To live and work in Spain you need three things sorted early: your NIE (foreigner identity number), your TIE (residence card, for non-EU citizens) and your empadronamiento (registration of your address at the town hall). How you get your NIE in Spain depends on your nationality. EU citizens get it on a green registration certificate, issued the same day at the foreigners’ office or police station. Non-EU citizens coming for a job usually get the NIE with their permit, and then must apply for the TIE card in person within one month. Everyone who lives in Spain must register on the padrón of their town.
This guide explains each step, what it costs in 2026 and the order that works best in your first month.
Procedures vary by province and change over time. This guide is general information from official sources, not legal advice. Check the linked pages or with the office that handles your case.
NIE, TIE and padrón at a glance
| What it is | Who needs it | Where | Fee (2026) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIE | Your personal foreigner identity number, for life | Every foreigner with dealings in Spain | Police or foreigners’ office, or a Spanish consulate abroad | €9.84 if you ask for it on its own |
| EU registration certificate | Green certificate showing your NIE and residence | EU, EEA and Swiss citizens staying more than 3 months | Foreigners’ office or police station in your province | €12.00 |
| TIE | Plastic residence card with photo and NIE | Non-EU citizens with a visa or permit for more than 6 months | Police station | €16.08 for a first card |
| Padrón | Registration of your address with the town hall | Everyone living in Spain | Your town hall | Free in Barcelona; check your town hall |
Fees are those listed for the police fee form (tasa modelo 790 código 012) on the National Police e-office on 16 October 2026. You pay the fee at a bank or online before your appointment and bring the receipt.
What is the NIE?
The NIE (número de identidad de extranjero) is a personal, unique number that identifies you as a foreigner in Spain. It must appear on every document issued to you (Real Decreto 1155/2024, article 205). It also serves as your tax ID, so you will need it for your employment contract, payroll, bank account, rental contract, phone contract and tax return.
The NIE is a number, not a card. People often say “NIE card”, but the physical document is either the EU registration certificate or the TIE. Your NIE stays the same for life, even if you leave Spain and come back.
How to get an NIE in Spain
There are three routes, depending on your situation:
- It comes with your permit. If you apply for a residence permit, a long-stay visa or another document that lets you stay in Spain, the police assign your NIE automatically (article 205.3). This is the normal route for non-EU workers on a Highly Qualified Professional permit, EU Blue Card or digital nomad permit. Your NIE appears on the approval letter or visa.
- It comes with your EU registration. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens get their NIE when they register as residents (see below).
- You ask for the number on its own. If you only have economic or professional ties to Spain, for example you are buying a flat or signing a contract before you move, you can apply with form EX-15 at a police station or foreigners’ office in Spain, or through a Spanish consulate abroad (article 205.4; EX-15 form). The fee is €9.84. The office must decide within five days (article 205.4). An NIE on its own does not give you the right to live or work in Spain.
How to get an NIE appointment
Most police and foreigners’ office procedures need an appointment (cita previa), booked through the government’s cita previa portal for foreigners’ procedures. Choose your province, then the procedure (for example “certificados UE” or “toma de huellas” for the TIE). In Madrid, Barcelona and other big cities, slots can be scarce. Check early in the morning, and check again often: new slots are released over time.
If your employer uses an immigration lawyer or relocation agency, ask whether they book appointments for you. Many do.
EU citizens: the registration certificate (“green NIE”)
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and stay in Spain for more than three months, you must register in person at the foreigners’ office (oficina de extranjería) of your province, or at a police station, within three months of arriving (Real Decreto 240/2007, article 7.5). You get a registration certificate (certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión) on the spot. It shows your name, nationality, address, NIE and registration date. Because it is printed on green paper (or a green card in some offices), people call it the “green NIE”.
You qualify if you are employed or self-employed in Spain, or if you have enough money for yourself and health insurance that covers you in Spain (article 7.1). For a tech job, bring:
- the application form EX-18
- your valid passport or national ID card, with a copy
- proof of work: your employment contract, or a recent Social Security registration, or for freelancers your autónomo registration
- the fee receipt (€12.00)
If you plan to work as a freelancer, read our autónomo guide first.
Non-EU citizens: the TIE
The TIE (tarjeta de identidad de extranjero) is your residence card. Everyone who has been given a visa or permit to stay in Spain for more than six months has the right and the duty to get one. You must apply in person within one month of entering Spain, or of your permit being granted or taking effect (Real Decreto 1155/2024, article 209). If your permit depends on Social Security registration, as most work permits do, the police check that your employer has registered you before issuing the card.
How to apply for the TIE
- Book a “toma de huellas” appointment (fingerprinting) at a police station in your province through the cita previa portal.
