Your Step by Step Guide to Apply for a NIE or TIE in Madrid 2024

The NIE card and the TIE card are the most common legal documents that are required by both EU citizens (NIE Spain) and Non-EU citizens (TIE Spain) who plan to move to Spain. In combination with other documents like the Empadronamiento and the Social Security Number, the NIE card and the TIE card are important documents that verify your legal status in Spain and should be applied for very early into your time here.

To make sure you have a clear understanding of exactly which documents you need to apply for, make sure to check out our Spain Immigration Guide. If you have read the guide already and still have some doubts as to which documents you need, please fill out our free Immigration Support Form so we can point you in the right direction.

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Although the NIE card and the TIE card are required for almost all foreigners moving to Spain, the application process is notoriously painful. With a lack of coherent information online, language barriers and long waiting times. That’s why we’ve put together this highly detailed step-by-step guide to help European Union citizens apply for their NIE card and to help Non-European citizens apply for their TIE card.

Get your NIE/TIE in Madrid and other Spanish cities fast and easy with MTS Relocation & Consulting Services! A reliable and experienced company that specializes in NIE card and TIE card applications! They are offering up to 50% off for international students, so make sure to check out their services to get your free advice & a free quote!

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Important: The Citylife team has collected the information below via intense research in collaboration with MTS Relocation & Consulting Services and Proyecto Océano, two very known legal & relocation companies in Spain. Please keep in mind that we are not directly related to any legal or government departments. We have tried to break down the most common situations and requirements for internationals, students and expats, coming to live in Spain. We cannot speak for everyone’s specific case nor can we speak on the specifics of every autonomous region in Spain. Please remember to use this article as a compliment to your own research on official government sites.

1. NIE/TIE Madrid – What is it & Which one do you Need to Apply For?

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The NIE number (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is an identity number that everyone who plans to live in Spain for longer than 3 months is required to apply for. It consists of 1 letter at the beginning, 7 numbers and 1 letter at the end (X0000000-R). It will act as your foreigner’s ID number and will be your key to life in Spain as it will be used when applying for nearly anything. For example, you need a NIE number in Spain for the following:

As we mentioned above, everyone – meaning both EU and Non-EU citizens – planning on staying in Spain longer than 3 months is required, by law, to apply for a NIE number. For EU citizens, the NIE number will be printed on the NIE card and this card can be applied for within the first 3 months of your stay in Spain. For Non-EU citizens who plan to stay in Spain for longer than 6 months, the NIE number will be printed on the TIE card and this card must be applied for within the first 30 days of your stay. For Non-EU citizens who plan to stay in Spain for 6 months or less the NIE number should be printed on the visa within your passport and will be done as a part of your visa application*.

*Some consulates have not adapted to the new system of printing the NIE number on applicant’s visas. If you are planning to stay in Spain for 6 months or less and your visa does not have a NIE number printed on it, please fill out our free Spain Immigration Form so we can point you in the right direction.

In the next paragraph we will explain in detail what the NIE card and TIE card are, how to qualify and how to apply for them. If you do not need to know the full explanation of each, feel free to skip ahead to the step-by-step guides for applying to each using the buttons below. The guides will help you understand if you really need to apply for a NIE or TIE in Spain as well as give detailed instructions on how to get your NIE or TIE appointment online, how to fill out the correct documents and how to submit them. Both guides focus on the NIE/TIE application process in Madrid, however they are very similar all over Spain.

1.1 NIE Spain – What is a NIE Card (EU Citizens)?

The NIE card is officially known as the “Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la UE“. But to keep it simple, people often refer to it as just the NIE. It is a green paper card with one laminated side that has the applicant’s details printed on it. As its official name suggests, this is the document that citizens of the European Union (or equivalent) will apply for when moving to Madrid to work or study for longer than 3 months. You can only apply for the NIE Card from Spain, however you can start looking for appointments dates and collecting the required documents from home.

There is a second type of NIE that often gets confused for the “Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la UE”. It is simply known as the “Asignación de NIE” and it is applied for with the EX-15 form. Keep in mind this NIE is NOT the one you need if you are moving to Spain to study or work. It does not give any kind of residency status. Read more about the uses of the “Asignación de NIE” in our FAQ section.

1.2 TIE Spain – What is a TIE card (Non-EU Citizens)?

The TIE card is officially known as the “Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero“, but its name is often shortened to TIE. It is a plastic card that has the applicant’s details as well as their photo, their fingerprint and the expiration date printed on it. This is the document that all Non-Europeans who are staying in Spain for more than 6 months will need to apply for. The card classification will differ depending on the type of visa the applicant applies with – the most common being the student TIE. You can only apply for the TIE Card from Spain, however you can start looking for appointments dates and collecting the required documents from home.

1.3 Cita Previa – Applying for a NIE/TIE in Spain

When applying for either a NIE card or a TIE card in Spain you first need to make what is called a “cita previa” (appointment online). The cita previa is simply an appointment made at the Spain Immigration offices in the Spanish city that you’re living in and it has to be done within a certain time of your arrival (e.g. for the TIE card you have to apply within the first 30 days). You can make these appointments by visiting the official Spain administration website and selecting your province as well as the legal document you need to apply for.

When making your cita previa, the correct names for each appointment look like this:

For the NIE card: Policia-Certificados de Registros de Ciudadano de la U.E

For the TIE card: Policía – Toma de Huellas (Expedición de Tarjeta) y Renovación de Tarjeta de Larga Duración

Once you have chosen your province and the correct legal document to apply for, you will be required to complete some personal information. Afterwards, you need to select an appointment time slot. There will be a time limit, so make sure you choose quickly. You’ll have to confirm your selection by entering a code and checking some boxes. Once confirmed you’ll be sent your appointment confirmation.

Seems pretty easy right? Well, the truth is that applying for a NIE card or TIE card in Spain tends to be very stressful and time consuming for various reasons that are completely unavoidable. From trying to find an appointment date and filling out the complicated application forms correctly. To collecting all the right documents that you need, some of which require their own appointments and application forms.

If you want to avoid these issues completely then we recommend reaching out to MTS Relocation & Consulting Services! Their experienced team can help you apply for your NIE card or your TIE card quickly and successfully with minimal hassle. All you have to do is fill out their consultation form today and receive a free quote and a free consultation to go over your situation.

For a step-by-step guide on making an appointment now, skip ahead to our chapter on applying for the NIE or applying for the TIE.

2. How to Apply for a NIE in Madrid as an EU Citizen

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Our comprehensive “Step-by-step NIE Spain application guide” below will outline everything, from what you need to submit, making an appointment and how to fill out the forms. Make sure you read it carefully so you don’t miss any important details!