Stone 12 of 14 · Your situation, and Guadalajara itself
Buying a home in Guadalajara: the NIE comes before the notary
Get the NIE before you sign: the notario (notary), the official who checks the sale and signs the deed with you, will not sign without the NIE of each buyer. A buyer who lives abroad asks for it on form EX-15. The bank, the tax office and the land registry use the same number.
Why the NIE is step one
- Your bank needs it for the account and for any mortgage
- The notary writes it in the escritura, the deed of sale
- The purchase taxes are paid under it
- The Registro de la Propiedad, the land registry, records the owner with it
- Each buyer on the deed needs a number of their own
Resident or non-resident
If you already live in Spain, you use the NIE you have, on your green certificate or your TIE. If you live abroad and buy a home here, you ask for the number alone on form EX-15, as a non-resident. The purchase itself is the reason you give; a contrato de arras (deposit contract) or your lawyer’s letter is the usual proof.
A poder notarial: what it can do
A poder notarial is a power of attorney signed before a notary. With it, a person you trust can sign the purchase for you. It can be signed before a notary in Spain, or at a Spanish consulate in your country. A power signed before a foreign notary usually needs an apostille and a translation.
The power helps with the signing. Whether someone can also request the NIE for you is a separate question, and the answer depends on the office and on your papers. Ask before you count on a power for it.
A home is not a residence permit
Owning a home in Spain does not let a non-EU citizen live here. Spain ended the golden visa in 2025. If you want to live in your new home, the route depends on your passport: the green certificate for EU citizens, a visa and a TIE for others.
Where the number is requested
In Guadalajara, policia.es lists NIE certificates and assignment at the Brigada on Avenida del Ejército 12. A buyer abroad can also use a Spanish consulate. Your appointment confirmation names the office.
If neither a consulate nor a trip to Guadalajara fits your dates, you can ask Gestoraz to handle the NIE request at a distance; it is an independent firm.
Questions
Can I reserve a flat before I have the NIE?
A reservation or deposit contract can usually be signed first. The number is needed before the deed, and the bank will want it earlier.
Is a Spanish bank account needed?
In practice, yes for most buyers: payments and bills go through it, and the bank will ask for your NIE.
Does having a NIE turn me into a Spanish tax resident?
No, the two are not linked. Owners who live abroad may still owe some Spanish taxes; a tax adviser can explain which.
Official pages behind this guide
- policia.es — foreigners’ procedures of the Brigada on Avenida del Ejército, Guadalajara
- Official appointment website for foreigners’ procedures (cita previa)
Checked against these pages on .