Spanish paperwork
made simpleNIE, TIE and SEPE. Spanish paperwork made simple

You request an NIE through Policía Nacional in Spain or a Spanish consulate abroad, using form EX-15 and paying the applicable fee. It is your foreigner identification and tax number, not a residence permit. The application normally requires a reason, identity documents and supporting evidence; appointment availability and local requirements vary. Our NIE guide explains the application route.

Book it through SEPE’s online cita previa service or appointment telephone line. The online form and phone service ask for your DNI/NIE, postcode and procedure, then assign an office, date and time. You receive appointment details and a reference for attending. SEPE’s booking guide compares the online and phone steps.

Yes, foreign nationals can claim Spanish unemployment benefit when they have valid work authorisation, Social Security contributions and involuntarily lose their job. The usual contributory benefit requires at least 360 days of contributions in the previous six years, jobseeker registration and an application to SEPE within 15 working days. The eligibility rules distinguish contributory benefit from subsidies.

Empadronamiento is the registration of your address with your local town hall, called the ayuntamiento. It proves where you ordinarily live and can support immigration applications, access to municipal services and other procedures. Register at the town hall where you live, even if you are not Spanish; it does not itself grant residence status. The usual proof-of-address requirements are explained in our empadronamiento guide.

Yes, you need a Spanish Social Security number, or NUSS, before an employer can register you for work. Your employer may request it for you, while self-employed workers normally obtain it themselves through Social Security. The NUSS identifies your contribution record and is different from your NIE; the application routes depend on your work situation.

Digital certificates and Cl@ve let you identify yourself online for Spanish government procedures, including tax, Social Security, immigration and SEPE services. Without them, use the administration’s telephone or in-person channel where available; for SEPE, submit the pre-application form, which is its no-certificate route for many requests.

No, Ayuda Trámites is an independent information website, not SEPE or another government office. We explain Spanish procedures in English, but we cannot issue appointments, decide claims or access your file. Each article identifies the responsible administration and links to its official source, while our SEPE problems guide explains who handles common issues.