How to Get Your NIE in Madrid in 2026: Complete Guide

By Expat in Madrid team · · 9 min read

The Crystal Palace in El Retiro Park, Madrid, with its pond and fountain

To get a NIE in Madrid you file form EX-15 with proof that you have paid the 790 código 012 fee, in person, at a foreigners’ office or police station in Spain. If you are still abroad, you apply through a Spanish consulate instead. The NIE is an identification number, not a residence permit, so it is the first step for many newcomers rather than the last.

Key points

  • The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is a personal, unique number issued by the Dirección General de la Policía to people with economic, professional or social links to Spain.
  • The application is form EX-15 plus proof of payment of modelo 790, código 012.
  • You must not be in Spain irregularly, and you must state your reasons for needing the number.
  • From abroad, the application goes through a Spanish consulate. In Spain, it is filed in person at a foreigners’ office or police station.
  • A NIE is not a TIE card and not an EU registration certificate, although the latter shows your NIE.

What the NIE is and who needs it

The NIE is a sequential identification number. Spanish government guidance describes it as personal, unique and exclusive, and says it is assigned to foreigners who relate to Spain for economic, professional or social reasons. In practice that covers buying or renting a home, opening a bank account, signing an employment contract, paying taxes, setting up a company or dealing with Social Security.

The official police procedure page gives two conditions. First, you must not be in Spain in an irregular situation. Second, you must communicate the reasons for which you are asking for the number. Those reasons are not a formality, so write them clearly and keep them consistent with your supporting paperwork.

The rules sit in Organic Law 4/2000 and, since the old regulation was repealed with effect from 20 May 2025, in Royal Decree 1155/2024 of 19 November, which approved the current immigration regulation. Older blog posts that quote articles of the 2011 regulation may therefore be out of date.

NIE, TIE and EU registration certificate: what is the difference?

These three documents are often confused, and applying for the wrong one is a common reason for wasted appointments.

  • NIE certificate (EX-15). Gives you the number. On its own it does not authorise you to live or work in Spain. Related EX-15 procedures also exist, such as a certificate of non-residence, which the police page says is valid for three months from issue.
  • TIE (EX-17). The Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero is the physical card that identifies a foreigner and proves legal status in Spain. It is requested after you hold a residence authorisation, and its validity matches that authorisation. See our page on the TIE card in Madrid.
  • EU registration certificate (EX-18). For citizens of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland who will stay more than three months. The application must be filed within three months of entering Spain, and the certificate shows your NIE. See the EU registration certificate in Madrid.

If you only need a number for a purchase, a bank or a contract, the EX-15 route is the one that applies. If you are unsure which category fits you, our NIE service in Madrid page explains how we can help you decide.

The fee: modelo 790, código 012

The fee for assigning a NIE at the applicant’s request is paid with modelo 790, código 012. You generate the form online on the Policía Nacional website, print it, and pay at a bank, savings bank or credit cooperative by presenting the document. You do not need an account at that bank. Generate the form fresh from the official page rather than reusing an old copy.

The National Police fee table (Tasas de trámites de extranjería) lists 9.84 euros for “Asignación de Número de Identidad de Extranjero (NIE) a instancia del interesado”. That is the amount we saw on 21 October 2026. Fees are updated periodically, so check the amount shown on the form you generate before paying.

How the Madrid appointment works

In Spain, the application is filed in person in an Oficina de Extranjería or a Comisaría de Policía, both of which act on behalf of the Dirección General de la Policía. The government’s procedures portal says you must first ask for an immigration appointment through the online system, usually called cita previa de extranjería. The appointment platform is run through the administration’s electronic headquarters, and the Policía Nacional handles the appointments for procedures that go before the police.

Practical points for Madrid:

  • Choose the province of Madrid, then the procedure “POLICIA-ASIGNACIÓN DE N.I.E.”. That is the label we saw on 21 October 2026; labels can change, so read each option carefully.
  • In Madrid city, the office that offers NIE assignment is the National Police office on Avenida de los Poblados s/n (Aluche). The system also lists district police stations and stations in other towns of the Community; check which procedures each one offers before booking.
  • We cannot promise a date, and nobody legitimately can. Be sceptical of anyone who guarantees one.
  • Keep the confirmation and bring it on the day.

