How to obtain a NIE in Spain when you are a foreigner?

Apartments in Empuriabrava and on the Costa Brava are a dream, but for foreigners, acquiring them involves a certain number of steps. The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero, or Identification Number for Foreigners) is a mandatory identifier for all foreigners residing or carrying out administrative procedures in Spain. This document is necessary for any real estate project in Spain, as it conditions the purchase, rental, and all formalities following the acquisition.

What is the NIE and why is it indispensable in Spain?

The NIE is your identification number when you are a foreigner in Spain. It is a unique alphanumeric code composed of a letter (X, Y, or Z), followed by seven digits, and then a final control letter. This number is assigned to you for life and never changes, regardless of changes in your personal or professional situation on Spanish territory.

Why is the NIE indispensable for your real estate project?

For any real estate purchase project in Spain, the NIE may be required. Without this number, you will not be able to:

• Sign a sales agreement or a deed of purchase before a notary

• Open a Spanish bank account necessary for the transfer of funds

• Carry out tax procedures related to the acquisition

• Subscribe to electricity, water, or telecommunications contracts

• Declare and pay your local taxes such as IBI (property tax)

Find out about the different options available depending on your situation and the deadlines to anticipate to secure your acquisition in the best conditions.

Other situations requiring the NIE

This number may also be requested in the context of a long-term rental, the creation or takeover of a business in Spain, hiring an employee or signing an employment contract, but also in case of registration with the Spanish social security, import or export of goods, or participation in public tenders.

To know: the NIE does not replace your identity card or passport. It serves exclusively to identify you to Spanish administrations and organizations for all your administrative, fiscal and legal procedures.

Procedures to obtain the NIE from abroad

For international residents, the NIE application should be addressed to the nearest Spanish consulate to avoid traveling to Spain and calmly prepare your file from home. Check the website of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC) to find out which consulate corresponds to your place of residence.

Available slots for appointments fill up quickly in major consulates. Waiting times can be several weeks to several months depending on the period. Remember to start these procedures well in advance. You can also apply directly in Spain, at a police station or an Oficina de Extranjería, provided you make a prior appointment on the official website. Waiting times vary by region but are generally shorter than in foreign consulates.

Required documents and forms to prepare

Form EX-15: your official request

The EX-15 form can be downloaded for free from the official website of the Spanish Ministry of Interior. This form must be filled out in Spanish, with precise information regarding your full identity, current address and the reason for your request. Prepare two copies: one original and one copy for your personal archives.

Form 790 código 12: payment of administrative fees

Form 790 código 12 allows you to pay the processing fees for your request, amounting to 12 euros in 2025. This payment is generally made in a Spanish bank or via certain authorized online platforms. Carefully keep the proof of payment, as you will need to present it when submitting your file.

Identity documents and supporting papers

Your passport or national identity card must be valid. Prepare the original as well as two legible photocopies of all pages. For a real estate purchase project in Empuriabrava or Roses, you will need to provide a sales agreement or a signed purchase promise. In the case of creating a business, a business plan translated into Spanish will be necessary.

Translations and apostilles: ensuring document validity

Certain documents issued outside of Spain must be translated by an officially recognized translator. The apostille, in accordance with the Hague Convention, authenticates foreign public documents. Birth certificates, proof of address or company documents must also be translated.

Your real estate purchase in Empuriabrava and Roses

Since 1975, our real estate agency in Empuriabrava has been supporting international buyers in their procedures. Real estate in Roses and Empuriabrava is attractive: apartments and houses are comfortable and ideally located, and the living environment is pleasant with sun and sea. But without a NIE, no real estate transaction can be finalized in Spain. This tax identification number is mandatory when visiting the notary for the final deed of sale (escritura de compraventa). It also allows you to open a Spanish bank account, essential for direct debiting community charges, IBI (property tax), and utility bills. Banks in the Alt Empordà region systematically require this document for any foreign client.

For buying a second home in Empuriabrava or Roses, a non-resident NIE is sufficient. The NIE number itself remains valid indefinitely, but the temporary white document expires after 90 days. On the other hand, if you plan to stay for more than 90 days in Spanish territory, you will need to apply for a residence certificate and obtain a green NIE format.

After acquiring your property, the NIE is used in several local administrative formalities. Registration in the Padrón municipal of Empuriabrava or Roses, which certifies your residence, requires presenting this document and subsequently facilitates access to municipal services. Thanks to our relationships with local notaries and administrations, we support you in obtaining your NIE and coordinate all formalities related to your real estate acquisition in the region.

Practical advice and errors to avoid in your NIE process

Anticipate administrative difficulties with our local expertise

Incomplete or incorrectly filled forms delay obtaining the NIE: a simple oversight on model EX-15 or form 790 can lead to an immediate refusal. Verify this information before your appointment.

Deadlines vary depending on the procedure chosen. Through a Spanish consulate, count between 2 and 8 weeks for an appointment, then maximum 2 weeks to receive the NIE. In Spain, after submitting the file, it takes about fifteen days for the NIE to be generated, and 2 to 4 weeks to receive it. Even with an appointment and correct documents, you will have to pay the tax at a bank and then return to obtain the NIE.

Recourse in case of refusal or complications

A NIE refusal can occur for several reasons:

1. Insufficient economic justification (for a purchase, the promise of sale must be clear)

2. Translated documents not certified by a sworn translator

3. Non-compliant photocopies (some offices require certified copies)

In these situations, requirements must be clarified and forms resubmitted.