Do you need an NIE or a TIE?
The NIE is just a number. The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is the physical residency card that non-EU residents get, and it carries an NIE on it. If you're an EU/EEA citizen you get a green certificate that also contains your NIE — no TIE. If you're a non-EU tourist doing a one-off transaction (buying property, opening an account) you can get a standalone NIE without residency.
Which form: EX-15 or EX-18?
- EX-15 — standalone NIE for non-residents (e.g. tourists, remote applicants, quick admin).
- EX-18 — green EU/EEA residency certificate (which includes the NIE) for EU citizens moving to Spain.
- Non-EU residents on a visa (digital nomad, non-lucrative, work) don't file these — the NIE comes with your TIE application after you arrive.
Step-by-step (EX-15, in Spain)
1. Book the cita previa
Go to the official Sede Electrónica for citas previas de extranjería, choose your province, and select 'Policía — Asignación de NIE'. Slots are the bottleneck — they open in waves, and in Madrid/Barcelona they can vanish in minutes. Check early mornings and refresh often; expect to try across several days.
2. Fill out form EX-15
Download it from the Ministerio de Inclusión site, fill it in on a computer (not by hand if you can help it), and print two copies. Common trip-ups: writing your name in the wrong order, leaving Section 4 blank when it should say the reason ('motivos económicos', 'trámites bancarios', etc.), and forgetting to sign.
3. Pay the tax (Modelo 790, code 012)
Fill in Modelo 790 code 012 online, select the NIE fee (roughly €10 at time of writing — verify the current amount on the AEAT site), print it, and pay at any Spanish bank before your appointment. Keep the stamped copy.
4. Go to your appointment
Bring: passport + a photocopy of the photo page, the printed EX-15, the paid Modelo 790, proof of your reason (a bank appointment letter, a purchase contract, an employer letter — whatever matches Section 4), and if you're non-EU, a copy of your entry stamp.
5. Collect the resolution
In many offices they hand it over the same day; in some you come back 3–7 days later. Photograph it and keep the original safe — you'll be asked for the paper resolution surprisingly often in year one.
Getting an NIE from outside Spain
You can apply at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence with the same EX-15 form. Wait times vary wildly by consulate — some are 2 weeks, some are 3 months. If you're moving soon, it's often faster to arrive on a tourist visa and do it in person in a smaller Spanish city (Ávila, Toledo, Segovia) where citas are less contested than Madrid or Barcelona.
How long does it take?
The paperwork itself is quick. The bottleneck is the appointment. Realistic timelines:
- Cita previa in Madrid/Barcelona: 2–8 weeks of hunting is common.
- Smaller cities: often within a week.
- Consulate abroad: 2 weeks to 3 months depending on country.
- Same-day resolution at the appointment in most offices.
Common mistakes
- Booking the wrong appointment type (e.g. 'Toma de huellas TIE' instead of 'Asignación de NIE'). Wrong slot = turned away.
- Assuming your NIE is your residency. It isn't — it's just an ID number.
- Losing the paper resolution. Banks and landlords will ask for it.
- Paying the Modelo 790 online but forgetting to print the stamped receipt.