There’s no such thing as a DNI for foreigners: the DNI is the national ID card of Spanish citizens. Once you’re a citizen, getting your Spanish DNI for the first time takes a single appointment, as long as you show up with the right documents in the right order.
Whether you walk out with your card or with a wasted appointment usually comes down to one detail: a birth certificate without the right annotation, an expired proof of address, or a TIE (Foreigner Identity Card) left at home. And there’s a second step almost nobody mentions: after the DNI, your old NIE (Foreigner Identification Number) is still on file with Social Security, the Spanish Tax Agency, the traffic authority, your bank, and your employer.
In this guide, we cover when you can apply, the exact Spanish DNI requirements under Royal Decree 255/2025, how to book the appointment, what it costs, and how to switch every account from NIE to DNI without getting blocked.
Do you want a expert consultation? Contact us and we will help you.
In 30 Seconds
- Citizenship first: you can get a Spanish DNI once you’ve taken the citizenship oath and your citizenship is recorded in the Civil Registry.
- Four documents: a literal birth certificate issued for DNI purposes (under 6 months old), proof of municipal registration (under 3 months old), a 32 × 26 mm photo, and your TIE or EU registration certificate.
- €12 and one appointment: book it online or by calling 060 as a first issuance, and pay in cash, by card, or online when you book.
- Then, from NIE to DNI: the change doesn’t spread on its own. You have to notify each agency yourself.
What the Spanish DNI Is, and Why There’s No “DNI for Foreigners”
The DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad) is the official document that, on its own, proves the identity of a Spanish citizen. It’s issued by Spain’s National Police, carries a personal number that also works as your tax ID, and is mandatory for Spanish citizens over 14 who live in Spain. It’s governed by Royal Decree 255/2025.
What it isn’t: an ID for foreign residents. If you live in Spain without Spanish citizenship, you’re identified by your NIE, which is a number, and by your TIE, which is the physical card. EU citizens use their EU registration certificate instead. So what people search for as a Spanish DNI for foreigners is simply the same Spanish DNI card every citizen carries. There’s no special version and no special numbering.
Is Spanish DNI the Same as NIE?
No. The NIE identifies you as a foreigner; the DNI identifies you as a Spanish citizen. In the Spanish DNI vs NIE comparison, the key difference is who can hold each one: as long as you’re not a citizen, you can’t have a DNI, and once you get your DNI, you stop using the NIE. Your Spanish DNI number is new and replaces the NIE as your ID and tax number.
When You Can Get Your Spanish DNI: The Order After Citizenship
You can apply for your Spanish DNI once your citizenship is recorded in the Civil Registry, not before. The approval letter is where the process starts, not where it ends.
After Spanish citizenship by residency or by royal decree is granted, the order is:
- Notice of approval. You can track your application through the citizenship application status tool.
- Citizenship oath (jura) before the Civil Registry official or a notary, renouncing your previous citizenship where required. Nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, and Portugal, as well as Sephardic Jews of Spanish origin, don’t have to renounce. We explain the rules in our guide to dual Spanish nationality.
- Registration in the Civil Registry. Under Article 23 of the Civil Code, the acquisition is only valid once it’s registered.
- Literal birth certificate for DNI purposes (certificación literal de nacimiento), issued by the Civil Registry after registration.
- DNI appointment.
Watch the first deadline: under Article 21.4 of the Civil Code, the approval expires 180 days after you’re notified if you don’t appear to take the oath within that time. It’s the most expensive mistake in the whole process, because you have to start over.
How Long Does the DNI Take After the Citizenship Oath?
It depends on the Civil Registry handling your registration: the law sets 180 days to take the oath, but no deadline for the registration itself. In practice, the wait ranges from days to several months, depending on each registry’s workload, and anyone who gives you an exact number is oversimplifying. Once you have the birth certificate, the DNI only depends on getting an appointment.
Spanish DNI Requirements: The Documents, One by One
You need four documents for your first Spanish DNI, and two of them expire. This table reflects what Spain’s Ministry of the Interior and Article 6 of Royal Decree 255/2025 require:
| Document | Maximum Age | Where to Get It | What Gets You Turned Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Literal birth certificate | 6 months | The Civil Registry where you’re registered | It doesn’t state it was issued solely to obtain the DNI |
| Municipal registration certificate (empadronamiento) | 3 months | Your town hall | Getting it too early, so it expires before the appointment |
| Recent color photo | Recent | Photo studio or booth | Not 32 × 26 mm, or not a plain white background |
| TIE or EU registration certificate | Whatever you have | You already have it: you hand it in at the appointment | Forgetting it: the Ministry treats it as an essential requirement |
You can request the birth certificate at the Civil Registry or online through the Ministry of Justice e-portal, stating what it’s for. A quick example: if it’s issued on February 10, it’s valid for an appointment until August 10. The municipal registration gives you less room: for an appointment on May 20, it must be dated after February 20.
One detail worth knowing early: Royal Decree 255/2025 allows the police to check your record in the Civil Registry electronically, without you bringing anything. But its second transitional provision keeps the paper birth certificate as a requirement until the new Civil Registry system is running nationwide. In practice: always bring it.
