EX-15 is the official Spanish form used to apply for the assignment of an NIE and for related certificates. It is short, but it has to be right: the details are checked against your passport, and mismatches are a common reason for a wasted appointment.
Where to get it
From the official Spanish government sources — the Ministry of Inclusion's foreigners portal or the Policía Nacional's electronic office. Use the current official version. Old copies circulate on third-party sites and get rejected.
It has to be in Spanish
English-language versions of EX-15 exist all over the internet. They are translation aids, and useful ones, but the form you submit has to be the official Spanish version, completed in Spanish. Filling in an English copy and handing it over does not work.
What each section asks for
Section 1 — the applicant's details
Your names, sex, date and place of birth, nationality, marital status, parents' names, address, phone, email and passport number.
First NIE? Leave the NIE field blank. You only complete it if you already have a number and want a certificate.
Everything must match your passport exactly, including the order and spelling of surnames. Spain uses two surnames and the form is laid out that way. If you have one, put it in the first field and leave the second blank.
Section 2 — the representative's details
Only completed if somebody other than you is submitting the application. If you're doing it yourself, leave it blank. If a representative is presenting it, their name or company name, identification, address and contact details go here, and they will need a power of attorney to back it up.
Section 3 — where notifications are sent
The address the authorities will write to. It can be your own details again, or a different contact address. There's also a checkbox for electronic notifications, which requires a Spanish digital certificate or Cl@ve to use.
Section 4 — the request itself
This is the part that decides your application. You state whether you are applying as a non-resident, your reason (economic, professional or social interests), and where you are submitting: a police station in Spain or a consular office abroad.
The reason you tick has to match the proof you bring.
Practical details that matter
- Write in capital letters, in black ink, if completing by hand
- Dates go in day/month/year order
- Print more than one copy — some offices and consulates want two
- Do not sign it in advance if you are applying at a consulate that asks you to sign in front of an official; check first
- Names must match the passport character for character, including accents and hyphens
What goes with it
The EX-15 is one of four things. You also need your passport and a photocopy, proof of your reason for needing the NIE, and a paid Modelo 790 código 012. See the full checklist.