How to fill in the EX-15 form (NIE, Spain)

What the form is for

The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is the personal number Spain gives to foreigners. You need it when you deal with Spain for economic, professional or social reasons. With the same form, EX-15, you can also ask for a certificate of resident or non-resident.

You fill in the form, pay the fee with form 790 code 012 and hand both in at a Foreigners' Office (Oficina de Extranjería) or a police station (Comisaría de Policía). If you are not in Spain, you apply through a Spanish consulate.

The current form follows the 2024 regulation ("RD 1155/2024" at the top, section 1 called "Datos de la persona extranjera"). Older copies that say "RD 557/2011" still circulate online: use the current one from the official link above.

Who needs it

Foreigners who deal with Spain for economic, professional or social reasons ask the National Police for a NIE. The police page sets these conditions:

• You must not be in Spain irregularly.
• You must say why you need the number: the form has a section for it (4.2).
• If you are outside Spain, you apply through a Spanish consulate, which sends the request on.
• The police must decide within five days. If you get no answer in that time, the request counts as refused (you can appeal).
• The fee is €9.84 for a NIE and €7.31 for a certificate (official police fee table, checked on the date above). You pay it at a bank with form 790 code 012, which you generate on the police website.

Before you start

• The EX-15, filled in and signed. The form asks for the original and a copy.
• Proof that you paid the fee (form 790 code 012, stamped by the bank).
• Your passport. Consulates also ask for a copy of it.
• Be ready to explain your reason: you must state why you need the NIE.
• If someone else hands it in for you, their details go in section 2 of the form.

Section by section

The form is in German. Here is what each part asks, in plain words, in the order it appears.

1. 1

   Espacios para sellos de registro

   The box at the top right is for the office's registration stamp. Leave it empty.

2. 2

   1) Pasaporte, N.I.E., names

   Passport number; NIE only if you already have one (otherwise leave it empty). First surname (1er Apellido), second surname (2º Apellido) only if you have one, and first name (Nombre), as in your passport.

3. 3

   Sexo

   Three boxes: X*, H (hombre, man) and M (mujer, woman). The form says X can only be ticked by people who have it recognised in their country of origin. Note that the letter is printed to the left of each box.

4. 4

   Fecha de nacimiento, Lugar, País, Nacionalidad

   Date of birth in three boxes: day, month, year (dd/mm/aaaa, 2 + 2 + 4 digits). Then place and country of birth, and your nationality.

5. 5

   Estado civil

   S = soltero/a (single), C = casado/a (married), V = viudo/a (widowed), D = divorciado/a (divorced), Sp = separado/a (separated). Tick one.

6. 6

   Nombre del padre, Nombre de la madre

   Your father's and mother's first names.

7. 7

   Domicilio, Localidad, C.P., Provincia, teléfono, e-mail

   Your address (street, number, floor), town, postcode and province, then your mobile phone and e-mail. The form suggests giving a phone or e-mail so you can be told when a notification is waiting.

8. 8

   Representante legal, en su caso

   Only for applicants who have a legal representative, such as a minor's parent or a guardian: their name, their own DNI/NIE/passport number and the title of representation (for example "Padre", "Tutor"). Adults applying for themselves leave this line empty, including its DNI/NIE/PAS box.

9. 9

   2) Datos del representante a efectos de presentación

   Only if a different person or company hands in the application for you (for example an adviser). Otherwise leave the whole section empty.

10. 10

    3) Domicilio a efectos de notificaciones, and Dehú

    Where letters about this request should go, if different. The box "CONSIENTO…" asks to receive notifications electronically through the Dehú; you then need a digital certificate or Cl@ve to read them. If you tick nothing, you are notified this way only if you belong to a group that is obliged to (for example companies).

11. 11

    4.1 Tipo de documento

    Tick NÚMERO DE IDENTIDAD DE EXTRANJERO (NIE) to ask for the number, or CERTIFICADO and then De residente or De no residente for a certificate.

12. 12

    4.2 Motivos

    Why you need it: economic, professional or social interests, or other reasons. Write the specific reason in "(Especificar)".

13. 13

    4.3 Lugar de presentación, 4.4 Situación en España

    Where you hand it in (Foreigners' Office, police station or consulate) and whether you are in Spain on a stay (Estancia) or as a resident (Residencia).

14. 14

    Place, date, signature, Dirigida a

    Town and date ("…, a … de … de …"), your signature (or your legal representative's). "DIRIGIDA A", "Código DIR3" and "PROVINCIA" name the office you send it to; if you don't know the DIR3 code, ask that office.

Common mistakes

• Using an old copy of the form

  Copies marked "RD 557/2011" are the previous version. Download the current form from the official link on this page.

• Putting your passport number in the representative's box

  The DNI/NIE/PAS box on the "Representante legal" line is for your legal representative's document. Your passport number goes only in "PASAPORTE".

• Ticking the box to the right of the letter

  Each letter (X, H, M and S, C, V, D, Sp) is printed to the left of its box. Check the preview before you print.

• Arriving without the fee paid

  The fee is paid at a bank with form 790 code 012 before you hand in the EX-15. Bring the stamped receipt.

• Ticking the Dehú box without a digital certificate

  Electronic notifications are read with a digital certificate or Cl@ve. Without one, you may miss the answer.

• Bringing a single copy

  The form says to hand in the original and a copy. Print it twice.