Have you decided to go and live in Spain, or have you bought your second home there? Are you looking to make a buy-to-let investment in a highly touristic area? During your administrative procedures, you have already come across various acronyms such as the DNI or the NIE. Haven't quite grasped all the nuances yet? In this article you'll find everything explained about them!
DNI: Documento Nacional de Identidad
The DNI, standing for "Documento Nacional de Identidad", in other words "national identity document", is the national identity card of Spanish citizens. It is specific to people of Spanish nationality.
Discover everything you need to know about the DNI!
A little history to help you understand
Spain created its own police force in 1824 and tasked it with drawing up population census lists. It was only 120 years later, in 1944, that the decision was made to create a first national identity document, and the DNI was born.
However, it was not until 1951 that the first DNI appeared, issued to General Franco, who bore number 1. It's worth noting that the numbers from 10 to 99 were reserved for the Spanish royal family.
Over all these years, many formats have served as the medium for the DNI, with information being added to or removed from it. Today, it includes a chip to make all paperless procedures with the Spanish administration possible.
In concrete terms, what is the DNI?
Much like a credit card, small and rigid, the DNI is a strictly personal identification document. It must contain the following information:
- Surname and first names.
- Date and place of birth.
- Province and country of birth.
- Sex and nationality
- Home address.
- Expiry date.
- DNI number.
- Support number.
- Photograph and signature.
- First names of the legal parents.
How long is the DNI valid for?
As its name suggests, the DNI is a document. It is therefore subject to a validity period. Be careful not to confuse this with the DNI number, which is assigned at birth and remains unchanged.
The DNI's validity period is:
- 5 years, for people under 30.
- 10 years, for people aged 30 to under 70.
- Permanent from the age of 70.
NIE: Número de Identidad de Extranjero
The NIE, standing for "Número de Identidad de Extranjero", in English "Foreigner's Identity Number", is assigned to any foreigner who has a connection with Spain.
With the explanations below, the NIE will hold no more secrets for you!
What is the NIE?
The NIE is assigned to all foreigners, whether they are nationals of a European Union country or not, if they have a link with Spain. This may be for administrative, economic, professional or social reasons or interests. It is issued by the Directorate-General of the Police.
The NIE is made up of a first letter, a series of 7 digits and a final so-called verification letter. The first letter was an X until 15 July 2008. Since that date, you may also find a Y or Z there.
What is the NIE used for?
The NIE is a personal, unique and exclusive number. It is used to identify foreigners in Spain for all administrative, contractual and/or commercial procedures.
It is essential for:
- Buying or selling a property.
- Buying or selling a vehicle.
- Obtaining or validating a driving licence.
- Being employed by a company.
- Opening a bank account.
- Paying your taxes.
- Entering into contracts.
This list is not exhaustive.
Please note that since 2008 and the change to the NIE, it also represents your tax identification number (NIF). It's the number used specifically with the tax authorities to identify you as a person. For Spanish citizens, this number corresponds to the DNI number.
Be aware that the NIE is not a substitute for an identity document. You will always need to be able to present your passport or your identity card.
How do you obtain the NIE?
The NIE is applied for in person, or by proxy officially validated by a Spanish notary, or by apostille. This application is made at a police station in Spain, or at a Spanish embassy or consulate from abroad.
To obtain your NIE, you will need to provide the following documents:
- Original and copy of your passport or identity card.
- A document justifying the need to obtain the NIE (the purchase of a property, for example).
- A completed and signed EX-15 application form, available on the website of the Spanish government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- The receipt of payment for the "Tasa modelo 790 código 012" fee.
You'll also find all this information directly on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
You will thus obtain a provisional document stating your NIE. To obtain a definitive document, the equivalent of your residence card, you will need to apply for it from the relevant department by completing the EX-18 form and paying the corresponding fee.
With Secundo, rest assured! Through our lawyer, all the procedures are taken care of. They are carried out directly at the police station in Spain.
Everything you need to know about the DNI and the NIE
You now know all the essentials for understanding the acronyms DNI and NIE. As you'll have gathered, as a Belgian citizen, the NIE concerns you if you plan to settle in Spain. And to support you with this project, call on Secundo! Don't wait to get in touch with us!