How to get a NIE in Spain (and how it differs from the TIE and the visa)
Three acronyms trip up almost every new arrival: NIE, TIE, and the visa itself. Sort out which is which and the process gets simple. Here is what the NIE actually is, the three ways to get one in 2026, and what it costs.
Short version. The NIE is your Spanish ID number (for banking, rent and tax), the digital nomad visa is the permission to live and work, and the TIE is the physical card you get after approval. Apply for the visa at a consulate and your NIE is printed on it automatically. The government fee (Modelo 790-012) is about €9.84. Most nomads still get the NIE as a separate first step, via the consulate or a lawyer with power of attorney, so they can bank and rent on day one.
NIE vs visa vs TIE, untangled
| Term | What it is | When you get it |
|---|---|---|
| NIE | Your Spanish ID number (e.g. Y-1234567-X), used for banking, rent and tax | On the visa, or separately via the EX-15 form |
| Digital Nomad Visa | The legal right to live in Spain and work remotely | When the visa or residence permit is approved |
| TIE | The physical biometric residence card (it contains your NIE) | After approval, in Spain, with fingerprints |
The NIE on its own does not grant the right to live or work, that is what the visa is for. The TIE simply puts your NIE on a biometric card once you are approved.
The three ways to get your NIE
1. Through the visa (at a consulate)
If you apply for the one-year digital nomad visa from a Spanish consulate in your home country, you usually do not need to apply for a NIE separately. It is generated on approval and printed directly on the visa sticker in your passport. Need it earlier (say, to open a bank account first)? Book a dedicated NIE appointment and submit the EX-15 form.
2. In Spain, at a police station
If you enter as a tourist to apply for the three-year permit, you can get the NIE yourself. Book a cita previa (appointment) at a National Police station (Comisaría) or immigration office (Oficina de Extranjería), and bring the completed EX-15 form, your passport, and proof you paid the Modelo 790-012 tax.
3. Via a lawyer with power of attorney
The smoothest route for many nomads. Before you travel, grant a Spanish lawyer a power of attorney (notarized and apostilled at home). They obtain your NIE blanco at a police station on your behalf, so you land with the number already in hand and can set up banking and housing immediately.
The cost, and the payment quirk
The NIE tax itself is small: the Modelo 790 Código 012, roughly €9.84 in 2025-2026, for the option labelled "Asignación de Número de Identidad de Extranjero." The quirk catches people out: you must pay it at a Spanish bank (ATM or counter) before your appointment, because the police station accepts neither cash nor card on-site. If a lawyer handles the NIE for you, their service fee sits on top of that tax.
Is the NIE really automatic with the visa?
Technically yes, but with a catch worth knowing. Apply at a consulate and the NIE appears on your visa. Apply from inside Spain through the UGE with just your passport, and a NIE is generated on your approval letter. The snag: to file that UGE application online yourself you need a Spanish digital certificate, and you cannot get one without already having a NIE. That circularity is why most immigration advisers tell digital nomads to treat the NIE as a separate first step rather than waiting for the visa to produce it.
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What is the difference between a NIE and a TIE?
The NIE is your Spanish identification number, first issued on a white A4 sheet (the NIE blanco). The TIE is the physical biometric residence card that contains that number. You apply for the TIE only after your digital nomad visa or residence permit has been approved, so the NIE comes first and the TIE later.
Do I get a NIE automatically with the digital nomad visa?
If you apply at a consulate for the one-year visa, yes, the NIE is generated and printed on the visa sticker in your passport. If you apply from inside Spain through the UGE, it is also issued on your approval letter. But because you need a NIE for almost everything (a bank account, a lease, even the digital certificate to file online), most people still arrange it as a separate first step.
How much does a NIE cost?
The government fee is the Modelo 790 Código 012, about €9.84 in 2025-2026. You pay it at a Spanish bank (ATM or branch) before your appointment, because the police station will not take payment on-site. If a lawyer obtains the NIE for you, they charge their own fee on top of that tax.
Can I get a NIE before moving to Spain?
Yes. Either book a NIE appointment at your nearest Spanish consulate and submit the EX-15 form, or grant a Spanish lawyer a notarized and apostilled power of attorney so they can obtain your NIE blanco before you land. Getting it early means you can open a bank account and rent the moment you arrive.
Do I need a NIE to open a Spanish bank account?
Yes. The NIE is required for a resident bank account, a rental contract, utilities and tax, which is exactly why getting it early (or via the visa) matters. Without it, setting up daily life in Spain stalls.
Government fees, appointment systems, and consular procedures change, and individual consulates and police offices apply them differently. Figures reflect 2025-2026 Spanish guidance at the time of writing. This is general information, not legal advice, so confirm the current process with your consulate or a Spanish immigration lawyer before you rely on it.