Where do I apply for a NIE in person?

At the police station (Comisaría de la Policía Nacional) with extranjero jurisdiction over your Spanish address. Appointments — cita previa — are booked on the Sede Electrónica of the Policía Nacional.

How long does the in-person NIE route take?

The legal deadline is 5 working days after filing, but the real timeline is set by cita availability: 1–4 weeks in most cities, longer in Madrid and Barcelona.

What do I bring to the cita?

EX-15 (2 signed copies), passport (+ copies), stamped Modelo 790-012 receipt (€9.84), and proof of your motive (property, job, investment) if the comisaría requests it.

Route 1 · DIY in Spain

The in-person NIE route: EX-15, cita, police desk

Cheapest route (€9.84) and fully doable yourself — the bottleneck is the cita previa, not the paperwork. Here is the exact sequence.

TL;DR

€9.84 official + your time; 1–4 weeks realistic.
Order: EX-15 → 790-012 fee → cita → file at the comisaría.
Certificate usually same day or next day after a successful filing.

1. Download & fill EX-15

Line-by-line guide — 2 copies, signed.

2. Pay €9.84

Modelo 790 código 012, tick NIE assignment, pay at any bank.

3. Book the cita

sede.policia.gob.es → cita previa → asignación de NIE. Madrid/Barcelona run weeks out.

4. File & collect

Bring EX-15, passport, fee receipt. The certificate prints on approval — often the same visit.

Skipping the queue option

The same result in 5–10 working days via POA — no cita, no comisaría.

Switch to the POA route

Frequently asked questions

Where do I apply in person?

The comisaría with extranjero jurisdiction over your address; cita via the Policía Nacional Sede.

How long does it take?

5 working days legal deadline; 1–4 weeks realistic including the cita wait.

What do I bring?

Two signed EX-15 copies, passport, stamped 790-012 receipt, motive proof on request.

Sources: Sede Electrónica Policía Nacional

We are not a government body. We are a tax & accounting service assisting with NIE applications and Spanish paperwork. Facts verified 24 September 2026.