An NIE number in Spain is the identification number that every foreign buyer needs before signing for a property in Mallorca. Without it the notary cannot authorise the deed, the bank will not open your account and the tax authorities cannot link the purchase taxes to you. Obtaining it is not complicated, but it has to be planned around the transaction timetable, especially if you are not in Spain. This page explains what the NIE is, how non-residents obtain it and where buyers usually lose time.
What the NIE is, and what it is not
NIE stands for Número de Identidad de Extranjero, the foreigner’s identity number. It is personal, unique and exclusive to you, and it is assigned by the Spanish National Police, through its General Commissariat for Immigration and Borders. It is regulated by the Organic Law 4/2000 on foreign nationals and its current Regulation, approved by Royal Decree 1155/2024.
Three points cause frequent confusion:
- The NIE is not a residence permit. It does not allow you to live or work in Spain, and it does not extend the time you may stay as a visitor.
- The TIE is a different document. The foreigner’s identity card (TIE) is issued to people who hold a residence authorisation. It shows your NIE, but holding an NIE does not give you a TIE.
- The NIE works as your tax number. For a foreign individual, the NIE is also the number used before the Spanish Tax Agency, so you will see it on every tax return linked to your property.
Why property buyers need an NIE number
A Spanish property purchase involves several parties who must identify you by a Spanish number. The notary needs it to authorise the title deed. The Balearic Tax Agency needs it to process the transfer tax on a resale, and the developer needs it to invoice VAT on a new build. The Land Registry records your ownership under it, and banks need it to open an account or arrange a mortgage.
The same number follows you after completion: utility contracts, the local property tax (IBI), the annual non-resident tax return (Modelo 210) and, one day, the sale, when the buyer withholds part of the price on account of your tax.
How to apply for an NIE in Spain
The application is made on form EX-15, with your passport, a copy of it and evidence of the economic, professional or social reason for which you need the number. For a buyer, a reservation or deposit contract, or another document showing that the purchase is in progress, is normally enough. The fee is paid with form 790, code 012.
There are three practical routes:
- In person in Spain. You book an appointment at a police office that deals with foreigners, attend with the documents and usually receive the certificate at the appointment. You must be in Spain lawfully when you apply. In Mallorca, appointment availability varies through the year and can be scarce.
- At a Spanish consulate abroad. The consulate covering your place of residence receives the application and forwards it to the police in Spain. Each consulate sets its own appointment system and fee payment method.
- Through a representative in Spain. You grant a power of attorney that expressly authorises the NIE application, and your representative files it for you. This is the most common route for buyers who live abroad, because the same power can cover the rest of the purchase.
A power of attorney signed abroad must normally be apostilled and, if it is not in Spanish, translated. We check the wording before you sign it, so that it is accepted both by the police and by the notary.
Timing your NIE around the purchase
In Mallorca, the gap between signing a deposit contract and completing before the notary is often only a few weeks. If your NIE is not ready by the completion date, you risk breaching the contract and losing the deposit. The safe approach is to start the NIE as soon as you decide to buy on the island, or even before you make an offer.
The number itself never expires, but the certificate you receive is dated, and some notaries and banks ask for a recent one. If time has passed since it was issued, a new certificate showing the same number can be requested.
If you buy through a company, the company will need its own Spanish tax number, and its directors or representatives will usually need NIEs too. Our page on buying property through a company explains the structure.
Common mistakes with the NIE
- Leaving the application until after the deposit contract is signed.
- Using the wrong form: EX-15 is for the number alone, while residence applications use other forms.
- A power of attorney that does not expressly mention the NIE, or that lacks the apostille or translation.
- Different spellings of your name in the passport, the contract and the bank documents.
- Assuming the NIE allows you to stay longer in Spain. Your right to stay depends on your nationality and immigration status, not on the NIE.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a property in Spain with only my passport?
No. The notary needs a Spanish identification number for every foreign party to the deed. Your passport identifies you, but the NIE is what links you to the deed, the taxes and the Land Registry.
Can I get an NIE without travelling to Spain?
Yes. You can apply at the Spanish consulate for your place of residence, or grant a power of attorney so that a representative applies for you in Spain.
Does an NIE give me the right to live in Mallorca?
No. Residence requires a separate authorisation, such as the non-lucrative visa or the digital nomad visa. Buying a property no longer gives residence on its own.
My partner and I are buying together. Do we both need an NIE?
Yes. Each buyer who appears on the deed needs their own NIE number, even if only one of you pays the price.
Next steps
If you are buying in Mallorca and need an NIE number for Spain, write to info@raso.law. Tell us where you live, who will appear on the deed, the stage the purchase has reached and the expected completion date. Each enquiry is reviewed individually and answered in writing, and we can review the property itself as part of a legal due diligence for your purchase.