In order to buy, own and sell a Spanish property you will need to get a NIE - Numero de Identidad de Extranjeros which in English means “Identity Number for Foreigners”. There are two kind of NIE and is a Spanish fiscal code number, one for non residents and one that follows with a resident permit. The NIE code is compulsory for anyone selling or buying property in Spain. You can actually obtain a NIE number before arriving to Spain (to get informed of how to apply for a NIE click here).

Getting a NIE is a quite quick and painless exercise, residence permits are neither, as EU citizen, complicated to get but it can take as long as a year to get it. The NIE document used to get be a plastic card which fitted neatly into any wallet or purse, but the modern NIE is actually just a piece of paper with your name and number and a official stamp on.