You already have an NIE: what to reuse on a new move

Key rules

• Lifelong number: Your NIE is permanent, so reuse it instead of applying for a new one.
• Lost number: Ask a foreigners' office for a confirmation or duplicate of your existing NIE.
• Two NIEs: Ask the foreigners' office to unify your records under the original number.

Reuse your old NIE, do not apply for a new one

Your NIE is permanent. It stays the same after you leave Spain, after a long absence and after your residence card expires. A new number is only issued to someone who never had one. So if you had an NIE from an earlier stay, an inheritance or a property purchase, use it for every new procedure.

Confirm the number

Start with your old papers. The number may appear on:

• a green certificate
• an old residence card
• a tax filing
• a property deed
• a bank contract
• a Social Security record

If you find nothing, you have two routes:

1. Go to a Policía Nacional foreigners' office with your passport. They can search for your number and give you a confirmation or a duplicate. They usually find it quickly when your passport number, or your name and date of birth, match their records.
2. Ask your Spanish bank, a gestor or the tax agency. They can sometimes check the number from tax records.

If your passport number or the spelling of your name has changed, a search can take longer. Bring your old passport if you still have it. Practice varies by office, so ask what they want to see.

If you were issued two NIEs

You should only have one. Two numbers can cause mismatched tax, Social Security and bank records, and can delay procedures.

To fix it, ask the foreigners' office to unify your records under the original NIE. Bring both certificates, your passport and a written request. Afterwards, update the tax agency, Social Security and your banks so they all use the original number.

What to check before you apply

Do not apply for a new NIE just because you cannot find the old one. Ask for a confirmation or duplicate first. The decision, documents and checklist below walk you through the steps.

Choosing between options

Do you reuse your existing NIE or apply for a new one?

• Reuse your existing NIE: You were ever issued a number, even years ago or after a long absence from Spain. Your permit or card may have expired, but the number is permanent.

• Ask for a duplicate or confirmation: You had a number but cannot find it. The foreigners' office can confirm it or issue a duplicate.

• Apply for a new NIE: You have never been issued a number.

A new number is only issued if you never had one. In every other case, reuse or recover the number you have.

Documents you need

• Your passport, to let the foreigners' office search for your existing NIE.

• Any old document showing your NIE: a green certificate, an old residence card, a tax filing, a property deed, a bank contract or a Social Security record. It helps the search but is not essential.

• If you were issued two NIEs: both certificates and a written request to unify your records, handed in at the foreigners' office.

Checklist

• Look through old papers for your NIE: green certificate, old residence card, tax filings, property deed, bank contract or Social Security record.

• Ask your Spanish bank, a gestor or the tax agency to check the number from tax records if you cannot find a document.

• Go to a Policía Nacional foreigners' office with your passport and ask for a confirmation or duplicate of your existing NIE.

• Use your existing NIE for every new procedure instead of applying for a new one.

• If you find you hold two NIEs, bring both certificates, your passport and a written request to the foreigners' office to unify the records under your original number.

• Update the tax agency, Social Security and your banks with the original NIE after any unification.

What to watch out for

• Two NIEs cause mismatched records: A person should only have one NIE. A second number can mismatch your tax, Social Security and bank records and delay procedures. Ask the foreigners' office to unify your records under the original NIE, then update the tax agency, Social Security and your banks. Take both NIE certificates, your passport and a written request to the appointment.

• Applying for a new number by mistake: Applying again when you already have a number is how duplicates start. Ask the foreigners' office to confirm or duplicate your existing NIE before you apply for anything.

Confirm the unification steps with the foreigners' office before acting.

Frequently asked questions

I can't find my old NIE number. Where do I look?

Check old papers first: the green certificate, an old residence card, tax filings, a property deed, a bank contract or a Social Security record. If none turn up, ask at a Policía Nacional foreigners' office with your passport.

My passport number or name spelling has changed. Can they still find me?

Yes, but the search can take longer. Offices usually find the number quickly when your passport number, or your name and date of birth, match their records. Bring your old passport or an old document showing the number if you have one.

Can anyone else check my number for me?

Sometimes: a Spanish bank, a gestor or the tax agency can occasionally verify it from tax records. If they cannot, go to the foreigners' office.

My residence card expired. Do I need a new NIE?

No, the card can expire, but the number stays the same.