You're bags are packed. You're excited to go to Spain and live there and trying hard not to giggle practicing your "Ola!" to every person you meet in the street. And then suddenly, they asked for your NIE number. What?! You have no idea what it is. They say you need an NIE number before you can actually live in Spain. You say you don't have it. Your world just crash in...
Okay, not so fast there. So you need an NIE ('Número de Identificación de Extranjero' in Spanish). It's actually an identification number for foreigners in Spain. It's an identification number given to non-residents of Spain. It allows you to do a lot of things legally in Spain.
But what is it for?
You actually need an NIE For the following: - Studying in Spain - Buying or selling a house/ resident in Spain - Applying for business permit - Applying for mortgage or other loan in Spain - Employment in Spain - Applying for a driver's license in Spain and buying a car - Property insurance in Spain - And applying to the national social security health plan in Spain
The NIE number is given to foreigners who wish to reside/ work/ study or make legal transactions in Spain and used to follow- up the foreigners' financial status and activities made by the foreigner in Spain.
So, how to apply for a Spanish NIE number?
You have to apply personally in Spain. Here's how:
1. Go to a local National Police Station to the Foreigner's Department and you ask for the NIE application form.
2. You have to prepare these documents and their photocopies beforehand: filled NIE application form and photocopy, passport, your address in Spain, and a letter stating why you need an NIE number (issued by an accountant, notary, an insurance agent, employer, school, etc.)
3. When you pass all these documents with their photocopy with the filled-up application form, a stamped photocopy of the application form is returned to you along with your passport. You will be informed (or you can ask) when you can get your NIE number. Remember, you must present the stamped copy and your passport to pick your NIE number.
You can also apply in person via a Spanish Consulate abroad.
1. You have to prepare the necessary documents with their photocopies: passport, 2 recent passport size photographs with a plain colored background, 2 copies of the appropriate application form duly completed but not yet signed because you will have to sign it before the consulate. The application form will not be provide by the consulate so you have to get it beforehand, a self-addressed envelope (no stamp) , an envelope addressed to:
Comisaría General de Extranjería y Documentación Dirección General de Policia C/ General Pardiñas, 90 28006 Madrid
And a letter of justification why you need an NIE number duly signed by an accountant, employer, etc.
2. You have to pass all these documents in person to your nearest Spanish Consulate.
The Spanish consul will not be the one to provide you with NIE number. They only will receive your application—they serve more like a postal box. They will not provide you information regarding your application. If all goes well, you will receive your number within 4-6 weeks.
3. You can authorize a third party to apply on your behalf in Spain.
You can apply by going to a notary public in Spain or another country or to the Spanish consul general if applying outside Spain. Based on their new rule, any foreigners who wish to acquire an NIE number will have to go to Spain and personally apply for the NIE number unless you can authorize a lawyer—a notary public in Spain or in your country to have another person apply for an NIE number on you behalf. But if you do apply for this procedure outside Spain, you will need Hague Apostille and an official translation. With this, your lawyer must be first recognized by the Spanish government after this the lawyer can now authorize your third party to represent you in the application for an NIE number.
Now that you have the knowledge and choices on the purpose of an NIE number and how to get it, lose no time in applying for an NIE number so not to have any legal problems in Spain and will have a smooth flow of any transaction you wish to apply in Spain.
Disfrute de y viaje bien! (Spanish word for enjoy and travel well)
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