In addition to the terms contained in the aforementioned section 6.1,foreigners who are permitted to remain in Spain, who have an administrative proceeding of alienage or who have economic, professional or social relationships with Spain, must apply for a personal, unique and exclusive number: the NIE.

The NIE is granted by the General Directorate of the Police (“Dirección General de Policía”) at the request of the applicant. This number must appear on all documents issued to, or processed for, them, as well as on any official notes stamped on their passports or like documents.

In order to obtain an NIE, the applicant must file the documents detailed above to the Foreigners Office (“Oficina de Extranjeros”) or to the General Police Department for Immigration Affairs (“Comisaría General de Extranjería y Documentación de la Policía”) corresponding to the place were the applicant has its domicile in Spain, and shall prove that it is not in illegal presence in Spain:

• NIE Application form: application form can be downloaded from the Ministry of the Interior (“Ministerio del Interior”) website:http://www.mir.es/SGACAVT/modelos/extranjeria/modelos_extranje/ex_14.pdf

• Original and photocopy of passport, duly authenticated and notarized, and accompanied by a sworn translation if the document is not in Spanish.

For those individuals aiming to obtain the NIE but which cannot appear before the competent authorities in Spain because they are in their country of origin, two alternatives can be followed:

• To previously grant a special power of attorney to a third party, to apply for the NIE on behalf of the grantor before the authorities in Spain. Said power of attorney must be legalized and apostilled, and shall be accompanied by a sworn translation if the document is not in Spanish.
• Apply for the NIE, by submitting the above-mentioned documents, at the diplomatic missions or Spanish Consulates in its country of residence.

The NIE shall be normally obtained in a 25 to 30 days term.

Application Form (in Spanish) (477kb.)

Prepared by Garrigues

 

Last updated: 24|02|2010