It doesn´t matter if you are looking to buy a property in Valencia or just to live a year or few in any Spanish territory, sooner or later you will need your NIE or Residency Certificate sorted. There is a lot of confusion about how that works and quite often people refer to the NIE meaning the residency and the other way around, but actually they are two separate things.
So what is the NIE then? The NIE (in Spanish – Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is the foreigner identification number. This number is assigned to foreigners with financial, social or professional affairs in Spain, including residents and non-residents, EU citizens and non – EU citizens. It allows Spanish institutions to identify you as a foreigner and once you get your personal Spanish foreigner number, it will never change.
In reality, to EU citizens it looks like a white sheet of paper with a number on it, consisting of a letter, seven digits and another letter. Obtaining this number will make your life in Spain much easier as it´s commonly required for certain actions – purchasing a car or a property, registering a company, and sometimes even to set up a telecommunications contract and utilities at home. But it´s important to understand that having the NIE number does not mean you are registered as a resident in Spain yet.
The application procedure for the NIE is quite simple if you follow these steps:
- Get an appointment if needed. The Valencian Immigration office that attends to EU citizens is on calle Bailén 9 and you need to book an appointment online here – at present the wait time for an appointment is longer than 1 month. Print out the appointment confirmation as a police officer at the entrance will check if you are on the list. If you need your NIE urgently, you could try to go to another Immigration / Police office in one of the towns near Valencia. Or if you haven´t moved to Valencia yet and there is a Spanish embassy or Consulate in your home city, you could even apply for the number there before moving to Spain;
- Complete the EX15 form beforehand (you can download it here) and bring two copies of it. If you still struggle with Spanish, google the English translation so you can fill it in correctly;
- Bring a valid passport or national identity card and a copy of it;
- Prior to the appointment, you are required to fill in and print out the fee form Modelo 790 Código 012 (you can download it here). When filling in, select Asignación de Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE) a instancia del interesado (currently 9.64 euro). As you will not have the NIE number prior to your appointment yet, most banks will not allow to pay the fee. So, bring the form to the appointment – and once the NIE number is assigned, pay it at any bank or use ATM´s (the nearest one to calle Bailén office is on Plaza de España, BBVA bank has an ATM where you can make the payment). Once that is done, return to the office to hand in the bank receipt;
- Your NIE number will be issued in the same appointment.
How to register as a resident?
Unless you plan to stay under radar for personal or tax reasons, registration as a resident has a number of benefits – especially if you see Spain as your future home. Apart from that, legally you also have an obligation to register as a resident if your intention is to stay in Spain for longer than 3 months (though I haven´t seen any EU citizen being fined for not being registered as a resident or sanctioned in any other way).
So, if you intend to stay in Spain for more than three months, then you could apply directly for residency and the NIE number would be assigned within the same process. Regarding Valencia´s office, they prefer to issue the NIE number first and to make you come back in 2-3 months to deal with residency, so chances that they will try to avoid registering you as a resident on your first visit are very high. But still – we should keep calm and try!
You will be asked to meet a number of requirements to successfully complete the application process. No matter what situation you are in, when registering as a resident you will be required to:
- Confirm an appointment (the same link as for the NIE, but instead of choosing Asignación de NIE, choose Certificado de registro de residente comunitario);
- Complete the Spanish residency form EX-18 form (get it here) and submit it in person;
- Bring a valid passport or national identity card and a copy of it;
- A bank receipt showing you have paid the fee Modelo 790 Código 012. Fill in the form online – use your NIE number and select Certificado de registro de residente comunitario o Tarjeta de residencia de familiar de un ciudadano de la Unión (currently 10.71 euro). It is important to print it out prior to the appointment as they do not provide the fee forms at the office anymore.
- Most likely you are not required to be registered at the Town Hall everywhere in Spain, but in Valencia you will be asked to submit the certificate of registration with the Town Hall (In Spanish – certificado de empadronamiento). Also it is important that it has not been issued for more than 3 months prior to your appointment with the Immigration office.
Apart from the general requirements that every applicant has to meet, you have to be in one of the following situations:
SELF-EMPLOYED
If you are registered in Spain as self-employed (in Spanish – autónomo), you will have to submit:
- Resolution of being registered with the Social Security (in Spanish – Resolución de reconocimiento de alta en Seguridad Social);
- Bank receipts of social security payments for the last 3 months. Well, this is one of many contradictions of the registration process at the Valencian office as according to the Law you have an obligation to register as a resident within the first three months of your stay if you intend to stay longer than that. At the same time the local institutions make it impossible to register within the legal time-frame as they require 3 months proof of social security payments! But as this post is not a legal analysis, I will leave it here and focus on how to get what you need by following the instructions given by the civil servants at the Valencian office.
