Applying for a NIE number: how it really works

Why nothing happens without a NIE

The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is your tax identification number as a foreigner. The notary will refuse to execute a purchase deed without the buyer's NIE, a Spanish bank will not open an account without one, and you cannot even pay the transfer tax — 9% ITP in the Comunidad Valenciana since June 2026 — without it. It is therefore step one of the buying process, before you make an offer at all. Buying jointly? Then both buyers need their own NIE.

The three routes

Route	Timescale (indicative)	Cost (indicative)
1. In Spain: Policía Nacional / Oficina de Extranjería	Days to 2 weeks after your appointment; getting the appointment itself can take weeks	±€10 fee
2. Spanish consulate in your home country	Several weeks to a few months	±€10 fee
3. Gestor or lawyer under power of attorney (poder)	2–6 weeks, without you having to travel	€100–€300 plus notary costs for the power of attorney

Route 1 is the quickest if you are in Spain anyway. You complete form EX-15, pay the fee in advance at a bank using form 790 código 012 (±€10) and turn up for your cita previa. In fairness: the online appointment system in Alicante province is regularly fully booked, and without Spanish you will not always manage at the counter.

Route 2, through a Spanish consulate at home, sounds convenient but is usually the slowest. Expect weeks and sometimes months — too long if you already have a property in mind.

Route 3 is the practical choice if you would rather not travel: you sign a power of attorney (poder, with apostille) before a notary or solicitor at home, and a gestor or lawyer handles the rest. It costs more and saves a great deal of hassle. It is often combined with the lawyer who will be checking your nota simple and the rest of the paperwork anyway.

Which documents do you need?

• A valid passport plus a copy (sometimes of every page — check in advance)
• A completed EX-15 form
• Proof of payment of the fee (form 790 código 012)
• A reason for the application: an intended property purchase is sufficient; a reservation contract or letter of intent helps

Why starting early pays off

The classic mistake: find the dream house first, then sort out the NIE. A reservation contract typically sets a deadline of a few weeks to the purchase deed — exactly the window in which a slow NIE application lands you in trouble. So put the NIE at the top of your list, alongside opening a bank account and, if relevant, your mortgage application. To work out what the whole purchase will cost, use our calculator.

What the NIE is not

The NIE is not a residence permit and not residency. It does not automatically make you liable for tax in Spain and it commits you to nothing. If you stay longer than three months at a time, a separate registration applies — a different process, with different consequences. More things to watch out for are in our overview of pitfalls.