Spanish ID numbers and the right orderArticle 5 of 8 · 2 min read
What your identity numbers and registrations cost, including paid help
Shows which steps on the way to your NIE, TIE card and local registration are free, which carry a small state fee, and what a gestor typically adds. For newcomers deciding whether to do it themselves or pay for help.
Most of the cost is small. The state charges a modest fee for the NIE and another for the TIE card. Registering in the padrón and signing up for Cl@ve cost nothing. Paid help is the only part that can get expensive.
What carries a state fee
The NIE. You pay at a bank or online, and take the stamped receipt to your appointment. The fee is €9.84 in 2026, on form 790 code 012.
The TIE card. If you need the physical card, it has its own fee of €16.40 in 2026, paid on form 790 code 012 with a separate receipt. Only non-EU residents, including non-EU family of EU citizens, need the card.
The EU registration certificate. €10.40 in 2026, paid on form 790 code 012 before your appointment. It is the EU, EEA and Swiss equivalent of the TIE and carries your NIE.
The first DNI. €12, paid at the DNI office. Spanish citizens only.
Who pays which fee
- Non-EU resident: the NIE came with your visa, so you pay the TIE card fee only: €16.40 in total.
- EU, EEA or Swiss citizen: the EU registration certificate, which carries your NIE: €10.40 in total.
- NIE only, without residence: the NIE fee: €9.84 in total.
- Spanish citizen: the first DNI: €12 in total.
A gestor, if you hire one, is extra.
What is free
- Registering in the padrón is free.
- Standard padrón certificates are free. Some town halls charge a small fee for certified copies or historical certificates.
- Signing up for Cl@ve is free.
- The Social Security number is free.
- The health card is free.
What a gestor charges
A gestor is a paid agent who handles the paperwork for you. For an NIE application, they charge €60–€200. Common prices are €80–€150. Packages and urgent service cost more. These prices usually do not include the state fee.
Some online services quote €150–€300 because they bundle other steps. Check what is included before you agree.
Doing it yourself or paying
The NIE and padrón steps are simple enough that many people do them alone, which keeps the cost to the state fees. A gestor makes sense if you are short of time, can't get an appointment, or don't want to deal with the forms in Spanish.
More in Spanish ID numbers and the right order
- The Spanish ID numbers you will meet and what each is for
- Foreigner number (NIE) or residence card (TIE): which goes on which form?
- The right order for your NIE, address registration and digital ID
- How long each identity step really takes in Spain
- Where Spanish counters will ask for your foreigner number (NIE)
- Which ID to carry every day in Spain
- Arriving as a Spanish citizen who has never lived in Spain
← Back to Spanish ID numbers and the right order · Find your city
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.