EMPLOYED BY A THIRD PARTY (t.i., with a Spanish work contract)
- If you don´t have a NIE number yet – a written statement from your future employer confirming that they will hire you for more than 3 months will be required. The letter should also include the employer´s name, address and CIF number of the company, as well as the Company´s Social Security number.As the work situation in Valencia can´t be considered as very optimistic because of high unemployment rates, it is quite challenging to convince your future employer to prepare this for you – local companies are not informed about this procedure and it is very likely they will have no idea what you need from them. Unless you have secured a job before moving to Valencia and your employer is willing to issue this document for you right after your arrival, I suggest you apply for the NIE first and search for work afterwards.
- If you do have the NIE number already – the work contract and the proof of its presentation before the official authorities (in Spanish – el documento de comunicación a la oficina del empleo) will be required.
TO HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS
- Pensioners are required to prove they are in receipt of regular pension payments and to submit a copy of their registered E-121 or S-1 forms (if not – a private health insurance).
- The rest of applicants are required to submit a proof of sufficient funds and to hold a complete private health insurance policy covering all the services that Spanish state health system would cover. When showing the proof of sufficient funds, according to Valencia´s civil servant understanding it´s not enough to have a certain amount of money deposited in your Spanish or your foreign current/savings account. What they want to see is a regular income flowing to your Spanish account within last 2-3 months, even if that income is yourself transferring money from your other bank account to the Spanish one. Also, make sure you show all bank movements for the last 3 months, as a statement of your account balance won´t be enough. Although officially there is a minimum to meet (currently that is around 430 euros a month), I suggest that you exceed the minimum by depositing more funds as they “evaluate each situation individually”. Recently I asked how much money they want to see for a family of three to which the answer was “it depends”… In other words – they want to see you will not become a burden on the Spanish social welfare and pretty much this evaluation process is left to some individual’s consideration.
Watch our video about private health insurance in Spain:
STUDENT
- A course registration document;
- The European Health Insurance Card covering minimum the first year of studies or private health insurance;
- Declaration of sufficient funds.
If all goes smoothly, a small green piece of paper including your NIE number will be issued at the same time (sorry, no picture on the card!) and it will not have an expiration date. I highly recommend that you do not lose the precious green card as it could possibly mean going through the whole fun again! And I know it seems like a piece of paper (which it is), but please do not laminate it as it´s not permitted.
This information is prepared on personal observations at the Immigration office of Valencia city on calle Bailén 9. Please note that it is accurate at the time of publication (November 2016), but as procedures, requirements and even the civil servant interpretation and mood change on a regular basis, please be prepared for the unexpected!
Do you have your own adventure story that took place at the Immigration Office in Valencia? Tell us and other expats in the comments bellow!
Good article-just in time before my appointment at c.Ballien:) Maybe you should do it instead of a police as they have no idea what is going on. They never told us to fill the form beforehand but it makes sense:) what doesn’t makes sense is going back and forth to pay the fees instead of doing it before the meeting!
Agreed! And the thing that you actually can’ t pay there is incredible. You have to go there, get the form, go out to look for a bank and go back again…. uhhhhh Patience is what we need Hahahaha
You can now print out a form and fill in your bank account and they will retract the money out of the account
I mis the information about getting it when you are married and not having a job of your own.
I was told I needed Vida laboral of my husband and also an official document of marriage in Spanish and not older than 3 months. Can anyone tell me where I get that?
And for my kids I need birth certificates in Spanish and legalized.
A very helpful article, just one question: here is the immigration office?
I’ve just realised that it’s Calle Bailen, should have read the article more closely
Filling out the NIE looks like the classic chicken and egg situation. The form asks for a permanent address, but you have suggested that one needs a NIE to get accommodation. What is the best way around this? Book temporary accommodation and wait until we are in the country to get an appointment?
To get the NIE number you don´t need a permanent address, only when registering as resident.
Hello,
I am unemployed, but I am insured in the public health system in my home country (EU member). I am pregnant and that automatically gives me public health coverage. I also have a valid EHIC, will I still need private insurance when applying for residency?
Hi,
Until now we haven´t had to deal with a situation like yours, so I cannot say it for sure, however I feel that for applying for residency you will still need private insurance, as the Spanish government will want to make sure you have the same coverage as the locals have at least for 1 year. It will be difficult to achieve that just with the pregnancy. As for the EHIC card, it is meant using only for temporary stays which is the opposite of what you want to prove to the Spanish official when applying for residency in Spain.
