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NIE number in Spain

 
FAQs:
What is a NIE number?
Do I need a NIE number?
How do I get a NIE number?
How long does it take to get a NIE number?

NIE stands for Número de Identificación de Extranjero. This is the name of the identification number for everyone who is not a Spanish citizen. Both EU citizens and non-EU citizens get issued a NIE. The NIE consists of an 'X' followed by 7 or 8 digits then another letter.

The NIE number is needed in order to file taxes, buy property, establish a business, open a bank account, and for almost all other forms you fill out. When forming a company, everyone who will be directors and shareholders of the company will need a NIE, as a result of the Fraud Prevention Act which came into force on February 2005. This is the first step in forming a company or in buying a shelf company. Obtaining a NIE number is a simple procedure for citizens of the European Union. For others, it can be more difficult.

If you are outside of Spain, you can get a NIE number from the nearest Spanish Consulate. If you are in Spain, you can apply to the Oficina de Extranjeros, if one is nearby, otherwise at the nearest police station (Comisaría de Policía). See the list of Oficinas de Extranjeros in Spain and list of Spanish Consulates. You should bring the following documents:

• your passport (and proof that you are in Spain legally)
• documentation that justifies why you need a NIE number: this might include Relaciones con la Administración Tributaria, Registros de la propiedad o Mercantiles, Notarios, Tráfico, Seguridad Social, Instituto Nacional de Empleo, etc.

You then fill out the application form (EX-14). On this form, you state the reason that you are applying for a NIE number. See a sample application form (July, 2008).

Note that the Oficinas de Extranjeros are administered locally: there may be differences in the way each office works.

If you are European, you should be issued a NIE number at the time of your application. Otherwise, it could take anywhere from a few days to a few months. Note that for bureaucratic issues regarding a federal agency, the length of time to resolve the issue is standard throughout Spain. However, the Oficinas de Extranjeros is a local agency so the time can vary widely from one office to another. A lawyer who knows the employees at the agency can sometimes push to get the job done more quickly.