🌍 If you’re planning to do an internship in Spain, you’ll need to get your NIE — the Foreigner Identification Number.
💡What is the NIE and why is it mandatory?
The NIE exists in two forms: the simple NIE number and the NIE card.
The NIE number
- Number printed on a white sheet of paper.
- Format: one letter, 7 digits, and a final letter (e.g. Y-4683418-S).
- Can be obtained in person or via a representative.
- No proof of address required.
- Application via form EX-15.
The NIE card
-
- Green plastic card.
- Shows your name, address, date of birth and NIE number.
- Required for stays of more than 3 months.
- Can only be obtained in person and by appointment.
- Application via form EX-18.
Requirements for obtaining the NIE card
The NIE is essential for procedures such as an inheritance, buying property, an internship or job, joining a company, or opening a bank account.
You must meet at least one of the following conditions:
- Have a Spanish employer.
- Be self-employed.
- Be a student with health insurance.
- Be able to show sufficient financial resources.
- Be joining a family member who is a legal resident in Spain.
📋Documents to prepare for your NIE appointment
Prepare the following documents carefully to avoid any delays or refusal:
- Printed appointment confirmation.
Internship agreement signed in Spanish, or a company certificate (mentioning remuneration if applicable).- European Health Insurance Card + photocopy.
- Passport or national ID card + photocopy.
- Completed EX-15 or EX-18 form.
- Completed Modelo 790 form.
- Certificate of enrolment (if you are a student).
- Proof of payment and appointment confirmation.
Paying the TASA 790 fee
⚠️IMPORTANT! The fee must be paid before your appointment. The bank will give you a receipt, which is mandatory for the police station.
How do you pay it?
Print the form and pay it at a Spanish bank. You do not need a Spanish bank account.
- Printed Modelo 790 form.
- Passport or national ID.
- Amount in cash or bank card.
→Banks that most often accept the TASA 790
- CaixaBank
- BBVA
- Banco Santander
- Banco Sabadell
- Bankinter
⚠️IMPORTANT! Some banks only accept this payment in the morning (8 a.m.–11 a.m.).
Filling in the EX-15, EX-18 and Modelo 790 forms
The process may seem complicated, but Stud&Globe’s step-by-step video guides walk you through each form so you can complete them easily and without mistakes.
- EX-15: application for the simple NIE number.
- EX-18: application for the NIE card.
- Modelo 790: form used to pay the administrative fee.
Getting your NIE depending on the length of your internship
For internships shorter than 3 months (if paid):
→ You can apply directly from France via the Spanish consulate. It’s recommended to start the process at least one month before departure.
Main Spanish consulates in France
| City | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Paris | 165 Boulevard Malesherbes, 75017 | 01 44 29 40 00 |
| Bayonne | Résidence du Parc 4, Av. du B.A.B., 64100 | 05 59 59 03 91 |
| Bordeaux | 1, rue de Notre Dame, 33000 | 05 56 52 80 20 |
| Lyon | 1, rue Louis Guérin, 69100 Villeurbanne | 04 78 89 64 15 |
| Marseille | 38, rue Edouard Delanglade, 13006 | 04 91 00 32 70 |
| Montpellier | 24, rue Marceau, 34000 | 04 67 58 20 21 |
| Pau | 6, Place Royale, 64000 | 05 59 27 32 40 |
| Perpignan | 12, Rue Franklin, 66000 | 04 68 34 33 78 |
| Strasbourg | 13, Quai Kléber, 67001 CEDEX | 03 88 32 67 27 |
| Toulouse | 16, rue Sainte Anne, 31008 | 05 34 31 96 60 |
🔗 Official page – Applying for a NIE via consulate
For internships longer than 3 months:
→ You must apply directly in the Spanish city where your internship takes place. Each region has its own procedures.
Main cities and procedures in Spain
| City | Address / Procedure |
|---|---|
| Barcelona | Online appointment via sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es: Procedimientos → Extranjería → Cita Previa → Acceder → Select Barcelona → Certificados y asignación NIE |
| Ibiza | Contact the local Spanish consulate or go directly to the police station: Avda. de la Paz S/N, 07800 |
| Palma de Mallorca | Online appointment → Police station: Calle Ciudad de Querétaro s/n, 07007 |
| Marbella | Police station: C/ Arias de Velasco Nº 25 – 29600 |
| Granada | Police station: C/ San Agapito, 2 (Esquina Ribera del Beiro), 18071 |
| Tenerife | Police station: Plaza de España, s/n – 38003 Santa Cruz de Tenerife |
| Madrid | Online appointment → Police station: C/ San Felipe 7 |
| Seville | Oficina de Extranjeros: Plaza de España, Sector II, 41071 Opening hours: Mon–Thu 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Fri 9 a.m.–2 p.m. |
| Fuerteventura | Appointment required before arrival; go directly with your internship agreement and passport/ID. |
⚠️ IMPORTANT! Printed appointment confirmation, payment and documents are all mandatory.
After you get your NIE
- Open a Spanish bank account if needed.
- Register with the Spanish Social Security system for a paid internship.
- Provide your NIE to your host company.
- Register your address if you stay longer than 3 months.
- Keep your NIE number safe for any future procedures.
🎯At Stud&Globe, we make the whole process easier for you. With our tailored support, you can get your NIE quickly (in as little as 15 days).
No more stress about paperwork: you benefit from assistance at every step — booking the appointment, preparing your file, support on site and ongoing administrative follow-up — so you can enjoy a smooth mobility experience fully compliant with Spanish regulations.
