رقم NIE وحساب بنكي إسباني: الخطوتان الأوليان

Before you can buy a home in Spain you need two things: an NIE, which is a Spanish tax number for foreigners, and a Spanish bank account. The notary will not sign the sale without them, so get both early. This guide explains how.

What the NIE is and why it comes first

The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is your personal number in Spain. It is not a visa and it does not let you live here. It is the number that appears on your tax forms, your purchase deed and your bank account, and every office uses it to find your file. Check that your name and passport details are correct when you get it, because the number follows you through every step.

You do not need to live in Spain to have an NIE. Many buyers keep the same number for years while they divide their time between the Costa Tropical and home.

Getting one from home or at a police station

You can apply in two places. From abroad, apply at the Spanish consulate in your country. In Spain, apply at a National Police station or a Foreigners' Office. For the police or the Foreigners' Office you must book an appointment online first, through the government system called icpplus.

The papers are the same in both places. Bring form EX-15, filled in twice and signed. Bring your passport and a photocopy of it. You also have to say why you need the number. For a buyer, the reason is the purchase.

You also pay a small fee of €9.84 on form 790, code 012. Fill in the form, pay it at a bank, and bring the receipt to your appointment. On the form, choose the option for an NIE requested by the applicant. The fee can change, so check it on the day.

Using a lawyer to do it for you

A lawyer can apply for you. This helps if you cannot easily get to a consulate or come to Spain. The lawyer needs your signed power of attorney, a document that allows them to act in your name.

If you sign the power of attorney outside Spain, it needs an apostille (an international stamp that confirms the document is genuine) and a sworn translation into Spanish. Allow time for both. A local lawyer knows what each office will accept, and on a first purchase that saves a lot of trouble.

Opening a non-resident bank account

With your NIE you can open a bank account. Most buyers who do not live here yet open a non-resident account. The bank will ask for your passport and NIE, and often a certificate of non-residence as well. Each bank has its own list, so ask the branch for it before you start.

The certificate of non-residence comes from the National Police, not from the bank. You request it on the same EX-15 form and pay with the same 790 code 012 form. It is valid for three months, so ask for it shortly before the bank needs it.

Why you need both before completion

You need both before you sign. The notary needs your NIE to sign the deed that completes the sale. The purchase money, and the taxes and fees after it, are normally paid from a Spanish bank account. Open the account well before completion, so you are not rushing in the last week.

Neither one is hard to get. The trouble starts only when buyers leave both until just before the signing.

How long it all takes

The office itself is quick. Once your papers are in, the police have five days to issue the NIE or the certificate of non-residence. The slow part is usually getting an appointment.

Consulates have their own waiting times, so check yours before you plan anything. How long the bank takes depends on the branch and on whether your papers are complete. Our advice: start as soon as you decide to buy.

When the NIE and the account are ready, the next question is how much the purchase costs on top of the price. Our guide to buying costs in Spain lists the taxes and fees, and the حاسبة التمويل العقاري helps if you plan to borrow.