Entry and Residence >EU > NIE (Foreigner Identification Number)

Procedure for obtaining an NIE

Who must complete this process and why? All foreigners with financial, professional or other interests in Spain are issued with a personal, unique and exclusive identification number. This number has to feature in all official documents, as also in any annotations to the foreigner's passport or similar document.

Institution/Support Centre:

Interior Ministry
Tel. 900 150 000 Citizen information office
www.mir.es/SGACAVT/extranje/ciudadanos_UE/nie.html

Procedure for obtaining the NIE in Catalonia___________________________________________

What should I do before I come to Catalonia? You can only apply for the NIE in Catalonia.

Where can I get an NIE? You can only obtain an NIE once you are in Catalonia. Although there is no legal time limit, it is advisable to obtain an NIE as soon as possible. Once you have an address, and depending on where you are based, you should proceed as follows:

Barcelona

Present your application in person, on any working day, to Hall B of the Foreigns Office located at No. 4, Av. Marqués de l'Argentera, in Barcelona. There is no need to make an appointment. For further information, phone 93 520 14 10.

Tarragona

Present your application in person, on any working day, to the Police Station located at No. 1, Plaça de Orleans, 43005 Tarragona. For further information, phone 977 24 86 15.

Alternatively, a foreign national may request the Human Resources and Organisation Department of the Rovira i Virgili University to make the application on his/her behalf to the Tarragona Police Station. Once the NIE is issued this Department will send it to the foreign national.

Lleida

Present your application in person, on any working day, to the Immigration Office located at No. 36, Avinguda Prat de la Riba, Lleida. There is no need to make an appointment. For further information, phone 973 95 92 30.

Girona

Present your application in person, on any working day, to the Immigration Office located at No. 14, Plaça Josep Pla, Girona. There is no need to make an appointment. For further information, phone 972 06 91 40.

What documentation is required? The documents you will need are the following:

Printed copy of EX-14
Two recent passport-size colour photos taken against a white background. These should not be laminated, and photocopies are not acceptable.
Original and two photocopies of a valid passport, registration certificate, or travel document.
If applicable, the original and a copy of any previous application for a residence permit for Spain.
Original and photocopy of doccuments to certify that you observe the requests defined on article 101.3 a) and b) of the Foreigns Law Regulations:

• Documentary evidence that the applicant is not living illegally in Spain.
• Documentary evidence of the reasons for the application, i.e. the existence of economic, professional or other interests in Spain.

Updated October 2008