Essential Spanish Documents for Expats

What is the NIE?

The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is the absolute starting point for every foreigner in Spain.

• What is it? The NIE is a unique identification number. It is personal, permanent, and will be assigned to you for life. Think of it as your unique identifier within the Spanish administrative system, similar to a Social Security Number in the US or a National Insurance Number in the UK. Its format is a letter (X, Y, or Z), followed by seven digits, and a final verification letter (e.g., Y-1234567-B).
• What is NOT? The NIE is not a physical card in itself, nor is it a visa or residence permit. Possessing a NIE number does not, on its own, grant you the legal right to live in Spain. It is purely an administrative number for identification.
• Who needs it? Every foreigner who has economic, professional, or social dealings in Spain. This includes:

•   EU and non-EU citizens planning to live in Spain.

•   Non-residents who want to buy property.

•   Anyone who needs to file taxes, start a business, or inherit assets in Spain.

The NIE is the number. The following documents are the physical, legal proofs of your status, and your NIE will be printed on them.

Residency Proof for EU Citizens in Spain: Green Certificate

If you are a citizen of the European Union, European Economic Area, or Switzerland and you plan to live in Spain for more than three months, you must register as a resident.

• Official Name: Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión.
• Common Name: The "Green NIE" or NIE Verde.
• What it is: This is the document that proves your legal right to reside in Spain as an EU citizen.
• Physical Format: A small, credit-card-sized green paper certificate. Crucially, it does not have a photo. For this reason, it is only valid as proof of residency when presented alongside your valid passport or national ID card from your home country.
• Does it expire? The certificate itself does not have an expiry date, but it reflects your residency status. After five years of continuous legal residence, you can apply for a permanent version.

Residency Proof for Non-EU Citizens: TIE Card

If you are a non-EU citizen who has been granted a visa to live in Spain for a period longer than six months, you are required to obtain a TIE.

• Official Name: Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero.
• Common Name: The TIE card.
• What it is: This is your physical, biometric residence permit card. It is the definitive proof of your legal residency status in Spain and the conditions of that residency (e.g., permitted to work, student, etc.).
• Physical Format: A plastic, credit-card-sized ID card containing your photo, fingerprints (biometric data), signature, address, your NIE number, and the type of residency you hold.
• Does it expire? Yes. The TIE card has a validity period that matches your residence authorization. You must renew your authorization first, and then renew your TIE card before it expires.

NIE vs. Green Certificate vs. TIE

Characteristic	NIE (The Number)	Green Certificate (EU Citizens)	TIE Card (Non-EU Citizens)
What is it?	A unique administrative number.	A paper certificate proving residency.	A biometric ID card proving residency.
Who is it for?	All foreigners with ties to Spain.	EU/EEA/Swiss citizens residing in Spain.	Non-EU citizens residing in Spain.
Physical Format	A number printed on a document.	Green paper, no photo.	Plastic card with photo & biometrics.
Valid as a standalone ID?	No.	No, must be with passport/national ID.	Yes, within Spain.
Does it expire?	The number is for life.	The certificate is valid as long as you are a resident.	Yes, it must be renewed.

Application process: A step-by-step guide to getting your Spanish ID

Now that you understand what you need, let's see how to get it.

This is a practical, step-by-step guide to the forms, appointments, and fees involved in obtaining your residence document in Spain.

Step 1: Cita Previaor per appointment

You cannot simply walk into an office. You must book a Cita Previa (prior appointment) online for any of these procedures. This is often the most challenging step due to high demand.

1.  Go to the official Public Administration website: Sede Electrónica.

2.  Select your province (e.g., Barcelona, Madrid, Alicante).

3.  In the dropdown menu for TRÁMITES POLICÍA NACIONAL, you must select the correct option for your specific case. This is crucial:

•   For the TIE card (Non-EU): Select “POLICÍA–TOMA DE HUELLAS (EXPEDICIÓN DE TARJETA)…”. This is for fingerprinting and submitting your TIE application.

•   For the Green Certificate (EU): Select “POLICÍA–CERTIFICADO DE REGISTRO DE CIUDADANO DE LA U.E.”.

•   To pick up your TIE card: Once it's ready, you must book another appointment by selecting “POLICÍA–RECOGIDA DE TARJETA DE IDENTIDAD DE EXTRANJERO (TIE)”.

⚠️ New appointments are often released on Monday mornings. Be persistent, check frequently, and if the system says there are no appointments, take screenshots as proof you have been trying.

