Nie --- número de identificación de extranjero — spanish number for non residents

The "NIE" is a tax number assigned to any foreign person who owns properties, interests or has financial affairs in Spain.

It is compulsory as it is always required to:

• Open a bank account
• Purchases or insure a property
• Arrange a mortgage
• Pay taxes
• Be paid for employment
• Establish a business
• Apply for a driving licence
• Etc…

To obtain this number you must present the application form in person at the Police Station where the property is located (Comisaría), at the foreigner´s department (Oficina de extranjería) or at your nearest Spanish Consulate at home.

Or, SINCE APRIL 2012, it is allowed to apply the NIE by a representative, that is, in the Police Station, they have to accept a Power of Attorney which clearly it is mentioned that somebody can apply it on interested party behalf.

Apart of the application form, you have to pay a fee in a bank (less of 20 €) before returning the application in the office (stamped by the bank), you also will need a copy of your passport and the original.

Once is presented, they will let you know when it will be ready for collection. This may take some days although in some locations (Madrid is one such) the NIE may be issued immediately.

In case of Firms or Companies what they have to apply is:

The CIF (Certificado de Identificación Fiscal), is equivalent to the NIF.

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