Non-resident property buyers in Spain can apply for a NIE (foreigner’s identification number) in any of the Spanish consulates of your country.

Anyone intending to sell or buy property in Spain needs a NIE for tax purposes. Applying at your nearest consulate is more expensive than getting a NIE in Spain but it still may be a time saving advantage.

If you do decide to apply from your country, then you need to get together all necessary documentation before going to the consulate where you will be asked to fill in and sign the NIE application form in front of a consulate employee. Your signature will then be given an official validation stamp.

For applying you will need the following documents:

A stamped photocopy of your passport. (This is done at the consulate.)
2 recent passport size photos. The background must be plain, and people who wear glasses and/or earrings must take them off for the photo.
An original copy plus a photocopy of  the document which explains why you need your NIE. This may be the private or public sales contract a the job offer… We suggest ringing the consulate beforehand to get informed.
An envelope with stamps on and with your own address written on it.
An envelope big enough to contain all the above documents also with stamps on addressed to: Comisaría General de Extranjería y Documentación, Dirección General de Policia, C/ General Pardiñas, 90, 28006 Madrid, Spain:

Once the NIE application form with your signature and passport have been stamped, the consulate will send the above documents to Madrid. After that you will only have to wait to receive your NIE.

The consulate will not be able to provide you with an application form, so get someone to get one from their local police station in Spain and post it to you or simply download a NIE application form here. This form is provided by the Spanish Interior Ministry.