Offices and the procedures they offer can change, so always check the address on your appointment confirmation. If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who is going to live in Spain, the EU registration certificate is a different procedure (“POLICIA-CERTIFICADO DE REGISTRO DE CIUDADANO DE LA U.E.”), offered in Madrid city at the National Police office on Calle Padre Piquer 18.

Once your file is registered, the official resolution period is five days from the date the application enters the register of the competent body. Silence counts as a refusal. That does not mean you will always wait five days for a number in practice, but it does mean an unanswered request is not an approval.

Documents to bring

According to the government’s procedure description, a standard NIE application needs:

  1. Form EX-15, completed and signed, in duplicate.
  2. Form 790 código 012 with the bank’s proof of payment.
  3. Your original valid passport or national ID document. A copy is mentioned as required for EU citizens.
  4. If a representative applies for you, proof of valid representation.
  5. Any foreign public documents you rely on to show your reasons, legalised or apostilled as appropriate, with a sworn translation into Spanish.

Separately, a non-EU national who has entered Spain from a country with which Spain has abolished border controls must make an entry declaration within three working days at a police station or foreigners’ office. The same page lists this alongside the NIE application, so check whether it applies to you.

Your reasons for the application matter most. A property purchase, a job offer, a tenancy or a company formation can all be reasons, but they should be backed by a document that names you.

Common mistakes

  • Asking for the wrong document. A NIE does not replace a TIE, and it does not substitute for the EU registration certificate.
  • Paying the wrong concept. The fee form has several concepts. Select the one for assignment of the NIE at the applicant’s request, not another procedure.
  • Reusing an old 790. Generate a fresh form from the official page for each application and check the concept and amount on it.
  • Vague reasons. Saying only that you need a NIE rarely helps. Say what you are doing in Spain and why a number is needed.
  • Relying on 2011-era instructions. The regulation changed in 2025, and forms and fee tables are updated.
  • Assuming a number means a right to live here. You still need the correct residence route if you plan to stay.

Applying from abroad through a Spanish consulate

If you are not on Spanish territory, the official route is to apply through a Spanish consular office abroad, which processes the request before the Comisaría General de Extranjería y Fronteras. The official pages do not describe how consulates take bookings, so look up the instructions published by the consulate that serves you before sending anything. Some people prefer this route because they want the number before moving, for example to buy a property or open an account in advance.

The government portal also says a representative based in Spain can lodge the application for you, as long as the representation is valid. If you cannot travel, this can be an alternative, but the representative must be properly authorised.

What happens after you apply

When the NIE is granted, you receive the certificate with your number. Keep it safe, because the number is used for tax, banking, utilities, contracts and Social Security. If you then plan to live in Madrid long term, the next steps depend on your nationality and situation:

  • EU, EEA and Swiss citizens staying more than three months register with the EX-18 certificate, within three months of arriving.
  • Non-EU citizens apply for the TIE once they hold a residence authorisation.
  • Newcomers who settle in Madrid will usually also need to register their address with the town hall, which is covered in our guide to empadronamiento in Madrid.

How we can help

Expat in Madrid is an online paperwork service run by Gestoría Beltrán Cifre SL. We do not have an office in Madrid. We can check which document you actually need, prepare the EX-15 and the 790 form, review your supporting documents and walk you through the appointment steps. You can read more on our NIE number in Madrid service page, or contact us on +34 673 374 567 with your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a NIE if I am not living in Spain?

Yes, if you have economic, professional or social links to Spain and are not in an irregular situation. From abroad, the request is made through a Spanish consulate, which forwards it to the Comisaría General de Extranjería y Fronteras.

How much does the NIE fee cost?

It is paid with modelo 790, código 012. On 21 October 2026 the National Police fee table listed 9.84 euros for assigning a NIE at the applicant’s request. Amounts are updated, so check the figure on the form you generate before you pay.

Is a NIE the same as a TIE card?

No. The NIE is a number. The TIE is a physical card that proves legal status in Spain and is requested once you hold a residence authorisation. Holding a NIE does not entitle you to a TIE.

Do I need an appointment in Madrid?

For an application filed in person in Spain, the government’s procedures portal says you must first request an immigration appointment online. In Madrid city, book “POLICIA-ASIGNACIÓN DE N.I.E.” at the office on Avenida de los Poblados. Availability varies, so check the system regularly and keep your confirmation.

Sources

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© 2026 Expat in Madrid. A service of Gestoría Beltrán Cifre SL. We are not a government office and have no public office in Madrid. Official fees are paid separately.
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