NIE number and Spanish bank account
What is the NIE number and is opening a Spanish bank account mandatory when buying property in Spain?
The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjeros) is Spain's tax identification number for foreigners — required to register property ownership and pay taxes in Spain. A Spanish bank account isn't formally mandatory, but it substantially accelerates the transaction and simplifies payments at every stage of the process.
You can apply for an NIE in two places. In your home country — at the nearest Spanish consulate; in 2026, waiting times typically run 4–8 weeks, with an official fee around €10. In Spain — directly at a police station or through a representative (apoderado); the second route is faster, usually 1–2 weeks from a complete application. For urgent cases, Anteris can help you obtain an NIE within a few days through a notary.
Required documents: passport, completed EX-15 form, proof of purpose (e.g., signed reservation agreement or letter of intent), and proof of payment (Modelo 790). For property buyers the purpose is causa económica — in practice a reservation agreement is enough.
A bank account can be opened at any major Spanish bank — BBVA, Banco Sabadell, CaixaBank, Bankinter — all of which handle non-residents (cuenta no residente). Opening usually takes 1–3 business days. Required: passport, NIE, and a non-residence certificate (issued by the police alongside the NIE).
What does a Spanish account specifically simplify? Primarily payments: IBI (annual property tax), community fees, electricity, gas, water, and internet — virtually all providers require direct debit (domiciliación) from a Spanish account. Paying from a foreign account means a SEPA transfer each time: slower, with fees, and prone to delays.
At Anteris we coordinate both steps in parallel with the purchase process — in a typical scenario, our clients have their NIE and bank account ready by the time they sign the contrato de arras.
Last reviewed: 20260514