Names, surnames, dates and addresses on Spanish forms

Terms used

• NIE — The NIE is the foreigner identity number Spain gives you, used for taxes, contracts and official forms.
• TIE — The TIE is the foreigner identity card issued in Spain, showing your NIE and your name.
• DNI — The DNI is the national identity number and card for Spanish citizens, eight digits plus a letter.
• Primer apellido — The primer apellido is the first surname box on a form.
• Segundo apellido — The segundo apellido is the second surname box on a form.

Key rules

• Date format: Always write the day first: dd/mm/aaaa.
• One surname: Fill in the first surname box and leave the second empty rather than inventing one.
• Name mismatch: Fix any difference between passport and NIE or TIE at the issuing office, and carry proof meanwhile.
• ID numbers: Type capitals with no spaces, hyphens or dots, and never put a passport number in the NIE box.

Names: copy them exactly, in the right boxes

Put your given names in "nombre" and your surnames in the apellido fields. Follow the order in the machine-readable zone of your passport (the two lines of letters and arrows at the bottom of the photo page). Do not reorder names and do not invent anything.

If you have only one surname

Put it in "primer apellido" and leave "segundo apellido" empty. If the system will not accept an empty box, some forms take "NO CONSTA" instead. Never make up a second surname. Online forms handle this differently, and the office receiving the form decides, so ask it if a form rejects a blank.

If your passport and NIE or TIE spell your name differently

For dealings in Spain, the spelling on your NIE or TIE is normally the one that counts. It is the Spanish identity record and was based on your passport. Banks, social security and employers generally want the name to match it.

If the two differ, your passport is the correct source. Ask the office that issued your NIE or TIE to fix it. Individual offices may apply their own criteria, so correct the error at the source document rather than working around it on each form.

Until it is fixed, keep a passport copy and your written correction request. Bring them to appointments as proof of the difference. The decision and documents below cover this choice in more detail.

Dates: day first

Write dd/mm/aaaa. For example, 5 March 2026 is 05/03/2026. Some forms use dashes, or separate boxes for day, month and year. In every case the day comes first.

Addresses: street first, town last

The usual order is street type and name, number, floor, door, then postal code, town and province. For example: Calle Mayor, 12, 3º B, 28013 Madrid (Madrid).

Abbreviations you will see:

• C/ is calle (street)
• Avda. is avenida (avenue)
• Pza. is plaza (square)
• Pº is paseo
• nº is número (number)
• 1º, 2º and so on are the floor
• Esc. is escalera (staircase)
• Izq. and Dcha. are izquierda and derecha (left and right)
• Bj is bajo (ground floor)
• Pta. is puerta (door)

The postal code has 5 digits. The first two show the province.

ID numbers: no spaces, capital letters

Enter your NIE as a letter (X, Y or Z), seven digits and a final check letter, for example X1234567L. Do not use spaces, hyphens or dots. A DNI is eight digits plus a letter, for example 12345678Z.

Your passport number does not go in the NIE or DNI box. Use the "pasaporte" field, or choose passport in the document-type selector. Always pick the right document type first, then type the number exactly as printed. Portals vary in their field rules, so read any hint text beside the box.

Choosing between options

Which spelling of your name do you enter when your passport and NIE or TIE differ?

• Use the NIE or TIE spelling: You are dealing with a bank, social security or an employer in Spain, which generally need your name to match your NIE or TIE.

• Use the passport spelling and ask for a correction: The NIE or TIE has an error, since the passport is the source document; ask the issuing office to correct it and keep a passport copy and your correction request.

Once issued, the NIE or TIE spelling normally governs your dealings in Spain.

Documents you need

• Your passport, issued by your home country, as the source for the spelling and order of your names.

• Your NIE or TIE (foreigner identity number or card), issued in Spain, whose spelling is normally the one used once issued.

• A copy of your passport plus a written request to correct the name, only if your passport and NIE or TIE spell your name differently. Bring them to appointments as proof of the discrepancy.

Checklist

• Compare the spelling of your name on your passport and your NIE or TIE before you fill in any form.

• Ask the office that issued your NIE or TIE to correct any difference, using your passport as the source.

• Choose the correct document type, then type the number exactly as printed, putting a passport number in the passport field.

Frequently asked questions

What do I put in the second surname box if I only have one surname?

Put your only surname in the first surname box (primer apellido) and leave the second surname box (segundo apellido) blank. If the form will not accept a blank, some forms take NO CONSTA. Never invent a second surname.

How is a Spanish postal code built?

A Spanish postal code has 5 digits, and the first two show the province. It goes after the street, number, floor and door, and before the town, as in 28013 Madrid (Madrid).