White, green or plastic: the three faces of a NIE
The same number can reach you on three different documents. Which one you hold depends on your passport, and on whether Barcelona is home.
1 min read nie-barcelona.com
Ask five newcomers in Barcelona what their NIE looks like and you will hear about a white sheet, a green one and a plastic card. All three answers are right. The number is the constant; the document that carries it depends on who you are.
The white NIE certificate is for people who need a number without living here: a buyer, an heir, someone signing from abroad. It proves you have a number and nothing more.
The green certificate, the certificado de registro, is for Europeans who settle, EEA and Swiss nationals included. It registers your residence and carries the same NIE. It has no photo, so it travels with your passport or ID card.
The plastic card is the TIE card of non-EU residents. It comes after a fingerprint appointment and shows the number, your photo and the kind of residence you hold.
Unsure which one is yours? Start from the two questions the counter will ask: do you live here, and which passport do you hold? Once that is clear, a relocation to Barcelona with AnchorLess can carry the rest of the move.