FOREIGNERS IDENTITY NUMBER NIE

WHAT’S THE NIE
The NIE, known as Número de Identidad de Extranjero, is your essential personal identification number that will serve you in all your dealings in Spain!
This number will be requested everywhere and for any step (administrative or not). It is really essential and it is the first step that we advise you to take for your future installation in Spain.

HOW TO OBTAIN THE NIE ?
Our lawyer specialized in the real estate field will guide you in all your steps but you also have the possibility of obtaining the NIE in a personal way, that is to say:

Make the request before arriving in Spain by going to the nearest Spanish Consulate, it is possible that they will ask you for a reservation contract to obtain your NIE.
If you don’t want to or can’t go to a Spanish Consulate in France beforehand, don’t worry, the NIE application can also be made in Spain. To do so, you can make an appointment at a Police Station to make the request.
The procedure varies a little and is different depending on where you will be going.
To make an appointment, you just have to go to: https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/icpplus/
To select the city where you want to go
To select CNP Asignacion de NIE
To fill in your personal information
And finally, “Solicitar cita”, i.e. to request an appointment.
The time to make an appointment depends on the region, please allow at least 6 weeks.

Here are some examples of valid reasons for requesting a NIE:

Housing: buying or selling a property, register the property and identify the owner in the Spanish property register, mortgage…
Social Security: Obtain an affiliation number, registration with INEM (Pole-emploi) and application for unemployment benefits…
Relationship with the tax authorities: Incorporating or setting up a company, income tax declaration, corporation tax, VAT, inheritance and donation taxes…
Opening a bank account.
Other: vehicle registration, school and university registration of minors, homologation of diplomas, subscription to electricity, water, internet services…

GOOD TO KNOW

In Spain, many organizations offer their services for this type of approach. They are called Gestoria. You can take a fixed price to be accompanied to carry out this type of administrative procedure.
The NIE is not compulsory for children under 14 years of age. Indeed, they are until that age considered as the rightful beneficiaries of their parents. However, certain administrations such as the Social Security may ask you to do so.
In the same way that you keep your French nationality, the NIE is neither a residence permit nor a work permit.