Just to double check with you, to apply for NIE do you need to present el certificado de empadronamiento?
No, you don´t have to.
This is an excellent article, thank you for sharing! I moved to Valencia from Málaga and I wonder, is the process the same if I only need to change the home address in the green eu citizen certificate?
Hi Heidi, we are very glad you found the post useful. Even if you only want to change the address, they will check if you are at one of the situations and request all the documents again. Legally you are supposed to change the address, but practically it´s not such an important matter and you could keep your green card as it is. If you decide to go for it, it is the same EX-18 form, just select Modificación – Por cambio de domicilio. Best of luck!
Hi, do you need to translate any of the forms to get residencia. We have a dutch pensioner statement, and Dutch social security documents.
i do not work as i am disabled although my wife works ,i have a sip card as i am dependant on my wife..she already has a residency nie card but i had not bothered until now….what documents do i need to take with me to my appointment
Hi Barry, your disability have no effect on NIE application process, however additional documentation will be needed when applying for residency. If you need our help on applying for residency, please use “Request a quote” option on our website. Have a nice day!
Great article!! Thank You so much for that.
I gotta question. I am Argentine, my Wife German. We live in Berlin. The question is, how does IT Work all These paperwork when WE are actually a family living there?
Hi Lucas! If your your wife has German nationality, for her the application process is the same as described in the article. You on the other hand would have to apply for EU national family member card. If you need help with any of the formalities, we would be happy to assist!
I have been living in Spain for 14 years and have a NIE number however would like to obtain residency how do I go about this?
Hi Nick! You can follow exact instructions in this article or contact us directly through our contact form for our assistance.
I am from Spain and my husband is from Finland. We have an appointment to get his NIE number so that he can be registered as a dependent of mine under the public healthcare system and they are requesting this. He is not working in Spain. To get his residency card, what documents would he need to show since he is married to a Spanish citizen and is not working in Spain?
Thank you
Hi Carolina! Sorry for the late replay. There is no simple answer to your question. We can offer you assistance with this. For us to be able to advise you we must assess your situation and see the documents that you will file with the application. There will be specific requirements depending on your situation.
Hi,
I’m a non EU citizen and planning to move to Valencia to live and work with my family. I’m interested in buying business up to 60.000 Euro
Can you assist me and send me the full information plus relevant costs?
Look forward to hearing your comments.
Respectfully Yours,
Shahram
Hi Shahram! Please include more details about you and your family as well of the business you have in mind and send us your quote request (web upper right corner). We will be happy to assist you!
When booking the appointment on line for residencia, for a couple do you have to book two separate appointments or does one appointment cover both of you ?
Thank you
Robert
Hi Robert! One appointment per person, so each of you need one.
Thank you for the reply Janis !
Hi Janis
I am a british citizen with a remote working contract in the u.k meaning I can work from anywhere from home.
I wish to register myself as living in Madrid.
I have the following
Proof of income from work and three months bank statements with some savings.
1) Where do I register in Madrid
2) How much roughly will it cost to translate documents
3) should I open a spanish bank account first?
4) how long does the process take?
Kind regards
Hi Janis, I’ve been trying to book an appointment at the office in Bailen for a couple of days. When it allows me to get to the end, it keeps saying there are mot enough appointments available & gives no other options. Do you know of any ongoing problems with the system?
Also, my empadronamiento certificate is for Valencia, but would it be possible to obtain an appointment elsewhere, say in neighbouring Alicante or Castellón?
Thanks, Andrew.
Sorry, meant “Hi Linda” ?
Thanks for taking the time to write this article – very informative!
You mentioned “If you need your NIE urgently, you could try to go to another Immigration / Police office in one of the towns near Valencia” – are there any offices that you would recommend or somewhere where I can find a list? Currently the Valencian office is showing no appointments until April.
Can you apply for the NIE card when applying for a non lucrative visa? We do not have a Consulate in the city where we live but will be visiting a city in another state to apply for and then retrieve our visas.
Hi Sandra! You will have to apply for residency card in Spain, in the corresponding office where you will be living.
hi,
what are the implications to me cancelling my residencia here in Spain if my wife is from outside the eu(Russia) and my NIE is on her Residency card?
i will still have my NIE???? please help
Hello! Great article. Two questions: I would like to apply for residency and don’t have an NIE yet, so am following your advice about applying for them both at the same time. When I attend my appointment (for Certificado de registro de residente comunitario), will I only need to bring the EX-18 form, or will I need to bring the EX-15 form too?
Also, I understand I can’t pay the Modelo 790 Código 012 without an NIE, or register in the town hall. Will they accept my application without these thing, or will I be told to go home and book an NIE appointment instead? Thanks.
