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What is NIE ? |
NIE or Numero de Identificacion de Extranjeros is basically a tax identification
number for foreigners in Spain and is issued by the National Police of Spain. You
need it if you are going to work for a Spanish company or if you are going to buy
a house or a car. The NIE number starts with ‘X’ and is followed by seven numbers
and a letter.
If you are an EU citizen, you no longer have to apply for your NIE number
separately - you will be given one when you register as a foreign resident .
Non-EU citizens still need to apply for an NIE number. The application form
can obtained from the local police station. You will need to take your passport.
The forms are fairly straightforward and you will have your NIE number within 2-6
weeks of applying. When applying for your NIE number you must also take along a
work certificate as a proof of your employment, stamped with your employer's stamp
and the company's NIE number. It is advised to start early in the morning as the
queue tends to be a fairly large one and if you fall back in the queue, chances
are you will have to come back the next day.
Earlier, NIE used to be on a plastic card, but modern NIE Number is issued
on a standard A4 page, with the recipients full name (as written on the passport
used during the application process), their place of birth, their nationality, and
the number itself, along with a stamp and signature provided by the National Police.,
so once you receive it, you should make lots of copies and keep the original in
a safe place. If you lose it you will be required to repeat the application procedure.
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