NIE deadline: what the law says and what the record says

What is the legal time limit for the issuance of the NIE?

Article 205.4 Real Decreto 1155/2024 stipulates that the application to NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero, the alien identification number) shall be decided within five days of the entry into the register of the authority that considers it and the decision shall be communicated within the same time limit. [1]The same period is shown on the page Policy of the National on "asignación de NiE a instancia de interesado" [2].

The word "hábiles" does not appear in the text, so general rule Ley 39/2015 applies: unless the date is set by day and the law otherwise, days of work, without Saturday, Sunday and holidays [4]Five days is about one week of work, counting from the receipt of an application to the register, not from the date you made your appointment.

What happens if there's no answer in five days?

The application is considered rejected by default. Article 205.4 states that after the expiry of the deadline, the statement "se entenderá desestimada" is not answered. [1]Police site repeats: the effect of the lack of decision in the deadline [2].

Here's a difference from UGE. For the permissions that UGE leads, silence after 20 days means consent (silencia positivo) [3]The opposite rule applies to NIE: under article 24 Ley 39/2015, negative silence only gives the right to appeal [4]The police have identified two ways: recurso de reposión within 1 month and petition to the court contencioso-administrativo within 2 months [2]Which option is appropriate for your case, counsel determines: we don't know your situation. silencio positivo.

When is the NIE issued without a separate application?

The NIE assigns the Dirección General de la Policia on your own initiative (de oicio) if you have begun to produce a document giving you the right to stay in Spain, as follows from article 205.3 Real Decreto 1155/2024. This applies to visas when the visa allows for more than 90 days of stay in the country for 180 days. [1].

A separate application for NIE is made by those who are connected with Spain ’s economic, professional or social interests but who do not issue permits. [1][2]Details of the very difference in documents in the article NIE, TIE and residence permit, and how to get a room in Barcelona, described in the material NIE in Barcelona.

What is the real expectation?

The official five days start only when the application is accepted and most of the time usually takes the record.

1. The appointment (cita previa) to the office or police station where you apply.
2. The payment of the modelo 790 código 012 line "Asignación de NiE a instancia del intersado" is 9.84 on 2 October 2026. [5][6].
3. Submission of EX15 and confirmation of payment, either directly or through a representative [2].
4. Judgement within five days [1].

How long does it take for the first step in Barcelona to get official sources out of the public, and we haven't found any statistics on the NIE. Free records change quickly, so calling average would be fiction. If you're from abroad, you apply for the NIE through the Spanish Consulate. [1][2]III. The way in which the record is recorded is described in the article on the Cita previa in extranjería.

What depends on your case?

The time and order depends on how you get the number: de ocio with the permit, on application in Spain or through the consulate. It also depends on whether you need a separate entry. If the NIE is needed for the bank or for the purchase of housing, and you do not issue the residence permit, a separate application is appropriate, with a reason. If you apply for the residence permit, the number will usually appear in the procedure itself and hurry to enter the permit. If you want to make a choice, check with a lawyer or a gestator, which is part of the cost of the room, as described in the article. How much is Nie, and the preparation of documents is conducted as part of Documents services; general order of residence permit is available on the page Residence permit in Barcelona.

Frequent issues

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The source is viewed on 02.10.2026 · NEXO · Drafting Draft · Sources do not replace individual legal advice.