How to obtain a NIE number for property purchase in Spain

According to Article 58 of Spanish law, all foreign nationals carrying out financial transactions in the country are required to have an NIE. What does this abbreviation mean and how to get an NIE in Spain?

This mysterious abbreviation of three letters is one you will hear when you decide to move or legally carry out any actions involving financial means in the country, for example, buying or renting housing, opening a business, or getting a job. Moreover, experts recommend that you get an identification number even before arriving in the Sunny Kingdom, so as not to depend on the expired resident card. What does this document entail?

What is NIE in Spain?

NIE (Spanish: Numero de Identidad de Extranjero) is a personal code assigned by the migration authorities to foreigners. It is also called a taxpayer number, as it is mainly used for various transactions: buying or renting real estate, registering a company, and filing a tax return.

In addition, you cannot do without it when communicating with representatives of state agencies. It gives access to the system of free health care and social benefits of the Kingdom.

At what stage of the purchase of real estate in Spain is it necessary to obtain a NIE?

Ownership of property implies the payment of taxes, so the identifier will be needed already during the conclusion of the transaction for its acquisition, that is, at the stage of signing a notarized contract of sale. Most often, the form is issued after the act of intent to buy an apartment, house, or office is submitted, as this is considered to be quite a good reason for its assignment.

How to get NIE in Spain?

Obtaining an NIE number in Spain is only possible if the applicant is legally in the country, either with an unexpired visa or, in the case of visa-free entry, without exceeding the allowed stay period.

For EU citizens, the application should be made at the European Citizens Police Station in their place of residence. Non-EU citizens need to apply at the police department that handles matters for non-Europeans and non-residents.

If you meet the legal requirements and are ready to proceed, be prepared to spend approximately 2-4 hours securing an appointment and then wait up to 90 days for processing, making the total timeline around three months.

Here is a detailed step-by-step guide: How to Apply for an NIE Number in Spain.

A NIE number can be obtained either personally or through a power of attorney. If you are purchasing real estate or starting a business in Spain, a realtor or lawyer can represent you.

Given the current delays in administrative processes, obtaining a NIE through a power of attorney has become the most efficient option. This involves granting legal authority to a legal advisor or attorney to act on your behalf before a notary public. This method can also be used for entering into real estate purchase agreements.

While the power of attorney method is the simplest, applying for a NIE online and then visiting a police station in Spain to receive it is the most cost-effective. However, this method involves more bureaucratic formalities.

We recommend using our service to act as your representative, as we can expedite the process through remote notarization. This means you can receive your NIE within a week without the need to find a local lawyer who may not speak English. Our fee covers the entire process until you have your NIE in hand.

Validity period of NIE in Spain

As we noted above, the NIE number in Spain has an indefinite character. At the same time, the paper certificate issued by the police has a limited validity period - only 90 days.

Renewal of the certificate requires another confirmation of the grounds - economic or professional. Many official bodies in Spain agree to accept an expired paper certificate: in this matter, everything depends on the human factor.

We should also note an important point. Obtaining a number NIE in Spain does not entail the applicant in case of failure of the transaction or refusal to open a business of any consequences. If the applicant planned to buy a house, received NIE, and then changed his mind to buy this house - it's no big deal. The number is retained by the applicant and in the future if he again decides to enter into economic relations with Spain, he will only need to update the certificate in the police.