Lost or Stolen Spanish NIE: How to Replace Your NIE Document

The Spanish NIE number itself is permanent — once it is assigned to you, it does not change, expire, or disappear. What can be lost or stolen is the document that records it: the NIE blanco certificate on white A4 paper (see an example of the NIE document), the TIE card for non-EU residents, or the Certificado de Registro for EU citizens. The replacement procedure depends on three factors: which document was lost, whether it was stolen or simply mislaid, and whether you remember your NIE number. A police report (denuncia) is required when the document was stolen. A duplicate of the NIE blanco certificate requires a new Modelo EX-15 submission and a fresh Tasa 790-012 payment. The full original NIE application process is covered in how to apply for a Spanish NIE, and the identifier itself is explained in what is an NIE in Spain.

Three Situations to Diagnose

Three distinct situations cover almost every “lost NIE” scenario. The decision table summarises the path; the detail follows below.

I lost the certificate — I know my NIE number

The simplest case. The NIE number is permanent, so technically you have not lost anything administratively — only the paper that proves it. To get a fresh certificate you submit a new Modelo EX-15 marked as “duplicado” (duplicate) with proof of identity. Book a cita previa for “Asignación de NIE” on the icpplus portal, pay the Tasa 790-012, attend the appointment with your passport, photocopy of passport, and the form. The Oficina de Extranjería issues a fresh certificate carrying the same NIE number.

I lost the certificate — I do not remember my NIE number

The number is on Spanish administrative record, so it is recoverable — but you cannot simply submit EX-15 with a blank number field. First recover the number through one of the methods below (see “How to Recover Your NIE Number If You Have Forgotten It”). Once the number is confirmed, the rest follows the previous procedure.

My NIE was stolen (with passport / wallet)

When the NIE certificate is stolen — usually because it was carried with the passport — you must file a denuncia at the Spanish National Police before applying for a duplicate. The denuncia (a) creates an official record of the theft, useful if the document is later used fraudulently, and (b) is required by the Oficina de Extranjería as supporting documentation for the duplicate. The denuncia can be filed at any Spanish National Police station; in some provinces it can also be filed online via sede.policia.gob.es. Bring identification — even passport replacement paperwork — to file it.

Step-by-Step Replacement Process

1. File a denuncia (only if the document was stolen). At any Spanish National Police station, or online via sede.policia.gob.es for provinces that offer the e-procedure. Keep the denuncia reference number and the printed copy — both are needed for the duplicate application.
2. Recover your NIE number (only if you do not remember it). Through previous documents, bank records, tax filings, or — last resort — a written request to the Comisaría that issued the original certificate. See the section on number recovery below.
3. Complete Modelo EX-15 marked as duplicate (duplicado). Tick the box for duplicate / re-issue. Enter your existing NIE number. Sign in the same style as your passport signature.
4. Pay the Tasa 790-012. Generate the form at sede.policia.gob.es/Tasa790_012/, pay at any participating bank or online with Cl@ve or a Spanish bank card. Keep the validated receipt.
5. Book a cita previa for Asignación de NIE. Use sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/icpplus/. Select your province and the procedure “Asignación de NIE”.
6. Attend the appointment with the full file. Original passport, photocopy of passport, completed EX-15, paid Tasa receipt, denuncia (if stolen), and proof of your existing NIE number if not on the form. The duplicate certificate is normally issued on the day or within a few working days.

Special Steps for a Stolen NIE

A stolen NIE certificate requires a denuncia before everything else, for two reasons. First, the denuncia is the only formal record of when and where the document was lost — relevant if the certificate is later used fraudulently in property, banking, or tax procedures. Second, the Oficina de Extranjería treats the denuncia as required supporting documentation when issuing a duplicate, because the duplicate is technically a re-issuance of a “lost or stolen” official document.

What to do, in order:

• File denuncia immediately at the nearest Comisaría de Policía Nacional. Bring whatever identification you have; even a passport receipt is enough to start the report.
• Note the denuncia reference number. It is printed on the report; keep both digital and paper copies.
• If your passport was also stolen — start the passport replacement procedure in parallel. Your home country embassy or consulate handles passport replacement; the Spanish NIE duplicate procedure can run in parallel as long as you can prove identity to the Oficina de Extranjería on the day.
• Notify your Spanish bank. If account information was on the stolen document chain, banks may want a recent NIE certificate or denuncia copy for KYC.
• Attach the denuncia to the EX-15 file. A printed copy of the denuncia goes with the EX-15, the paid Tasa receipt, and your identity documents at the Oficina appointment.

Cost Breakdown for a Replacement

A duplicate NIE certificate is treated by the police as a fresh request. The Tasa 790-012 is paid again, at the same rate as for a first application. Service-level costs apply only if you use a gestor or lawyer. The official fee amounts and what they cover are set out in the NIE application cost guide.

What NOT to Do

Mistakes that delay the replacement or create administrative knots:

• Do not apply for a “new” NIE. You already have one. Submitting an EX-15 marked as initial assignment when you have an existing NIE creates duplicate records and is rejected at validation.
• Do not assume your NIE expired. The number is permanent. If a Spanish bank says your NIE has “expired”, they mean their internal KYC copy is older than the bank policy allows — not that the NIE itself is invalid. See does the NIE number expire.
• Do not file a denuncia for a simply lost document. Denuncia is for theft. Filing one for a lost document wastes time, and the denuncia is rejected at the police station.
• Do not photograph the original certificate and treat it as the document. Spanish administrative procedures generally require the original or a notarised copy. A phone photo is not accepted as a valid NIE document.
• Do not ignore the situation if the document was stolen. Stolen NIE certificates can be used in identity fraud — banks, notaries, and the police treat the denuncia as your protection.
• Do not start a TIE replacement procedure in this flow. TIE is a different document with a different form (EX-17) and a different procedure — see the next section.

TIE Card Replacement — a Different Process

The TIE — Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero — is the physical residence card carried by non-EU residents in Spain. The TIE has your NIE printed on it, but the card itself is a separate document with its own renewal cycle and its own replacement procedure under Modelo EX-17. If your TIE is lost or stolen, the procedure is not the same as for the NIE certificate: the EX-17 file goes via a different administrative track and the duplicate Tasa is different. Replacement of the TIE is outside the scope of this NIE guide. The NIE number on your lost TIE is the same number you have always had — that part is permanent. The information on this page covers replacement of the NIE certificate (NIE blanco). For TIE replacement, the Oficina de Extranjería or your immigration lawyer is the correct starting point.

How to Recover Your NIE Number If You Have Forgotten It

The NIE number sits on multiple Spanish administrative records. If you cannot find it, there are at least four reliable recovery paths. Try them in order — they range from immediate to time-consuming.

1. Check personal documents. Old NIE certificate scan, copy filed with a notary, photo on phone, bank correspondence, Spanish tax filing (IRPF or IRNR), Hacienda registration certificate (Modelo 030 or 036), property deed (escritura), or rental contract. The NIE often appears on all of these.
2. Ask your Spanish bank. Banks hold NIE on file for KYC. A request to the branch where you opened the account should return the number on the same day.
3. Check Agencia Tributaria records via Cl@ve. If you have ever had a Cl@ve digital identity, your NIE appears in the personal records available through sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es.
4. Make a written request to the Comisaría that issued the original certificate. A written request with proof of identity to the issuing Comisaría yields the NIE number from the central police register. Typical response time: one to four weeks.