Ayuda Trámites

Your roadmap: getting your NIE (or TIE card)

You need your foreigner identity number, or the TIE card that documents it.

Change my answers

  1. Register your address first

    For the TIE you will be asked for the padron certificate, and for almost every route it helps to prove where you live. It is free, and without it many appointments lead nowhere.

    How to do it, step by step

  2. Pick your route: NIE, registration certificate or TIE

    There is no single path: it depends on whether you are from the EU, from outside, or only need a NIE for one transaction. The guide has a route picker that shows your exact form and fee.

    You need first: step 1

    How to do it, step by step

  3. Book the appointment at Extranjeria or the police

    Appointments are free but scarce in some provinces. Book as soon as you know your route and have your documents ready before the date.

    You need first: step 2

    How to do it, step by step

While you wait

Frequently asked questions

Are the NIE and the TIE the same thing?

No. The NIE is your number, for life. The TIE is the physical card that documents it if you are from outside the EU. EU citizens do not get a TIE: they get the registration certificate.

Does getting a NIE cost money?

The appointment is free; the procedure has a fee paid with form 790. The exact amount depends on your route and is listed in the NIE guide.

Can I work with just a standalone NIE?

No. A standalone NIE (form EX-15) works for things like buying property or an inheritance, but it gives no right to live or work in Spain.

Not your situation?

Start the questions again