Step 2: What to Bring to Your Appointment

Being over-prepared is your best strategy. Bring originals and photocopies of everything.

Checklist for the TIE Card (Non-EU Citizens)

• Application Form EX-17: Completed and signed. For some specific visas like the Digital Nomad Visa, you may need the MI-TIE form.
• Passport: Original and a photocopy of all pages, including blank ones.
• Entry Stamp/Proof of Arrival: A copy of the page in your passport with your entry stamp for Spain, or your boarding pass.
• Passport Photos: Three recent, color, passport-sized (32x26mm) photos with a white background. Ensure your face contrasts with the background.
• Visa Resolution: The official letter or visa sticker in your passport granting you the right to reside in Spain.
• Proof of Fee Payment (Tasa): The stamped receipt for Modelo 790 Código 012. (More on this in Step 3).
• Certificado de Empadronamiento (Padrón): A certificate proving you are registered at an address in your municipality. This must be recent (usually issued within the last 3 months).
• Proof of Appointment: The confirmation email of your Cita Previa.
• Social Security/Health Insurance: Documents proving registration if required by your visa type.

Checklist for the Green Certificate or NIE Verde (EU Citizens)

The NIE is solely the identification number, not the certificate itself.

There is no official document specifically called "NIE Verde"; it's a common informal term used because the Certificate of Registration as an EU Citizen Resident (Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión) is indeed printed on a green-colored sheet of paper.

• Application Form EX-18: Completed and signed.
• Passport or National ID Card: Original and a photocopy.
• Proof of Status in Spain: You must prove you won't be a burden on the state. This can be:

•   An employment contract or proof of being self-employed.

•   Proof of sufficient financial resources (a Spanish bank statement showing over €6,000) AND proof of comprehensive public or private health insurance in Spain.

• Proof of Fee Payment (Tasa): The stamped receipt for Modelo 790 Código 012.
• Proof of Appointment: The confirmation email of your Cita Previa.

Step 3: Paying the fee – `Tasa Modelo 790 Código 012’

This is a mandatory administrative fee that must be paid before your appointment, if you have a NIE. If you don't have a NIE it's impossible to pay it.

⚠️ Cash payment at a bank is still common, but the option for online payment is available depending on the province and the specific procedure.

1.  Go to the official police website to fill out the form online.

2.  Complete your personal details (NIE, name, address).

3.  Under the "AUTOLIQUIDACIÓN" section, you must check the correct box:

•   For the TIE Card, check: “TIE que documenta la primera concesión de la autorización de residencia temporal...” (Fee is approx. €16).

•   For the Green Certificate, check: “Certificado de registro de residente comunitario...” (Fee is approx. €12).

4.  For payment method (forma de pago), select “en efectivo” (in cash).

5.  Click to download the completed PDF. Print all pages, take them to any major Spanish bank, and pay the fee in cash. The bank will stamp your copy. This stamped copy is the proof you must bring to your appointment.

Step 4: Appointment and what comes next

• TIE Process: You will submit your documents, and they will take your fingerprints electronically. You will be given a receipt (Resguardo) which is proof of your application. This receipt will have a número de LOTE which you can use to track the status of your card production online. Once it's ready (usually 30-45 days), you must book the "Recogida" (pick-up) appointment to collect your card.
• Green Certificate Process: You will submit your documents. If everything is correct, the official will print your green certificate and give it to you on the spot.

Beyond residency: Spain's tax, business, and social security numbers

You've secured your residency document, but your administrative journey isn't over.

Living and working in Spain means interacting with other systems, each with its own set of identification numbers. Here’s the final part of the puzzle.

Tax identification: NIF

The NIF (Número de Identificación Fiscal) is the generic term for a Tax ID Number. It's not a new number you need to apply for; it's simply the number the Spanish Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria) uses to identify you.

• For Foreigners: Your tax ID (NIF) is simply your NIE number. When you fill out a tax form, where it asks for your NIF, you write your NIE.
• For Spanish Citizens: Their NIF is their DNI number (Documento Nacional de Identidad).
• For Companies: Companies have a unique NIF that identifies them as a legal entity for tax purposes. This number used to be called a CIF, and you will still hear that term used colloquially. The first letter of a company's NIF indicates its business structure:

•   A: Sociedad Anónima (corporation)

•   B: Sociedad Limitada (limited liability company)

•   G: Association

•   N: Foreign entity with a presence in Spain

VAT Number (Número IVA)

For businesses (freelancers and companies) that engage in trade with other EU countries, a VAT number is required. This is not automatic.

