NIE vs TIE vs the green certificate — which one are you?

The one-line answer

The NIE is a number. The green certificate is for EU citizens. The TIE is a card for non-EU citizens. Everyone who does anything official in Spain gets a NIE; which physical document you carry on top depends on where your passport is from.

The NIE: just a number

The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) identifies you to the Spanish state for taxes, contracts and admin. It never expires and never changes. EU and non-EU citizens alike get one — it's assigned either on its own (form EX-15) or as part of your residence process.

EU citizens: the green certificate

If you're from the EU/EEA or Switzerland and staying more than three months, you register with form EX-18 and receive the Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión — the famous green paper (credit-card sized or A4, depending on the office). It contains your NIE, your address and your registration date. There's no photo, no expiry, and no fingerprinting.

You'll typically need to show means: work, savings, or private health cover depending on your situation. The appointment for this is the same cita previa bottleneck as the NIE — book early.

Non-EU citizens: the TIE card

If you're from outside the EU with a residence visa (non-lucrative, digital nomad, student, work…), the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is your physical residence card: photo, fingerprints, permit type and validity dates. You apply within 30 days of arriving in Spain, at the police office, with form EX-17.

Two trips are involved: one to apply and give fingerprints, another (a few weeks later) to collect the card. Your NIE appears on it. When you renew your permit, you renew the TIE too.

The order of operations

A sane sequence for most newcomers: empadronamiento first (everything asks for it), then your NIE or residence registration, then bank account and health card. Non-EU: visa first from your home country, then TIE within 30 days of landing.

My TIE support (€180) covers the full process, and the First 90 Days package (€350) bundles the whole landing — NIE or TIE, padrón, bank and health card. September bookings are 50% off: just message me.