NIE NUMBER REQUEST (Foreign Identification Number)

The NIE is the identification number assigned to foreign citizens in Spain. This number is essential for carrying out various activities—such as buying or selling real estate, working, starting a business, contracting services, or accessing the public healthcare system.

There are different ways to obtain this identification, depending on your status—whether you are a permanent resident in Spain or not, and whether you are from an EU member state or a third country.

N.I.E. NUMBER ASSIGNMENT

Obtaining the NIE is the first step toward registering in Spain—and does not require permanent residence. It is necessary for any foreigner who intends to undertake any economic, professional, or social activity in Spain while maintaining tax residence abroad. 

EUROPEAN UNION CITIZEN REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE

EU citizens planning to reside in Spain for more than three months must obtain the EU Citizen Registration Certificate. This certificate recognizes them as residents and allows registration in the Foreigner’s Register. 

As a Spanish resident, you gain access to social benefits such as public healthcare and education. To qualify, you must demonstrate one of the following:

• Employment—either self-employed or salaried.
• Sufficient personal resources or a pension from your country of origin, plus public or private health insurance.
• Student status with valid enrollment in a Spanish educational institution; additionally, you must have health insurance and a signed declaration confirming sufficient means for subsistence.
• Family ties—for example, spouse or direct descendant (up to 21 years old) of an EU citizen who meets one of the above conditions.

FOREIGN IDENTITY CARD (T.I.E.)

Third-country nationals (non-EU) who stay in Spain for more than six months (or 183 days per year) are required to obtain the T.I.E., which grants them legal permanent residency status.

To obtain the T.I.E., they must present a residence permit or visa valid for six months or longer, demonstrating compliance with the necessary legal requirements for staying in Spain.

The visa—required before applying for the T.I.E.—must be requested at the relevant Spanish consulate and must justify the reasons for staying in Spain (e.g., economic purposes, non-profit work, family reunification, etc.).