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This guide covers the NIE assignment procedure only. A NIE is a number, not residence permission, and your local office may ask for evidence of your stated reason.
At a glance
- Form
- EX-15, with the Tasa Modelo 790 code 012 receipt.
- Where
- Oficina de Extranjería or police station in Spain; Spanish consulate abroad.
- Housing
- Not listed as a requirement on the police page; confirm with your office.
Your checklist
First steps
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The NIE follows your reason, not your address
The police page for the NIE assignment lists the application form and the fee receipt as the documents. It asks you to state why you need the number, and it does not list a rental contract as a requirement.
That is different from saying an office will never ask for evidence. Local offices may expect proof of the reason you give, which for some people is a lease, for others a job offer or a purchase deed. Confirm with the office handling your appointment.
What the NIE does not do
A NIE is an identification number for foreigners. It is not an immigration permit and does not register you as a resident. It appears on the foreigner ID card (TIE) and on the EU citizen registration certificate, but those are different documents with their own procedures.
Non-EU nationals need to deal with immigration rules separately, and EU citizens have their own registration step. Use the EU and non-EU move guides for that part.
When an address starts to matter
Once you live somewhere, the Padrón (municipal register) needs an address and proof of occupancy. Many later steps, including some certificates and service applications, ask for either the NIE, the Padrón certificate or both.
If you have a NIE but no address yet, you can usually prepare the rest of your paperwork, then register on the Padrón when the housing is settled.
Common questions
Do I need a rental contract to get a NIE?
The police page lists form EX-15 and the fee receipt, and asks you to state your reason. It does not list a rental contract. The office may still ask for evidence of the reason you state.
Can I request a NIE from outside Spain?
Yes. The page says applications from abroad are made through a Spanish consular office.
How long does the decision take?
The page says the decision must be issued within five days of the request reaching the competent office, and that silence counts as a rejection. Appeals are possible within one month (reposición) or two months (contencioso-administrativo).
Does a NIE let me live or work in Spain?
No. It is an identification number. Residence and work permission depend on your nationality and situation.
Official sources
Read this first
- Spanish National Police: NIE assignment procedureWho can apply, the form and fee, where to submit, decision period and appeals
- FNMT: identity accreditation requirementsWhich identity documents show the NIE, and that it appears on the TIE and the EU citizen certificate
Rules can vary by nationality, work or study status, and city. Confirm your route with the official authority before you act.