Residency & NIE Essentials

1) NIE — Your Identification Number in Spain

• Purpose: used for all financial, legal and property-related transactions in Spain.
• Format: starts with a letter, followed by 7 digits and a check letter (e.g., X1234567T).
• Validity: permanent; once issued, it never changes.

Apply personally at the Spanish National Police, through the Spanish Consulate in your home country, or via a lawyer using a Power of Attorney.

2) How to Apply for an NIE

• Book an appointment (cita previa) online or through your representative.
• Provide passport, completed forms (EX-15), and proof of economic or property interest in Spain.
• Pay the application fee (Modelo 790, code 012 — approx. €9.74).

In Benahavís-area purchases, most clients authorise their lawyer to obtain the NIE during purchase preparation, usually within 1–2 weeks.

3) Opening a Spanish Bank Account

Recommended before completion so utilities, community fees and taxes can be paid automatically.

• Documents: passport, NIE, proof of address, and source of funds.
• Non-resident certificate: banks issue this initially and renew every two years.
• Tip: use currency-exchange services (e.g., Wise, Currencies Direct) for better transfer rates.

4) Health Insurance for Residency

Most residency routes (e.g., Non-Lucrative or Digital Nomad) require private health insurance
with full coverage in Spain and no co-payments.
Providers such as Sanitas, Cigna and Mapfre offer English-speaking options.

• Annual cost: €50–€120 per month depending on coverage and age.
• Proof of payment is required when submitting residency applications.