Standing in line at the police station early in the morning

What is a NIE number
NIE (Numero de Identificación de Extranjero) is the foreign identification number in Spain. This number is needed for all legal matters in Spain. The number is made up of  7 numbers and always starts with the letter X.

When do I need my NIE number
As a foreigner who wants to live in Spain the first thing you need is to apply for your NIE number, as this is required for (almost) everything.

• Buy/sell property
• Apply for Mortgage/loan
• Employment
• Insurance
• Buy a vehicle
• Social Security

How to get a NIE number
To apply for the NIE number is a faily easy process, but depending on which area you live in it can be a quite time consuming.
Ask for the application form at the local police station (or download the NIE form here).
You need the following to apply for your NIE number

• 2 completed copies of the signed form
  
• passport + 2 photocopies

You can apply for the NIE number yourself, but as mentioned earlier this can be time consuming depending on your local på police station. Please check your local police station about their procedure.
As an example the procedure in Fuengirola is that they only handle 100 applications per day. They open at 9 o´clock, but you need to be there at about 7 am to que for a number. Then you need to return to the station when they open. It is recommended that you show up early, eventhough you might have a number which is 50 +. The handeling time varies a lot, and people with numbers lower than yours might not show.

The language issues can be a problem for some, but the main issue is understanding the form which is in spanish. Please see below the translations relating to the form

TRANSLATION
1er Apellido: Surname
2º Apellido : (second Surname) Write --- if you haven´t got a second surname 
Nombre : Christian Name (same as in your passport)
Fecha de Nacimiento: Date of birth 
Lugar de nacimiento: Place of birth
Sexo : Gender “H”=Hombre/Male - “M”=mujer/ Female. X cross the one applicable
Estado Civil: Status. S for single C for married. V for widow and D for divorced
País de nacimiento: Country of Birth
País de nacionalidad: Nationality
Nombre del padre: Father's name
Nombre de la madre: Mother's name
Domicilio en España: Address in Spain 
Localidad: Town
CP: Postcode
Provincia: Province

You need to sign the form under "firma de solicitante" 

Receiving your NIE number
The timescale for when you receive your NIE is again depending on your local area (police station)
This can take anything from 2-6 weeks. The turnaround depends on the resources, staff and sometimes even local holidays.
When you apply for the NIE you receive a stamped copy of the application. This is your receipt. Ask them when you should come and collect the document. PLEASE NOTE: you will not be notified automatically when your NIE number is ready for collection.
When collection your NIE number you need to bring the stamped form that you received when applying, and your passport for identification.

Keep the original NIE document safe, and always use a photocopy of the document when required.

***If you do not feel up to the paperwork and language barriers that might be involved you can pay a local gestor to do the paperwork for you.