If you're a foreigner, you need an identification number to be able to carry out many procedures in Spain. But what is this famous NIE and how do you get it? N1 Immo tells you more about this document and how you can obtain it with or without our agency.
The NIE in a nutshell
The Foreign Identification Number or NIE is one of the essential steps to take if you want to buy a property in Spain. This is your recognition number in Spain. The NIE is essential for all administrative and tax purposes. To obtain it, you need to apply to the French consulate or the Spanish police station. In Spain, the NIE is simply the fiscal identity number for foreigners, issued by the Directorate General of the Police. This number is unique to each person and will be mentioned in most official, public and administrative documents. This número de identidad del extranjero is also required to open a bank account.
How to apply for NIE ?2019
The NIE in Spain is issued by 2 bodies: the Police Nacionale or the Spanish Consulate closest to your home. But you need to be very careful, because the rules for obtaining it vary from one city to another. You need to be well informed before applying. For example, if you live in Paris or Brussels in Belgium, you'll need to make an appointment just to hand in your documents.
Once the formalities have been completed, it will take between 3 and 8 weeks if you go through the Spanish consulates in France. But if you apply at a police station in Spain, you'll immediately be issued with an identification number. In Spain, this number is now valid for more than 3 months, and does not commit you to anything. You can also apply for it by post. However, the second method is strongly discouraged, as you won't be notified if the post gets lost or if the documents aren't filled in correctly. As a result, you won't get your NIE in time.
Please note that the application procedure is different for those wishing to live in Spain for longer than 3 months, for those planning to retire or even for those wishing to work and live here year-round. In this case, the application must be made on the spot in Spain.1
Alternatively, our agency can take care of all the formalities for you, with just a notarized copy of your current identity document. The fee is 135 Euros per person. Contact our estate agency in Roses on the Costa Brava.