ID Numbers in Spain: NIE, CIF, VAT

Some of the all-important ID numbers and documents that you need to know about if you live in Spain including the NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero), CIF(Certificado de Identificación Fiscal) and NIF (Número de Identidad de Extranjero)

NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero)

The immigration service issues this number to you once you have made your application in person at your nearest office. This is your identification number in Spain and is needed for any of the following:

Filing taxes
Buying property
Establishing a business
Opening a bank account (and for almost all other forms you fill out).

Both EU citizens and non-EU citizens get issued an NIE.

The NIE consists of an ‘X’ followed by 7 or 8 digits then another letter.

DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad)

This is the ID number for Spanish citizens. The same number is used for one’s driver’s license.
NIF (Número de Identificación Fiscal)

This is the generic term for the tax ID number for all individuals. For Spaniards, it’s the DNI plus one letter; for foreigners, it is your NIE.

If you’re a nonresident who has to pay taxes in Spain, you may get a NIF issued to you without having an NIE. This, of course, does not mean you get automatic residency in Spain, nor will it make it easier to get residency.

CIF (Certificado de Identificación Fiscal)

This is the tax ID number for all companies. It consists of a letter followed by 8 digits. The letter represents the type of company, the most common being an ‘A’ for Sociedad Anónima or a ‘B’ for Sociedad Limitada.

European VAT number (Número IVA)

This is ‘ES’ followed by the CIF.

Social Security Number

Your employer applies for this number when you start your first job in Spain. This number then stays with you for all subsequent jobs. If you are self-employed, you apply yourself for this number.
CCC Number (código de cuenta de cotización)

This is the employer’s social security number.

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