You must register for it in the Registry of Intra-Community Operators (ROI). Once approved, your VAT number is your country code ("ES") followed by your NIF (which for a person is their NIE).

• Example for a freelancer: ESY1234567B

Social security numbers: Work and benefits

This system is completely separate from immigration and is managed by the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social.

Personal Social Security Number (Número de Afiliación a la Seguridad Social - NUSS):

• What is it for? This is your personal number for the Spanish social security system. It is essential for working, accessing public healthcare, receiving unemployment benefits, maternity/paternity leave, and your future state pension.
• How to get it? You apply for it once you have a formal job offer or are registering as self-employed (autónomo). You will need to complete Form TA.1 and submit it along with your ID (TIE/Green Certificate) and proof of employment.

Employer's Contribution Code (Código de Cuenta de Cotización - CCC):

• What is it? This is the number that identifies a company as an employer within the social security system. It is the code under which the company pays social security contributions for its employees. You don't apply for this, but you will see it on your employment contract and on your monthly payslip (nómina).

Living with Your Spanish ID - Renewals, FAQs, and Pro-Tips

You’ve navigated the appointments, conquered the paperwork, and finally have your TIE card or Green Certificate in hand. Congratulations! This is a huge milestone. But your relationship with the Spanish bureaucracy doesn't end here.

Let's dive a bit on what you'll go through.

Renewing your residency: TIE Card

Your TIE card has an expiration date for a reason: it is tied directly to your legal residence permit, which is temporary. It is your responsibility to renew it.

1.  Renew Your Residence Authorization First: This is the most critical concept. You are not just renewing a plastic card; you are renewing your legal right to live in Spain. The process for this varies greatly depending on your visa type (e.g., renewing a work permit is different from renewing a non-lucrative visa). This renewal is typically done online through the immigration portal within the 60 days before, or 90 days after, your TIE's expiration date.

2.  Get a Favorable Decision (Resolución Favorable): Once your residency renewal is approved, you will receive an official notification. This is the green light to renew your physical card.

3.  Renew the Physical TIE Card: Once you have the approval letter, the process is almost identical to when you first applied for your TIE:

•   Book a Cita Previa for “TOMA DE HUELLAS (EXPEDICIÓN DE TARJETA)…”.

•   Fill out the EX-17 form.

•   Pay the Tasa 790 Código 012 fee again.

•   Bring all your documents, including your old TIE card and the Resolución Favorable, to the appointment for fingerprinting.

•   Return in 30-45 days to pick up your new TIE card.

What about the Green Certificate (EU Citizens)?

The initial Green Certificate does not expire. However, after five years of continuous legal residency, you are eligible for permanent residency. You can then go through a similar administrative process to update your certificate to reflect your permanent status, which provides additional security and rights.

Your common doubts about Spanish docs

• Can I work with just a NIE number?

No. The NIE is just a number. Your right to work is determined by your residence permit. The TIE card for a work visa will explicitly state “autoriza a trabajar.” The Green Certificate for an EU citizen, combined with their right to work across the EU, allows them to work. The white, non-resident NIE certificate does not grant any right to work.

• Is the NIE the same as the DNI?

No. The NIE is for foreigners. The DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad) is the national ID card for Spanish citizens only.

• Why can't I ever find a Cita Previa appointment?

This is a widespread and frustrating issue due to overwhelming demand. The best advice is to be persistent. Check the website very early on Monday mornings, try at off-peak hours, and keep refreshing. If you are consistently unable to book, taking screenshots of your attempts can serve as proof that you have been trying to comply with the legal deadlines.

• The official at the appointment was unhelpful/rejected my application. What now?

Unfortunately, this can happen. The interpretation of rules can sometimes vary between offices or even individual civil servants. If you are rejected, make sure you receive an official paper (requerimiento) explaining exactly what is missing or incorrect. This gives you a clear path to follow to correct the mistake and re-apply. Staying calm and polite is always the best strategy.

• Do I have to speak Spanish for my appointment?

The process is entirely in Spanish. While some officials in major cities may speak some English, you cannot rely on it. If you are not confident in your Spanish, it is highly recommended to bring a Spanish-speaking friend, a translator, or hire a professional gestor or lawyer to accompany you.