What is the NIE?
The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is the tax and identification number assigned to every foreigner who needs to interact with Spanish authorities, enter into contracts, or pay taxes in Spain. It is a number, not a card — it identifies you in the Spanish system permanently.
You need a NIE for almost everything formal in Spain:
- Opening a bank account
- Signing a rental contract or property purchase
- Registering a car
- Filing taxes or registering as autónomo
- Applying for a residence permit
- Employment contracts (Social Security registration)
What is the TIE?
The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is the physical biometric card issued to non-EU residents with a valid Spanish residence permit. It contains your photo, fingerprints, NIE number and residence permit details.
The TIE is not the same as the NIE — it is a physical document that proves your residence status. You need to renew it when your residence permit is renewed.
EU citizens do not get a TIE — they receive the Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión (EU Registration Certificate) instead, which is a document rather than a card.
Who Gets What
- EU citizens: Apply for NIE + EU Registration Certificate (at Extranjería or Police station)
- Non-EU residents (visa/permit holders): Receive NIE as part of the permit process + TIE card
- Non-EU non-residents (one-off transaction): Apply for NIE without residence (e.g. property purchase) — valid for 3 months and renewable
How to Get a NIE from Outside Spain
If you are outside Spain and need a NIE (for a property purchase, for example), you can apply at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence. You need:
- Form EX-15 (Solicitud de NIE)
- Valid passport + copy
- Reason for the NIE (property purchase agreement, job offer, etc.)
- Consulate appointment
How to Get a NIE in Spain (EU Citizens and Non-Residents)
You apply at your local Extranjería (Oficina de Extranjeros) or National Police station with a foreign nationals unit. You need an appointment — the infamous cita previa.
Documents needed:
- Form EX-15
- Valid passport + copy
- Justification document (rental contract, job offer, purchase agreement)
- Modelo 790 Código 012 fee receipt (paid at a bank before the appointment)
How to Get the Cita Previa
The cita previa (appointment) is obtained through the Spanish government's appointment portal: sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es under "Extranjería" → "Asignación de NIE".
In major cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia), appointments are extremely scarce. They are released at midnight and can disappear within seconds. Strategies that work:
- Check at midnight and early morning — new slots are sometimes added
- Try surrounding provinces or police stations outside the city centre
- Use appointment monitoring tools (with caution — some are unreliable)
- Some NIEs can be processed through gestorías with their own appointment access
How to Get the TIE
Once your residence permit is approved, you need to apply for the physical TIE card at the police station (comisaría) in your province. This is a separate appointment from the permit application.
Documents for the TIE appointment:
- Passport + copy
- Permit approval notice (resolución)
- Modelo 790 Código 012 fee receipt (approximately €16)
- One recent passport-size photograph (white background)
- Completed form EX-17
The TIE is issued at the same police station 1–4 weeks after the appointment. I coordinate the TIE appointment and process as part of The Complete and From A-to-Z packages.
What if You've Lost Your TIE?
You need to apply for a replacement (duplicado). The process involves a police report (denuncia) for lost/stolen documents, and then a new TIE appointment with the same documentation as the original application. I manage this process as a standalone service or as part of an ongoing engagement.