What is the NIE in Spain?
The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is the unique identification number Spain assigns to every foreigner with financial, professional or social ties to the country. It is the master key to almost every administrative step.
What you need it for
You need a NIE to rent an apartment in practice (most landlords and agencies ask for it), to open a Spanish bank account, sign a work contract, pay taxes, set up utilities, buy property, and register your address (empadronamiento). Your NIE also functions as your tax ID (NIF) in Spain.
NIE vs TIE
The NIE is a number, permanent for life. The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is the physical residence card issued to non-EU residents, and it carries your NIE number on it. EU citizens get a green certificate instead of a TIE. The number itself never expires, even if you leave Spain and return years later.
How to get one
You apply in person, either at a Spanish consulate before you arrive or at a police foreigners' office (Oficina de Extranjería) once in Spain, using form EX-15 (non-EU) or EX-18 (EU), with your passport, a justification, and the paid Tasa 790 (around €12). The appointment (cita previa) is the real bottleneck in big cities.
Want the full walkthrough?
This is the short version. For documents, consulate jurisdictions, timelines, costs and appointment tactics, read our complete NIE step-by-step guide.
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Related
- Renting in Barcelona: your legal rights as a tenant
- Documents you need to rent an apartment in Spain
General information, not legal advice. References are to the Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos (LAU, Ley 29/1994) and the Ley 12/2023 for the right to housing, as in force in 2026.