- Prepare your documents:
- form EX-17
- your passport and a copy
- one recent colour passport photo with a white background
- your permit approval letter or visa
- the fee receipt: €16.08 for a first card, €19.30 for a renewal
- often a padrón certificate; ask your police station, as practice varies
- Go to the appointment. The police take your fingerprints and give you a receipt (resguardo).
- Collect your card at the same police station, usually a few weeks later. Check the collection date on your receipt; some stations need a second appointment.
Your TIE is valid for as long as your permit (article 209.7). Carry it, or keep it safe, because banks, landlords and employers will ask for it.
If you hold a permit under the Entrepreneurs Law (Ley 14/2013), such as the Highly Qualified Professional permit or EU Blue Card, your passport is enough to register with Social Security for the first six months while you wait for your card (Ley 14/2013, article 76.5). Our work visa guide explains these permits.
Empadronamiento: registering your address
Everyone who lives in Spain must register on the padrón of the town where they usually live. If you split your time between towns, you register where you spend most of the year (Ley 7/1985, article 15). Registration is called empadronamiento, and the proof is a padrón certificate (certificado de empadronamiento), a public document that proves where you live (article 16).
You will be asked for it to get your public health card, to enrol children in school, for some TIE applications and for many regional procedures. It is also how the town hall counts its population, so it is a duty, not just a benefit.
What you need
- the town hall’s registration form, signed by every adult who will be registered
- your passport, TIE or national ID; you don’t need an NIE to register
- proof that you live there, usually your rental contract, or the owner’s written authorisation if you rent a room or the contract is not in your name
The rules on proof differ by city. Barcelona’s council, for example, explains that the documents depend on whether you own or rent, and that an owner or tenant can authorise other people to register at the address (Ajuntament de Barcelona).
Empadronamiento in Madrid and Barcelona
- Madrid: book an appointment at a citizen service office (Oficina de Atención a la Ciudadanía, OAC, procedure “Padrón”). You can book only one appointment per person every 30 days, for one address (Madrid city council). You can often take your certificate home from the same appointment.
- Barcelona: register online through the council’s virtual office or at a citizen service office, and call 010 for information (Ajuntament de Barcelona). The procedure is free. A rental contract in your name must run for more than three months (or have an explicit extension); if it is in someone else’s name, you also need their authorisation and a copy of their ID. Documents must be in Catalan or Spanish, or officially translated (online procedure).
Renewal for non-EU residents
If you are a non-EU citizen without long-term residence, your padrón registration must be renewed every two years, or the town hall can cancel it (Ley 7/1985, article 16.1). Town halls usually send a letter; keep your address up to date.
The order that works best
Here is a sensible sequence for a developer starting a job in Spain:
| When | Step |
|---|---|
| Before you move | Non-EU: permit approved, with your NIE on the approval letter or visa. Book temporary housing |
| Week 1 | Sign your contract. Your employer registers you with Social Security. Book your TIE or EU certificate appointment |
| Weeks 1 to 2 | Find a flat and sign the rental contract. Register on the padrón |
| Weeks 2 to 4 | Attend the TIE fingerprinting or EU registration appointment. Open a bank account |
| Month 2 | Collect your TIE. Apply for your health card. Get a digital certificate |
Book appointments as soon as you arrive, even before you have a flat: the wait for a slot is often longer than the paperwork itself. For banks, health cards, the digital certificate and the Beckham Law deadline, follow our relocation checklist.
Still looking for a job? Browse jobs you can apply for from abroad, visa sponsorship jobs, or jobs in Madrid and Barcelona.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the NIE and the TIE?
The NIE is your personal foreigner identity number, which never changes. The TIE is the plastic residence card for non-EU residents with permits of more than six months; it shows your NIE, photo and permit type. EU citizens get their NIE on a registration certificate instead of a TIE.
How do I get an NIE in Spain as an EU citizen?
Register as a resident at the foreigners’ office or police station of your province within three months of arriving, with form EX-18, your passport or ID, proof of work and the €12.00 fee. You get a registration certificate showing your NIE on the spot.
How long does it take to get an NIE in Spain?
If you apply for the number on its own, the office must decide within five days of receiving your application. In practice the wait for an appointment is usually the slowest part. Non-EU workers usually receive the NIE with their permit approval, and EU citizens get it the same day they register.
Can I get an NIE online?
Not fully. You book the appointment online and pay the fee online, but you must apply in person, in Spain or at a Spanish consulate abroad. Non-EU workers usually get the NIE automatically with their permit.
How long do I have to apply for my TIE?
One month from entering Spain, or from the date your permit is granted or takes effect. For most work permits, your employer must register you with Social Security first, because the police check it before issuing the card.
Do I need to be empadronado in Spain?
Yes. Everyone living in Spain must register on the padrón of the town where they usually live. It is free in Barcelona, you don’t need an NIE to do it, and you will need the certificate for your health card and other procedures.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees are those listed on 16 October 2026 and can change; check the official pages before your appointment.