NIE number Spain: how to get one to buy property

What is an NIE number? The NIE in Spain explained

If you are asking what is NIE in Spain, the short answer is: your personal foreigner's number. The NIE Spain meaning is literally "foreigner's identity number". The Número de Identidad de Extranjero is a personal number that Spain gives to foreigners who have economic, professional or social dealings in the country. It starts with a letter (X, Y or Z), then seven digits, then a check letter. The number is yours for life: if you sell and buy again twenty years later, it's the same NIE.

For property buyers it does two jobs. It identifies you in the notary's deed and the land registry, and it's your tax ID for transfer tax, IBI and non-resident income tax.

NIE vs TIE

If you later move to Spain, your TIE or EU registration certificate will carry the same NIE number. EU citizens who live in Spain get a green registration certificate instead of a TIE; that's a separate process too.

How to get an NIE number in Spain: two ways to apply

At a Spanish consulate abroad

If you want to know how to get a Spanish NIE number in the UK, this is the route: apply at the Spanish consulate that covers your address. For UK, Irish and US buyers this is often the easiest route. The consulate takes your application and passes it to the police in Spain. Each consulate has its own appointment system and document checklist, so read the page for the consulate that covers where you live. Processing typically takes longer than in Spain because the file travels, so start early.

At a police station in Spain

You apply in person at an Oficina de Extranjería or a police station that handles foreigner procedures. You need an appointment (cita previa), booked online through the government's appointment site. Choose the province, then the procedure for "asignación de NIE". In busy coastal provinces appointments can be scarce; they are released in batches, so checking at different times helps. Many offices issue the certificate the same day or within days.

Documents you need

1. Form EX-15, filled in and signed. Tick the reason: for a purchase, economic reasons.
2. Passport, original and a copy.
3. Proof of why you need it: for buying, a reservation or arras contract, a letter from your lawyer, or a mortgage offer.
4. Modelo 790 código 012, paid. Generate it on the Policía Nacional website (the option for "asignación de NIE"), then pay at a Spanish bank or online. At consulates, follow the consulate's own payment instructions.
5. Sometimes a passport photo, depending on the office.

Applying by power of attorney

If you can't travel, a lawyer or trusted person can apply in Spain on your behalf. They need a notarised power of attorney that covers the NIE application. If you sign it in the UK or US it needs a Hague apostille and usually a sworn translation into Spanish. Some offices also want a copy of your passport certified by the notary. Many buyers sign one power of attorney that covers the NIE, the purchase and opening a bank account.

How long it takes

There is no single official deadline. In practice, the slowest part is getting an appointment, not the decision. Plan for a few weeks from start to certificate, more through a consulate, and don't commit to a completion date until you have it or a confirmed appointment.

NIE certificate vs NIE number

What you receive is a certificate (a single sheet of paper) showing your name and number. The notary and bank will want to see it or a copy. The number itself does not expire. If an office insists on a recent certificate, you can request a new one with the same number.

NIE for buying property in Spain

• The notary can't sign the deed without it.
• You pay transfer tax (ITP) or VAT and AJD under it.
• Spanish banks need it for an account and for a mortgage.
• The council bills IBI and utilities are registered against it.

Getting it early keeps your purchase timetable in your hands. See the whole sequence in our buying guide, and if you've found a place, you can send us the address in our property check and we'll reply by email.