One of the biggest challenges about moving to Spain is dealing with all the paperwork that has to be submitted. As an Expat, you will feel like there’s a million documents to fill, forms to collect, payments to make and on top of all of it, you’re never really sure if you’re doing it correctly. But one thing is clear - you will need a NIE as a foreigner living in Spain.
In this Blog, we will go over the different types of NIEs and compare the NIE Verde (Green NIE) vs. NIE Blanco (White NIE) vs. TIE. This comprehensive guide will help you understand which type of NIE one is the most appropriate for your move to Spain. If you’re not quite sure why you need a NIE in the first place, read this blog post.
NIE stands for Número de Identidad de Extranjero (or in English, Foreign Identity Number) and it serves as your Identification as a resident in Spain. But there are a few variants of the NIE:
In a nutshell, these are the main differences between them:
If all of this sounded a little too confusing, don’t worry, because the table below summarises each one of the characteristics of the three types of NIEs.
Access a Step by Step Guide on how to apply for each NIE when you Sign Up to Matutto
The difference is that the number in itself, is the numerical ID that is assigned to you as a person. This can be found in all types of NIEs - Your NIE Blanco and NIE Verde and TIE. However, the NIE card is your foreigners’ identity card that proves your right to live in Spain and has your NIE number written on it - This will be your NIE Verde (Green NIE) if you’re an EU Citizen, or TIE if you’re non-EU.
Colloquially speaking, people in Spain refer to the Green NIE as the “NIE” and to the TIE as the “NIE Card” or “TIE”. So, it can be a little confusing. But all you need to know is that you will need a NIE Card if you become a foreigner living in Spain, and that you will get the Green one if you’re EU and the TIE if you’re non-EU. And if when you’re living your life in Spain someone asks you for your NIE, you can show your card, no matter which one you have. - Please note, the White NIE (NIE Blanco) does not fall in the NIE Card category, as it does not prove your right to live in Spain.
The key physical difference between the two, is that the Green NIE (NIE Verde) is a paper card, while the White NIE (NIE Blanco) is an A4 piece of paper. From a legal stand-point, the White NIE does NOT provide you with the right to live in Spain, while the Green one does.
The White NIE is a paper with your assigned Spanish Identification Number on it, and it can be used for contractual and legal procedures such as buying a house, applying for a Visa or signing an Employment contract. You can apply for your White NIE in your home country via the Spanish Embassy, or you can also do it when you land in Spain. The white NIE does not prove your right to live in Spain, so depending on your situation, you may also need to apply for a Green NIE or a TIE.
The Green NIE is a card given to you by the Spanish Authorities which includes your NIE number. This is your official Identification in Spain and it proves that you are a legal resident in Spain - But please note it’s only for EU Citizens. In fact, as an EU Citizen living in Spain you must get your Green NIE within the first 3 months of arriving in Spain. And if you need a detailed step by step guide on how to fill in the forms correctly, sign up to Matutto.
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There are five main reasons why Expats could need a White NIE:
As it doesn't give you the right to reside in Spain, the White NIE is only valid in certain circumstances. That’s why we usually recommend our EU Expats to skip this step, and apply for the Green NIE instead when they have arrived in Spain. But it’s important to note that you need certain documents to apply for it, so in situations in which Expats don’t meet all the requirements yet, they need to apply for a White NIE first, while they gather the rest of the documents they need to apply for a Green NIE. Sign up to Matutto today to learn more about the process of each application and the documents you need.
The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjeros), is the Identification Card for Expats who are not from the EU. This plastic card will also have your NIE Number on it, but the card will be visually different (it’s blue and pink instead of green) and there are a few more steps involved when it comes to getting it.
Most people coming from outside of the EU will first need to secure a valid visa to move to Spain. Depending on the visa you get and your country of origin, you may be required to secure a White NIE first, which includes your NIE Number - this document will be used temporarily until you get your TIE. There are a few differences between a NIE for EU Citizens and a TIE for non-EU Citizens, with the most important ones being:
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In summary, the type of NIE you need depends on your nationality, circumstances in Spain and reason for needing the NIE. Here’s a few example of common circumstances, and what NIE you’d need to get in each:
If you don’t know where to get started, you can sign up to Matutto to read up on the process of getting your NIE. In our platform you can also find a step-by-step guide with instructions on how to apply for the NIE that you need - including translations of all the forms you need to submit in Spanish!
If you feel ready to apply for your NIE, you can start by booking your NIE appointment here. Note that the Spanish Government website only works well if you’re in Spain, so if you need support with booking your appointment, you can reach out to us via the Contact Us Form.
