This page is for people who need an NIE number and for those who want to know whether they have to request it separately while getting legal status.
How does an NIE differ from a TIE and a residence permit?
An NIE is only a number. The TIE card that carries this number confirms your legal status, and the right to live in the country itself comes from a decision granting a permit or temporary protection.
| NIE | TIE | Permit or temporary protection | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A personal number | A card with the NIE number | A decision by an authority |
| Does it give the right to live in Spain | No | Confirms a right you already have | Yes |
| Does it give the right to work | No | Confirms what the decision grants | Depends on the type of permit |
The consular section of the Embassy of Spain in Kyiv says it plainly: an NIE obtained through the consulate lets you deal with Spanish public authorities, but it does not give the right to live in Spain and does not prove residence. The Spanish Tax Agency adds that the number does not mean you are in Spain legally or allowed to work. For the Tax Agency, the NIE is also a foreign national’s tax number.
Who gets an NIE automatically, and who has to request one separately?
People who apply for a permit or temporary protection are assigned a number as part of that procedure. The same applies to people who have a case open with the immigration authorities.
Holders of temporary protection do not need to apply for an NIE separately. When they apply, their fingerprints are taken and they receive a receipt that already shows the assigned number.
People who have economic, professional or social interests in Spain request an NIE separately. The Regulation sets two conditions: the person is not in Spain illegally and explains why they need the number.
Where do you apply for an NIE?
In Spain, you apply in person to the Directorate-General of the Police directly or through the immigration office (Oficina de Extranjería) or police stations. You book an appointment through the official cita previa service. In the list of police services the procedure is usually called “Certificados y asignación de NIE”; the name may differ slightly from one station to another.
From abroad, you apply through a Spanish consulate. At the consular section of the Embassy of Spain in Kyiv, you book an appointment by email at [email protected].
What documents do you need?
The police list two documents: an application on form EX-15 and form 790 with code 012 showing the paid fee. You explain the reason for your request in form EX-15 itself.
The consular section in Kyiv asks for:
- form EX-15, original and copy;
- a valid passport, original and a copy of the data page;
- a completed form 790-012;
- for citizens of countries other than Ukraine, also a residence permit in Ukraine;
- if a representative applies for you, a power of attorney.
The EX-15 form is free, and selling it is prohibited. Download the current version from the official website, not from old collections of forms.
How much does an NIE cost?
In 2026 the fee for assigning an NIE at the applicant’s request is €9.84. The amount is the same on the police website and in the annex to Orden PJC/617/2025. You pay the fee at a bank with form 790-012; you do not need an account at that bank.
At the consular section in Kyiv, the fee is UAH 469, paid in cash when you apply.
How long do you wait for the number?
Under the Regulation, the police must decide within five days. If there is no reply within that time, the application is deemed rejected.
Through a consulate, according to the embassy in Kyiv, the number is issued in two weeks on average, and the reply is sent by email.
Does an NIE expire?
The number itself does not: it is assigned once, and the Regulation calls it personal, unique and exclusive. Neither Article 205 of the Regulation nor the police website states how long a certificate with the number is valid. If an office asks for a “recent” certificate, check its requirements.
What mistakes should you avoid?
- Treating an NIE as a residence or work permit. The number gives no such right.
- Requesting an NIE separately when you are already applying for temporary protection. The number will be on your application receipt.
- Buying the EX-15 form or an appointment from intermediaries. The form is free, and appointments are booked on the official website.