How to Get an NIE Number in Barcelona: Office, Form and Fee
The NIE is the foreigner's ID number you need for contracts, banks and taxes in Spain. Here is how to request one in Barcelona, what to bring and what it costs.
To get an NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) in Barcelona, book a police cita previa (online appointment) and bring form EX-15, your passport with a copy, proof of why you need the number and the paid fee. The fee on form 790 code 012 is €9.84 as of November 2026.
What is an NIE and who needs one?
The NIE is a personal, unique number that Spain gives to foreigners for identification. It appears on every document the administration issues to you, from tax forms to residence cards. You need it to sign an employment contract, pay taxes, buy property, register a car or deal with most official bodies.
Not everyone has to request it separately. Under the immigration regulation approved by Real Decreto 1155/2024, in force since 20 May 2025, the police assign the NIE automatically when you start a residence procedure or receive certain long-stay visas. People who only have economic, professional or social ties to Spain, such as buying a flat or inheriting, have to ask for it.
- Non-EU citizens moving with a visa or residence permit: the NIE usually comes with the permit. Your next step is the card, explained in our guide to the TIE fingerprint appointment in Barcelona.
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens living here more than three months: register as an EU resident instead. The registration certificate already carries your NIE. See how EU citizens register in Barcelona.
- Everyone else with a reason linked to Spain: request the NIE on its own, as described below.
Where do you apply for an NIE in Barcelona?
Applications made in Spain go in person to an Oficina de Extranjería (immigration office) or a Policía Nacional station that handles foreigners’ documents. In the province of Barcelona you cannot simply turn up. You book a slot through the government’s cita previa de extranjería service, choose the province of Barcelona and pick the police procedure for NIE assignment (asignación de NIE). The system shows which offices have slots on the dates offered.
A legal representative can apply for you if they hold a power of attorney that expressly allows it. If you are still abroad, the request goes through the Spanish consulate for the area where you live, not through the Barcelona police.
Which documents do you need?
The Ministry of the Interior lists these documents for an NIE request. Bring originals and a photocopy of each.
| Document | Details |
|---|---|
| Form EX-15 | The official application for an NIE and certificates, filled in and signed. Tick NIE and the resident or non-resident box that fits you. |
| Passport or ID | Valid passport, national ID card, travel document or registration card, with a full copy. |
| Reason for the request | A document showing the economic, professional or social reason, for example a job offer, a property deposit contract or a university letter. |
| Fee receipt | Form 790 code 012, paid, with the box for NIE assignment ticked. |
| Power of attorney | Only if someone applies on your behalf. |
Two conditions apply in all cases: you must not be in Spain irregularly, and you must state why you need the number. Foreign documents may need an apostille or legalization and a sworn translation. The Secretaría de Estado de Migraciones publishes the rules on legalization and translation, so check them before your appointment.
How much does an NIE cost?
The fee is paid with form 790 code 012, which you fill in on the Policía Nacional website, print and pay at a bank before the appointment. As of November 2026 the amounts on that form are:
| Procedure on form 790-012 | Fee (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| NIE assignment at the applicant’s request | €9.84 |
| Certificate of resident or non-resident status | €7.31 |
| EU registration certificate (green certificate) | €12.00 |
| First TIE card for a temporary residence or stay permit | €16.08 |
Tick only the line that matches your procedure. A form paid for the wrong procedure is a common reason to be sent away.
How do you apply, step by step?
- Collect your passport, the document that explains your reason and photocopies of both.
- Download and complete form EX-15. Write in capital letters and sign it.
- Fill in form 790 code 012 online, tick the NIE line, print it and pay it at a bank. Keep the stamped copy.
- Book a cita previa for the province of Barcelona and the NIE procedure. Note the office address and time.
- Go to the appointment with originals and copies. The officer checks your documents and registers the request.
- Collect or receive your NIE document as the office tells you. Keep it safe, because banks and employers will ask for a copy.
How long does it take?
Article 205 of the regulation says the procedure must be decided within five days of the request reaching the office. If there is no answer in that time, the law treats the request as refused, so follow up if you hear nothing. The longer wait is usually for the appointment itself: slots in Barcelona are released periodically and can run out fast.
Appointments are free. Do not pay anyone who offers to sell you a slot.
How is an NIE different from a TIE card?
The NIE is a number. The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is a physical card for non-EU foreigners whose visa or permit lets them stay more than six months. The TIE shows your NIE, but it also proves your legal status in Spain. A tourist buying a flat needs only the NIE. A non-EU worker with a residence permit needs the TIE, and must apply for it within one month of entering Spain or of the permit taking effect.
EU citizens do not get a TIE for themselves. Their proof of residence is the green registration certificate, and non-EU family members of EU citizens get a family-member TIE.
Bottom line
Book the appointment first, because slots are the bottleneck, and fill in the fee form only once you know the procedure you booked. If your case is unusual, such as a request through a representative or a document from a country that needs an apostille, ask an abogado de extranjería (immigration lawyer) or gestor before you go.
FAQ
Can I get an NIE as a tourist?
Yes, if you have an economic, professional or social reason, such as buying property. You must not be in Spain irregularly, and you must show the reason at the appointment.
Does an NIE expire?
The number is personal and stays the same on every later document, including a TIE or EU certificate. Banks or notaries sometimes ask for a recently issued certificate, so check what the receiving office accepts.
Is the NIE the same as a social security number?
No. The social security number (NAF) is separate, and employers request it for you or you apply to the Seguridad Social. Our guide to the Spanish social security number explains how.
Can I apply for an NIE from abroad?
Yes. Apply through the Spanish consulate that covers your place of residence, which forwards the request to the police in Spain.
