Spain NIE Form

The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is a tax identification number assigned by Spain to any foreigner who performs economic or professional acts in Spain. It is mandatory to buy property in Spain.

The NIE is required for any notarial act in Spain, including signing the preliminary sale agreement (contrato de arras) and the final purchase deed with the notary. Without a NIE, you cannot legally acquire real estate in Spain.

From France, you need to book an appointment at the nearest Spanish consulate, complete the EX-15 form, gather supporting documents (passport, proof of economic reason) and attend in person. Our tool lets you pre-fill the EX-15 form for free.

You need: the completed and printed EX-15 form, your original passport + photocopy, proof of your economic reason (e.g., sale agreement), the 790 código 012 tax payment form (approx. €10-15), and 2 recent passport photos at some consulates.

The timeline varies by consulate. Generally, the NIE is issued the same day as the appointment for non-residents. Some busy consulates (Paris, Lyon) can have waiting times of several weeks for an appointment, so plan well in advance.

Yes, the EX-15 form itself is free: you can fill it in and print it here for free. However, the NIE application requires payment of an administrative fee (form 790 código 012, approx. €9-12) before your consulate appointment.

Yes, if you are physically in Spain, you can submit your NIE application at an authorized police station (comisaría) or foreigners' office. You will also present the completed EX-15 form. The consulate procedure from France is often faster if your purchase is imminent.