Does the NIE have an address on it? After we get it, if we move, will we need to update/get a new one?
Currently in Barcelona and pla on moving to Valencia.
Hi Brett, in all years here in Spain I haven’t heard of any case where the address on your NIE would matter for anything. I wouldn´t worry about the address.
That is good to hear. Also, with a non-lucrative visa, is it possible to have a physical job that we go to but it is American owned/paid in the US? Or are we limited to strictly online work?
Hi there! Great article. I’m under 65 (55 in fact) and in receipt of an invalidity/disability pension from my home country which is an EU state. I’m considering a move to Spain, will I need some add’l insurance or will the fact that I’m in receipt of a pension from my gov.t be sufficient?
Hi Dec, if you are from EU, added S1 certificate will be sufficient.
Hello. I have a cita previa in 3 days. I have several questions:
1. Do i really need to show some documents which says that i need NIE? In reality i need NIE to work legalyy because nobody wants to employ me without NIE. So if I just write in EX15 that my reason for gaining NIE is just “desire to work” will it be enough?What is better to write in “Motivos” in order to get it for 100%. P.s. In reality I need it for everything in Spain but I don’t know how to get that proofs documentary.
2. When is better to pay TASA? several days before or during the process of application?
I hope somebody will help me to clarify the situation. Thanks a lot.
Hello. I have a cita previa in several days. And i have one question. In ” motivos” i want to mention that i need NIE in order to work legally. But i wonder whether this will be enough. In practise NIE is need for practically everything in Spain, but I don’t have any documentation approves of that. Or maybe will it be better to write some other motives in order to get NIE for 100%. I hope somebody will help me to clarify that.
When traveling outside of the EU and coming back into Spain, which line do I use for customs? Residents or non-residents? Do I use my USA passport coming back in or my resident card,
Nothing?
Hi I have my N.I.E number which was issued in Tortosa in Catalan. Today in Castellon I was told it has expired, could this be right as I thought you retained the number permanently?
Hopefully you can set my mind at rest,
Gordon Richardson.
Hi Gordon! I will assume you are European citizen. NIE number itself doesn´t expire. Residency cards issued more than 10 years ago (with a photo) do. If that is the case you will have to reapply for residency in Spain.
Hi, I’m in Spain for a year now and I’ve got my temporary nie.
Is it true if I’m empadronamiento for one year (I’m living with my Spanish girlfriend who stated I’m living with her under the same address), I can get residency even if I don’t have a job? Thanks a lot.
Hi Csaba! You will have to prove your income, health insurance and etc when applying for residency, but your income doesn´t necesserely come from employment.
Hi, I was working in Spain for 6 months in 2016 and had obtained a NIE certificate that has since expired. I have returned to work this September but my company is looking for proof of NIE number (certificate or other). Does this mean that I have to apply for residency straight away or is there another way to prove I have a NIE number ? Thanks !
Hi Nicole! If you are longer than 90 days in Spain, by law you are required to apply for residency. NIE number itself never change or expire.
I have been in spain for more than 3years as student. my boyfriends has been here for more than 8years and is in the process of applying for his spanish citizenship. at the moment he has the 10years permanent resident stay. Can he be able to give me the 5years permanent stay registering as couple ? or is it only spanish citizen ? if yes, what documents do we need to submit?
Hi Daybah, there is a possibility for you to register as EU family member (5 years), if your boyfriend is citizen of any European country. In case he still is not EU citizen, then no.
I have been living in spain barcelona for more than 3years and my boyfriend has been living here for more than 9years and is applying for passport soon. is it possible for him to give me the 5years card if we register as couple not marry? if yes, what documents do we need to submit?
Is there any way you can find out an old NIE Address? I had one in Barcelona in 2001 but can’t remember it…is there a website? Or who would I call? Thanks in advance 🙂
I obtained my NIE number in some odd way. In Aug 2018 I applied for it at the Spanish consulate in Amsterdam (I’m Dutch). I had my pre-filled forms with me and the servant typed all my info over in a “police national” register. I paid €9.50 and I was told that in a few weeks I would receive my NIE number per email. I never received anything per email. The consulate has no phone number you can call and they do not respond to your emails.
Its Oct. 20th, 2018 when I write this. I currently reside in Spain (Valencia) for 6 months. I still have not received my NIE number per email. So I went to the famous police office today at calle Bailén 9 with a copy of my pre-filld application from Aug 14th. I had no official stamps or whatever been given by Spanish consulate in Amsterdam.
