When the consulate makes sense
- You are buying property and want the NIE in time for the notary
- A Spanish employer needs your number before your first day
- You are inheriting from someone who owned property on the island
- You cannot plan a trip around an island appointment
How it works
Each consulate runs its own diary and its own way of collecting the tasa, so start on its website. The paperwork is the familiar EX-15, your passport and a photocopy, and something that explains your reason. The consulate passes the file on, and the number reaches you once it has been assigned.
Waiting times differ a great deal from one consulate to another, and in some seasons an appointment on the island comes sooner. We compare both routes with you before you choose.
What it does not do
A NIE requested abroad identifies you; it is neither a visa nor a residence. EU citizens who later settle on the island still register with form EX-18, and non-EU citizens still need their visa and, after arrival, the TIE.
On Tenerife
For Tenerife the comparison is concrete: on one side, the consulate that covers your home; on the other, a cita previa at the Santa Cruz or Adeje police office during your next stay. Holiday-home buyers who visit the south often find Adeje convenient, while those who cannot travel before the notary date tend to prefer the consulate.
Questions on this topic
Which consulate do I use?
The one whose area covers where you live, not where you were born. Each consulate states its area on its website.
Is the number the same as one obtained on the island?
Yes. It is the same national number, valid for every procedure on Tenerife.
Can I use it to rent before I arrive?
Yes. A landlord or an agency can use it for the contract, which is one of the reasons people request it from home.