?

An unavailable appointment does not change the document requirements or make another appointment category suitable.

Use the official appointment help page for assistance. It identifies the 060 telephone service and the channel for technical incidents.

Questions about the office’s substantive requirements should be directed to the competent office rather than treated as a technical website problem.

If a transaction has a deadline, explain it when seeking assistance and allow time for both obtaining the appointment and completing the application.

7. Submit the application and keep the receipt

Present the application through the agreed route, with the identification, forms, supporting evidence and payment documentation required.

Keep copies of the material submitted and the registration or submission receipt provided.

If the office requests additional information, identify exactly what is missing and how it must be supplied. Keep the request together with the response and any proof of presentation.

For a consular application, follow the office’s instructions for receiving the result. For representation, agree how notifications and the confirmation of the assigned number will be forwarded to you.

How long does NIE assignment take?

The National Police procedure states a maximum five-day period for resolution and notification, counted from the application’s entry in the register of the authority competent to process it.

This is different from the total time needed to:

• Obtain an appointment.
• Prepare or correct documents.
• Transmit an application through a consulate.
• Receive the result through the applicable delivery channel.

Do not plan a transaction on the assumption that the number will be available five days after you first begin preparing.

The official procedure also provides for a negative outcome by administrative silence when the resolution deadline expires without a response. Silence should therefore not be treated as confirmation that a NIE has been assigned.

If the expected period passes without a result, use the submission evidence to request follow-up and assess the next step.

8. Check the assigned number and your personal details

When the result arrives, check the NIE and the identifying information recorded with it.

Keep a complete copy and provide the number consistently in later Spanish procedures.

If you identify an error, contact the issuing authority or representative to determine how the record should be corrected. Do not alter the official document yourself.

Remember that the assigned number and the document showing it are different things. A later request for updated documentary evidence does not mean that you need a new identification number.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying for another NIE without checking previous records.
• Treating NIE assignment as permission to reside or work.
• Selecting a TIE appointment for a standalone number application.
• Choosing the wrong request on EX-15.
• Giving an unclear or inconsistent reason for applying.
• Paying a fee for a different procedure.
• Using identification copies that do not meet the presentation requirements.
• Providing inaccurate notification details.
• Assuming that downloading forms completes the application.
• Treating the five-day resolution period as a guarantee of the whole timetable.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a NIE without living in Spain?

Yes. A standalone NIE can be requested because of a relevant connection with Spain without the number itself conferring residence.

If applying from abroad, use the competent Spanish consular route and follow its requirements.

Does my NIE expire?

The identification number is not subject to periodic renewal like a temporary residence authorisation or card.

A document showing the number, or the immigration status associated with it, may have separate requirements. Check what the organisation requesting evidence actually needs.

Can I work as soon as I receive my NIE?

Receiving a NIE does not establish permission to work.

Your nationality, immigration status and the rules governing the activity determine the relevant work rights and obligations.

Can the whole application be completed online?

The Police’s published standalone procedure provides for presentation in person, including through accepted representation.

Online access to forms and appointment booking does not by itself complete the application. Confirm any available submission arrangements with the competent authority for your case.

Do I need a separate NIE before applying for residence?

Not necessarily. NIE assignment can take place during an immigration procedure.

Check the requirements for your specific route and whether a number has already been assigned before arranging a standalone application.

Can Nodisea assist with the procedure?

Nodisea can assess the relevant procedure, help organise the documents and explain the assistance available for your circumstances.

The proposed service should clarify preparation, representation where applicable, fees and follow-up.

Legal review: Francisco Javier Theuer Carmona, immigration lawyer and member of the Granada Bar Association (ICAGR 7984). 

Last reviewed: 13 October 2026

Get help with your NIE application in Spain

Begin with your current location, nationality, existing immigration documents and the reason you need a NIE.

Our immigration services in Spain explain the procedures Nodisea assists with. You can also book a free immigration consultation to discuss the appropriate next step.

A clear assessment at the beginning helps you choose the correct application, prepare the evidence and coordinate the process with your plans.

Official sources

• Royal Decree 1155/2024: current Immigration Regulation, including Article 205 on NIE assignment
• Interior Ministry: NIE requirements, documents and submission routes
• National Police: NIE assignment requested by the applicant
• Ministry of Inclusion: official EX-15 application form
• Ministry of Inclusion: current immigration application forms
• National Police: Modelo 790, código 012 fee form
• Order PJC/617/2025: official fee schedule, including NIE assignment
• Public Administration: immigration appointment information and access
• Public Administration: appointment help and technical assistance