Its a very small police station by the way. I took the left entry and a guard asked me for my reason. None of the persons spook English. Lucky for me I speak basic Spanish so I could explain that I came for my NIE number as I had not received anything yet.
First they told me…no, can do. Then I told them to at least do a name search (your NIE will be under your name). I gave them my application copy and my passport. They ran an search and I did not pop-up. Apperantly there was still no NIE given to me by authorities and yet 9 weeks have passed since my initial application.
Then I asked why it is so hard to get such number? They said….its not…please wait a moment. 2 minutes later a lady came outside and handed me a handwritten piece of paper with my NIE number on it.
Thats it…
Just thought to share my story with you.
Thank you for the story JJ!
Hello,
I am from the United States. I came to Spain in October 2016 and got my NIE card then. I renovated my NIE card in Barcelona in Dec 2017. I then moved to Valencia Jan 2018 and lost my NIE card in March. I have made a denuncia with local police station in Valencia and have my empadramiento. Now I have an appt. to obtain a duplicate card on Nov 7. (Calle Gremis). What form do I need the EX 15 or EX 17?
Thank you,
Monica
Hi. I’ve been living in Valencia for nearly two years and I only have the white A4 piece of paper with my NIE on it. In order to get the green one will I have to go through the whole process again, or do I just have to make a further appointment to collect it?
Hi Jane! The white paper is just your NIE number. Even non-residents can get that. The little green card (green A4 paper some years ago) is Residency Certificate.
It will be the same police station in Valencia, but it is different application process.
I once live in Spain I have my temporary residence, it expired and I but in for renewal but traveled out of Spain for Christmas and now it’s been 4 years since I left Spain. Is it possible for me to get back my residence card when I go back to Madrid?
I’m trying to get the certificado de residente in Valencia, which I believe includes the NIE. I’m currently self-employed, so I assume I need to show, as you say, 2–3 months of regular income into a Spanish bank account to get the NIE – but I’m finding it impossible to get a Spanish bank account without the NIE? Vicious cycle! Any tips?
Hannah, I have sent you an email with a contact for opening the bank account.
Hi.
Regarding the portal link you give to arrange appointments for NIE or residency. After choosing Valencia from the first drop down box, the next options to choose from contain neither that you state. Has this changed or am I just being thick?
Also having the same problem – did anyone find out what the option you have to choose is for NIE or residency now? Think it might be the one specifically for the UK?
NIE Number in Valencia
Today, February 6, 2019, we did as you said and when we returned from paying at the BBVA ATM, our NIEs were printed and issued on the spot. Pleasant people to deal with at the Police Station too.
The instructions on the BBVA ATM are a bit unclear though there is a printed guide on the wall in Spanish. Just had to persevere.
Thank you for your guidance – residency next.
Excellent David! We are happy it worked out well for you!
Hi and thanks for the article!!!!! I have one question, what does number (3) next to the date of issuing means?
Thanks
Best regards
The police department reports “There are currently no appointments available.
Soon, the Office will make available new appointments.”
Do I need an appointment or can I walk in and present the forms to get an NIE number?
I have been receiving the same message as you from Bailen 9 for about six months. I am trying to schedule an appointment for residency but have been unsuccessful. Very frustrating. Can anyone explain how to obtain an appointment?
HI does my marriage cert have to be less than 3 months old or is it just the Apostille stamp that has to be less than 3 months old.
What I’m asking is can I send my original marriage cert off (1995) to get a new Apostille Stamp or do I need to send off a new copy of my marriage cert.
My husband has a new job in Spain and as a married woman I need this to get my NIE number.
Many thanks
NIcola
Hi
Thanks for all the information on here
Could Simeone clarify for me how many hours or what earnnngs are suffice for self employed qhen trying to get residency. Also for proof of savings what is the requited monthly account now and for how long do i need to show i can survive !! One year or???
I have a NIE (for a long time!)
hey i have my nie number from about a year ago but i dont have the green card who do i make an appointment with to get this and will i have to apply again for a new nie beforehand?
Hello and thanks for the useful information. I am an EU citizen, back in 2012 I did a Master in Bilbao and was issued then the EU certificate for residency (green card) with NIE number on it. I left Spain in 2013 and returned only now in 2020 to start working in Catalonia . I understand even after so many years that my NIE number is still valid, but what about the green card certificate, is it too old and do I have to apply for a new residency green card again? I do not see a procedure for renewal of the card, so I guess it is through the general procedure for requesting residency card? My green card from 2012 still has my Bilbao address, I now live in Catalonia, the address I give in my application for residency can be a temporary one (if staying with a friend or in a hotel, for example) or it needs to match my address from the padron? Thanks.