The Foreigner Identification Number (NIE (Numero de identidad extranjera), by its Spanish acronym) is an all-purpose personal identification number and tax code that is associated to a foreigner.

The initial NIE you are assigned as an individual, never ever changes.

It is used for all their administrative official proceedings with Spanish authorities.

🇪🇺 (EU citizens can provide a copy of their identity card), and by proof of the economic, professional or social interests justifying the application for a NIE.

There are three ways to apply for a Spanish NIE number:

1. Apply in person in Spain (this is usually done by EU citizen or by those that did not need a visa to enter Spain)
2. Apply in person via a Spanish Consulate from abroad (this is usually done by those applying for student or youth mobility visa programmes)
3. Apply through the central institution in Spain (majority of all cases supported by Localzye, as this is done for work and residence permits). We will take care of this if you do not match one of the former 2 categories. The work and residence permit will directly include your NIE.

All 3rd country applicants will get their NIE with their work authorisation/permit. Therefore we refer to this authorisation as:

Once you have arrived to Spain on your visa (only issued after the permit), you must file for the TIE, which is the actual physical card (which most probably has been issued for 2 years). The TIE is linked to the NIE

At the same time, the TIE is the residence permit.

Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland who wish to remain in Spain for a period of more than three months must request the registration certificate (certificado de registro de ciudadano de la unión). This is the form that needs to be filed. It will be part of your to-do list if applicable.

Summary: Certificado de registro de la unión = NIE = EU residence permit.

Here an example.

Note: The registration/empadronamiento is a different process!