Getting your online login (Cl@ve) with only an NIE and passport

Terms used

• NIE — The NIE is your Spanish foreigner identification number, used for taxes, contracts and official procedures.
• TIE — The TIE is the residence card for foreigners, issued after you give fingerprints.
• Empadronamiento — The empadronamiento is your registration as a resident at your town hall.
• Padrón — The padrón is the town hall's list of residents; its certificate proves your address.
• Extranjería — The Extranjería is the immigration office that handles foreigners' permits and NIE numbers.

Key rules

• Where to register: With only an NIE and passport, register for Cl@ve in person, not online.
• After your TIE: Register again online once your TIE arrives.
• Padrón: The padrón certificate is not strictly needed for Cl@ve, but you will want it for your TIE appointment.
• Local rules: Offices differ by town, so ask what they accept before you travel.

Office practice varies by town and may have changed, so confirm what documents are accepted with the registration office before you go.

Can you start Cl@ve before you have a TIE?

Yes, usually. With your passport and NIE document you can generally register for Cl@ve in person at a registration office. Online registration usually needs a TIE, so the order of your steps matters.

Why in person, not online

Online routes (the Cl@ve app, a video call or an SMS code) usually ask for a TIE, a Spanish DNI or an existing certificate. An NIE and passport alone often fail there. In person, the office accepts your passport plus your NIE document, which is either the green paper certificate or the NIE assignment. Some offices also ask for a mobile number and an email address, so bring both.

Requirements can differ by town. Ask the office what it accepts before you travel.

The order to follow

1. Get your NIE. You get it through a consulate or the Extranjería or police office. It often comes together with a visa or residence application.
2. Register at the town hall. This is the empadronamiento. The padrón certificate is often needed for your TIE appointment and for many other procedures. You do not need it for Cl@ve itself, but some towns ask for it before other steps, so get it early.
3. Apply for and collect your TIE. You give fingerprints. For non-EU residents this is due within one month of arrival.
4. Register for Cl@ve. You can do this in person as soon as you have the NIE. Once you have your TIE, register again online, because most online channels accept it.

The FNMT digital certificate is another option once you have your NIE.

If you are an EU citizen

EU citizens get a registration certificate with their NIE instead of a TIE. Use that certificate as your NIE document when you register in person.

Use the documents list, checklist and timeline below to prepare.

Timeline and deadlines

• Register your address at the town hall (empadronamiento): after you have your NIE and before the TIE appointment

• Register for Cl@ve in person with your passport and NIE document: as soon as you have your NIE, without waiting for the TIE

• Register for Cl@ve online with your TIE: once you have your TIE, since most online channels accept it

Documents you need

• Valid passport, original, to show your identity at the registration office.

• Your NIE document: the green paper certificate or the NIE assignment issued by the Extranjería or police office.

• A mobile number and an email address, which some offices also ask for.

Checklist

• Check that your passport is valid and bring the original.

• Take a mobile number and an email address with you.

• Choose the in-person route at a registration office, because online registration usually needs a TIE.

• Ask the office what it accepts before you travel, as requirements can differ by town.

• Register your address at the town hall so you have the padrón certificate ready for your TIE appointment.

• Register again online with your TIE once you receive it.

Frequently asked questions

Can I register for Cl@ve online with just my NIE and passport?

Usually not: the online routes (the Cl@ve app, video call or an SMS code) normally ask for a TIE, a Spanish DNI with a support number, or an existing certificate. Going in person to a registration office is the route that generally accepts NIE plus passport.

Do I need my padrón certificate to get Cl@ve?

No, the padrón is not strictly needed for Cl@ve. It is often needed for your TIE appointment, though, and some towns ask for it before other steps, so register your address early.

Should I wait for my TIE before getting a digital certificate?

No, you can request the FNMT certificate as soon as you have your NIE. It is free of charge. The TIE itself carries no usable electronic certificate, so it does not replace one.

Do EU citizens need a TIE for Cl@ve?

No, EU citizens do not need a TIE, because they get a registration certificate with their NIE instead. Use the in-person route with your passport and NIE document.