Getting your NIE is the first step to start your business in Spain. This will be your ID, your Tax number, and it will be asked to open your bank account.

You can’t register your business, be it as autonomo or as a company, without having a NIE number.

In this article we explain you what you need in order to apply for your NIE if you are an EU citizen.

What to do

The process normally takes the following steps:

1. Obtaining application form EX 15 and fill it with your personal details. You can also obtain a copy from the Departamento de Extranjeros office. (see below)

Important: In the form you have to explain the reason why you need a NIE. 

In the past they used to give one immediately to any EU citizen but that has changed now and a valid reason has to be given and proven.

If you need it to register as Self-employed, just state that reason.

2.Along with the form Ex15, you will have to pay the tax via the form 790.( 9,45€, for new NIE). ( Fill it online and download it here)

Fill it in with your name and indicate the option “.Asignación de Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE) a instancia del interesado.” to obtain the right fee in the place for it at the bottom right.You can put your passport number in the box where they ask you the NIE ( you don’t have it yet!!)

Pay it at any bank first.
3. G to Departamento de Extrajeros with:

A. Original and photocopy of your passport.
B. Application form Ex 15 filled in.
C. Form 790 paid.

D.Documents to justify the reasons why you need the NIE.  Some of these might be:

1. Purchasing a car: take with you a proforma invoice of the car dealer or photocopy of the car logs of the car that you are going to buy.

2: to be employed. Take a letter of your employer with the work offer.

3: to startup a business. In this case you will need to prove that you have sufficient economical means. From January, 2019 the inter-professional minimum salary is aprox. 810€ per month. This is the amount that you will need to prove that  you have available. You can present a bank statement, credit card statement, or similar… showing sufficient incomes in the last few months.  If the account is in a foreign bank it need to be translated to Spanish. Make sure that your name appears in the document.

4. They will ask you to go back to pick up the NIE Document a few days later.

Where to go

Find here a list of offices where you can go.

Be aware that in busy offices they will only accept applications from people whose address is in their area. You will be better off if you go to the one that supervise your town.

*In some places they require booking an appointment in advance. In others tickets with turns are given on the same day. It is better to call first.*

If you need help to obtain you NIE let us know. We might be able to help. The process involves giving us a power of attorney to obtain it without your physical presence.