INTERES Invest in Spain

Foreigners who are able to remain in Spain, who have applied for a work and residence authorization, or who have economic, professional or social ties to Spain, must apply for a personal, unique and exclusive number: the NIE. This number must appear on all documents issued to, or processed for, them, as well as on any official notes stamped on their passports or like documents. The Directorate-General of Police has to issue a NIE in the case of foreigners who are entitled to remain in Spain or have applied for a work and residence authorization, while foreigners with economic, professional or social ties to Spain have to apply to the Directorate-General of Police for an NIE. In order to obtain an NIE foreigners must submit the following documents (apart from demonstrating that they are not in Spain in irregular circumstances):

• Application form: application form can be downloaded from the Ministry of the Interior website and it is included at the end of this page.
  
• Original and photocopy of passport, duly authenticated, and notarized, and accompanied by a sworn translation if the document is not in Spanish.

The documentation must be presented to:

• the General Police Department for Immigration Affairs and Documentation of the province in which the application is being made.
  
• the diplomatic representations or Spanish consulates located in the residing country of the applicant.