NIE Number

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The NIE Number is a tax identification number in Spain, known in Spanish as the “Numero de Identificatión de Extranjero”. The NIE Number is issued by the National Police of Spain (National Police) and in accordance to Spanish law is required for the purchase or sale of any real estate, vehicle, or boat within Spain. There are many other transactions that require the parties involved to possess an NIE Number. The NIE Number itself is issued on a standard A4 page, with the recipients full name (as written on the passport used during the application process), their place of birth, their nationality, and the number itself, along with a stamp and signature provided by the National Police. The document is often used as a form of identification, and in many cases the original document is required (a copy is not sufficient). Once issued an NIE number, it will never change, irrelevant of marital status, name changes or residence status. The NIE Number is a national number, and therefore the location of application is irrelevant as the number can be used throughout the whole of Spain and the Canary and Balearic Islands and Melilla.

1 History
2 Obtaining an NIE Number
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] History

Although largely ignored by the vast majority of foreigners up until the year 2005, the National Tax Identification number of Spain has been a requirement for all individuals conducting any type of business within Spain that involves purchasing or selling any items. The Spanish government have linked the NIE Number to various other departments such as the Social Security and residence (e.g. including the NIE Number on the tarjeta de residencia - residence card).

[edit] Obtaining an NIE Number

The process of obtaining an NIE number can be quite complex or simple, and depending on the urgency (e.g. purchasing a property), the choice of how to process the application must be made wisely.

Note the following application methods

[edit] Apply in Person

To apply for an NIE Number in person, you must present yourself at a local branch of the National Police of Spain. The exact process varies from one branch to another but generally they follow the following steps:

a. Download and print an NIE Number application form – this can be found
   at the Ministry of the Interior website at www.mir.es
b. Complete the application form
c. Take the form, along with your passport (and a photocopy of your 
   passport) to a local branch of the National Police.
d. When you arrive at the National Police station, you will need to take 
   a number and stand in the queue.  Their offices are only open until 
   14:00 and it is recommended to get there very early as to get a number
   (e.g. 6:00 a.m.) especially during the summer months.
e. Submit the application, and be sure to collect a receipt for your 
   application, the administration of the National Police should inform you
   when your NIE Number document will be ready to be collected (normally 
   6-12 weeks from the date of application).  
f. Return to the National Police station where you made the application 
   in the time-frame suggested.  (It is wise to add an additional week, 
   just to be sure it will be ready by then) and queue to get a number 
   again.
g. Present your receipt at the counter and you should be given your NIE 
   Number document.

[edit] Apply through a consulate

It is possible to apply for an NIE Number from outside of Spain via a Spanish consulate in your area. This process varies from one consulate to another, but it is advised to call and confirm the process and expected timelines, the following is an average example of the process:

a. Call your local consulate and make an appointment, be sure to be clear
   that you are applying for an NIE Number.
b. Bring with you your passport, a photocopy of your passport, two 
   passport-sized photos and the application form typed (not 
   hand-written) – this can be found at the Ministry of the Interior 
   website at www.mir.es. You will also need to bring with you 
   additional documentation if you are a non-EU citizen.
c. The consulate acts merely as a postal service and will not be 
   able to provide further information about the process of your 
   NIE Number application.  They will forward your application to 
   Madrid, and then onto a National Police station within Spain.
d. When the National Police have received, and approved the 
   application, they will forward the NIE Number document to the 
   address provided in the application.  Note that in most cases 
   this must be a Spanish address.
e. The process from application submission till receiving the NIE
   Number document back in the home country of application is 
   generally 8 to 14 weeks.

[edit] Apply through a solicitor or Gestoría

This is the most common and fastest way of obtaining an NIE Number document. An individual may apply for an NIE Number from anywhere in the world through a solicitor or Gestoría. Although the process varies from one company to the next, the following is generally the process:

a. Contact a solicitor that specialises in the procurement of 
   NIE Numbers
b. Grant the solicitor with a Power of Attorney stipulating 
   the right to apply on your behalf for this number
c. Ensure that the Power of Attorney document (accompanied by
   a passport photocopy) is notarised and legalised (generally 
   this involves obtaining the Apostille for the documents and 
   many notaries can provide this as an additional service).
d. Submit the notarised, legalised documents to the company
e. The process will be handled for you, and the company will 
   return the NIE Number document to you.
f. The more reputable solicitors will be able to procure the 
   NIE Number document on your behalf within 2 weeks from receipt 
   of your documentation.