Short version: yes, you still need an NIE, and for exactly the same reasons as before Brexit. What changed is your status, UK nationals are now third-country nationals in Spain, and that affects which forms and routes apply.
What Brexit actually changed
Before 2021, British citizens were EU citizens, and the paperwork reflected that. Now the non-EU process applies. For a straightforward non-resident NIE, the sort you need to buy a property, open an account or register a car, the process is much the same: form EX-15, proof of your reason, the government fee, an appointment.
It matters more if you are moving to Spain rather than buying from a distance.
EU citizens register on the Central Register of Foreign Nationals and get an NIE as part of that. British citizens now need the visa or residence authorisation first, and the NIE comes through that process.
Applying for a non-resident NIE when you actually need residency wastes time and money.
Your three options from the UK
Apply at a Spanish consulate in the UK
Spanish consulates in London, Manchester and Edinburgh each cover a defined catchment area. The right one covers where you live, which is not always the closest. Appointments are usually requested by email rather than booked online.
The consulate route is for non-resident applications only. If you intend to live or work in Spain, that has to be done in Spain.
You will be asked for the EX-15 (often completed but left unsigned, so you can sign in front of the official), your passport and a copy, evidence of why you need the NIE, and the fee form.
The fee is paid at the consulate in sterling, not at a Spanish bank. If you live in the UK but hold another nationality, take proof of your UK immigration status.
Apply in person in Spain
If you're travelling to Spain anyway, a viewing trip, a signing, a holiday, applying at a police station there can be quicker than waiting for a consulate. It needs a pre-booked cita previa, so book it before you book flights, not after. Coastal provinces popular with British buyers are among the busiest.
Use a representative in Spain
You can give a lawyer, gestor or agent in Spain a power of attorney to apply for you. It is the usual route when a completion is coming up and there is no time for a consulate appointment.
Budget realistically: the notary fee for the power of attorney, an Apostille if you sign before a UK notary, and often a sworn translation.
These are third-party costs. They are not in anyone's advertised service fee, including ours. Check that before comparing prices.
What it costs
The Spanish government fee is currently around €10 for NIE assignment, or the equivalent in sterling if you pay at a consulate. Everything above that is somebody's service fee. When you compare providers, compare what is actually included — particularly whether the power of attorney costs are inside or outside the headline price.
What British citizens most often get wrong
- Leaving it until the mortgage or completion date is set. The NIE is a common cause of delayed Spanish completions. Start it as soon as you have a reservation contract.
- Assuming both spouses can share one. Every buyer named on the deed needs their own number.
- Going to the nearest consulate. Check the catchment area first.
- Confusing the NIE with residency. An NIE gives you no right to live in Spain, and a consulate-issued certificate is explicitly not valid for work, residence or study.
- Assuming it expires. It doesn't. The number is for life, even though some organisations ask for a recently issued certificate.