Recent Spanish legislation makes it compulsory for anyone selling or buying property in Spain to have a NIE - Numero de Identidad de Extranjeros which, translated, means "Identity Number for Foreigners". People applying for a NIE get just a piece of paper with your name and number and a official stamp so, as current reader of our web page and services we are offering, we kindly suggest you make several photocopies while keeping the original into a safe place.
Until recently, foreign non-residents in Spain could buy or sell property without a NIE. Then, once it became necessary to have one, their legal representative could get one for them. But recent legislation passed in Spain has made it necessary for anyone paying money to the Spanish Inland Revenue (Hacienda) to have a Spanish identity number and to obtain it in person.
How do I get a NIE?
In theory it's easy. All you have to do is to go to the Extranjeros department of your nearest Policia Nacional station, fill in and sign an application form, of which you should make a photocopy alongside with your passport's photocopy as well and your original passport. You must do this IN PERSON - you can't get anyone else to do it for you.
One thing you could do is to contract a Lawyer, so that, can accompanied you and assist you in the paperwork proceeding, specially to avoid the language barrier as the civil servants will mostly talk to you only in Spanish language.Alongside with it your appointed lawyer can later on to collect your NIE's on your behalf.Currently is taking one month time, approximately, depending of the overload of the applications forms they can have pending to be solved.
Anyone seeking to buy or sell property in Spain would be well advised to set aside one whole morning to resolve this question.