How to Get an NIE Number in Madrid: Offices, Form EX-15 and Fee
The NIE is the identification number Spain gives foreigners for contracts, taxes and property. This is how to request one at a Policía Nacional office in Madrid.
To get an NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) in Madrid, book a police cita previa for the province of Madrid, then bring form EX-15, your passport with a copy, a document showing why you need the number and the paid fee. As of November 2026 the fee on form 790 code 012 is €9.84.
What is the NIE and do you need to request it?
The NIE is a personal number for foreigners. Tax returns, employment contracts, property purchases, car registrations and residence cards all carry it, and it never changes once assigned.
Many people never apply for it separately. Under the immigration regulation in Real Decreto 1155/2024, in force since May 20, 2025, the number is assigned automatically when you receive a long-stay visa or start a residence procedure. A separate NIE request is for people with an economic, professional or social reason to deal with Spain who are not becoming residents through another procedure: buying a flat, inheriting, signing a contract or registering a business interest.
- Non-EU residents with a visa or residence permit: your NIE is on the visa or the resolution. Your next step is the card, covered in our guide to getting the TIE card in Madrid.
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens staying over three months: apply for the registration certificate instead; it shows your NIE. See the EU registration certificate in Madrid.
- Everyone else with a reason linked to Spain: request the NIE on its own, as explained below.
Which offices issue the NIE in Madrid?
In Madrid the NIE is handled by the Policía Nacional, not by the Oficina de Extranjería (the immigration office that decides residence applications). The main foreigners’ documentation offices in the city are in Aluche, in the Latina district, around Avenida de los Poblados and Avenida del Padre Piquer. Several police stations in towns of the Comunidad de Madrid, such as Alcalá de Henares, Alcobendas, Getafe and Móstoles, also handle foreigners’ documents.
You cannot walk in. The booking system decides the office: when you search for a slot, it lists the offices that have free appointments for the NIE procedure. Always go to the exact address printed on your appointment receipt, because offices and the procedures they handle change. The difference between the immigration office and police offices is explained in our guide to the Oficina de Extranjería in Madrid.
How do you book the cita previa?
Appointments are free and booked on the government’s cita previa de extranjería website.
- Open the site and choose the province of Madrid.
- Pick the police procedure for NIE assignment (asignación de NIE). The exact wording of the menu can change, so read the options carefully.
- Enter your passport number, full name and nationality exactly as in your passport.
- Choose an office and time from the slots offered, add a phone number or email, and confirm.
- Save or print the confirmation with the booking code.
If no slots appear, try again at different times of day over several days. New slots are released in batches. Never pay anyone for an appointment: they are free, and the Policía Nacional has broken up groups that used bots to grab slots and resell them. Report offers of paid appointments to the police.
What documents should you bring?
Bring originals and one photocopy of each document.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Form EX-15 | The official application for an NIE and certificates. Tick the NIE box and say whether you are a resident or non-resident. Sign it. |
| Passport or national ID | Valid, with a copy of all pages that carry data or stamps. |
| Reason for the request | A document showing the economic, professional or social purpose, such as a deposit contract for a flat, a notary appointment, a job offer or a letter from a Spanish company or university. |
| Fee receipt | Form 790 code 012, paid at a bank, with the NIE box ticked. |
| Power of attorney | Only if a representative applies for you; it must expressly cover the NIE request. |
Foreign documents may need an apostille or legalization and an official Spanish translation. If you are not sure whether your document needs them, ask the office or a licensed professional (abogado de extranjería or gestor) before the appointment.
How much does the NIE cost?
The NIE fee is paid with form 790 code 012. You fill it in on the Policía Nacional website, print it and pay it at a bank or through online banking before the appointment. As of November 2026 the amounts on that form for the most common procedures are:
| Procedure on form 790 code 012 | Fee (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| NIE assignment at the applicant’s request | €9.84 |
| Certificate or report requested by the applicant (each) | €7.31 |
| EU registration certificate or EU family member card | €12.00 |
| TIE card, first temporary residence or stay permit | €16.08 |
Tick only the line for your procedure. A fee paid for the wrong procedure is one of the common reasons for being sent away.
What happens at the appointment and how long does it take?
An officer checks your documents, takes the fee receipt and processes the request. In many cases the NIE certificate, a sheet of paper with your number, is handed over the same day. Some offices give it later or ask you to come back. The longer wait is usually for the appointment itself, which depends on how many slots are released.
The certificate has no photo and is not an ID document. Carry your passport with it. The number itself stays valid for life, even if the certificate says the paper was issued for a specific purpose.
How is an NIE different from a TIE?
The NIE is a number. The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is a plastic card with your photo and fingerprint that proves you hold a residence or long-stay permit, and it shows the same NIE.
| NIE certificate | TIE card | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Paper with your number | Photo ID card for residents |
| Who gets it | Anyone with a reason linked to Spain | Non-EU nationals with a permit of six months or more |
| Proves residence | No | Yes |
| Fee, form 790 code 012 | €9.84 (as of November 2026) | From €16.08 (as of November 2026) |
Bottom line
Before booking, check whether you need a separate NIE at all: if you are moving to Madrid with a visa or as an EU citizen, the number comes with your residence paperwork. If you do need one, get the paper on the reason for your request right, because it is the document officers question most.
FAQ
Can I get an NIE from outside Spain?
Yes. People living abroad apply at the Spanish consulate for their area with the same form EX-15. The consulate sets its own booking process and payment method.
Does the NIE expire?
No. The number is permanent. A certificate issued for a non-resident may mention a date or purpose, but the number stays the same for every later procedure.
Can someone else collect my NIE?
A representative can apply with a power of attorney that expressly allows the NIE request. Rules for collecting the certificate depend on the office, so ask at the appointment.
Does an NIE give me the right to live or work in Spain?
No. The NIE only identifies you. Residence and work depend on a visa, a residence permit or EU registration.