And if a document is missing for reasons beyond your control, the rules allow a DNI with restricted validity of one year, which is extended once you provide it. That’s an exception, not a plan.
Do They Take the DNI Photo at the Police Station?
Only at some offices. Royal Decree 255/2025 lets offices with the right equipment take the photo on site, but not all of them have it. Bring your own and follow the Spanish DNI photo requirements: in color, facing forward, on a plain white background, with your head uncovered and no dark glasses. Head coverings for religious or medical reasons are accepted as long as your whole face is visible.
How to Book Your Spanish DNI Appointment and What Happens That Day
You book your Spanish DNI appointment at citapreviadnie.es or by calling 060, choosing first issuance (primera inscripción). You can pick any issuing office, not just the one in your neighborhood.
- Gather the four documents and check their dates against your appointment day.
- Book the appointment on the official DNI appointment e-portal or by calling 060, as a first issuance, not a renewal.
- Pay the fee when booking, if you have an e-signature, or pay at the office.
- Go in person. They’ll take your index fingerprints, your digital signature, and, if the office has the equipment, your photo.
- Hand in your TIE or EU registration certificate.
- Pick up your DNI in person: it’s always delivered to you personally. Ask whether you’ll get it at the same appointment or need to come back.
Summary of the Steps
- Take the oath and wait for Civil Registry registration.
- Request the literal birth certificate for DNI purposes.
- Get recent proof of municipal registration and your photo.
- Book a first-issuance appointment online or by calling 060.
- Bring your TIE, pay €12, and sign.
How Much Does a Spanish DNI Cost?
It costs €12, the same fee for a first DNI and for a renewal, according to Spain’s Ministry of the Interior as of September 2026. You can pay in cash, by card at the office, or online when you book. It’s free if you’re a member of a large family (familia numerosa) with a valid certificate. For example, a family of four who become citizens together and get four DNIs pays €48, or nothing with a valid large-family certificate. Check the amount on the Ministry’s website before paying.
How Long Your First DNI Is Valid
Validity depends on your age on the day it’s issued (Article 7 of Royal Decree 255/2025):
| Age When Issued | Validity |
|---|---|
| Under 5 | 2 years |
| 5 to 29 | 5 years |
| 30 to 69 | 10 years |
| 70 or older | More than 10 years, with an expiration date |
One outdated claim still circulates: the “permanent” DNI from age 70 was the rule under the previous decree. Since April 2025, every DNI carries an expiration date.
Do you want a expert consultation? Contact us and we will help you.
Switching From NIE to DNI: Who to Notify and in What Order
Agencies don’t share your switch from NIE to DNI with each other: each one has its own process, and until you complete it, your records stay under your NIE.
The document that links both identities is the certificate of concordance (certificado de concordancia). It proves that the NIE holder and the DNI holder are the same person. It’s issued by the National Police by appointment, with Form EX-15 and the certificates fee paid with Form 790, code 012: €7.31 under Order PJC/617/2025. The office that handles it varies by province, so confirm when you book.
| Agency | How to Notify | Why It Can’t Wait |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security | On the Importass portal, under personal details, using your NIE card’s support number. Without a digital ID, by request with a selfie and Form TA.1 | Contributions, benefits, and work history |
| Spanish Tax Agency | Form 030 to update your details (or Form 036 if you’re self-employed or run a business) | Personal Income Tax (IRPF) returns, withholdings, and notices |
| DGT (traffic authority) | Duplicate driver’s license for the NIE-to-DNI change, on the DGT e-portal with a digital certificate, electronic DNI, or Cl@ve | Your license and any vehicles in your name move to your DNI |
| Town hall | Update your municipal registration details | Future certificates and local paperwork |
| Public health system | Your health center or your region’s health service website | Health card and prescriptions |
| Banks, insurers, and utilities | Each company’s own channel, with your DNI and the certificate of concordance | Blocked transactions when your details don’t match |
A scheduling tip: start with Social Security and the Spanish Tax Agency. Those are the first to cause trouble if a paycheck or a tax return goes out under your old number.
What Happens to Your NIE When You Get Your DNI?
It stops being your ID number in Spain. You hand in your TIE at the DNI appointment, and from then on you identify yourself with the DNI. The NIE doesn’t vanish from your records: it stays linked to your previous identity, which is why the certificate of concordance is the piece that connects both.
If Your Company Has Employees Who Become Spanish Citizens
For an HR team, an employee’s citizenship makes things much simpler, but the switch needs to be managed:
- Work authorization: a Spanish citizen no longer needs one. Remove any TIE renewal reminders.
- Documentation: ask for a copy of the DNI and the certificate of concordance for the employee file.
- Payroll and filings: update the ID on the employment contract and payroll, and make sure Social Security records and withholding returns, such as Form 190, show the DNI.
If you’re relocating teams to Spain, this step fits into the work we do on employee relocation to Spain.
Mistakes That Cost You Your First DNI Appointment
Almost every wasted appointment comes down to six avoidable mistakes, and none of them is hard to prevent if you check in time:
- Missing the 180-day oath deadline: the approval expires and you have to start over.
- A birth certificate without the DNI annotation, or more than six months old.
- A municipal registration certificate more than three months old.
- Forgetting your TIE or EU registration certificate.
- Booking a renewal appointment instead of a first issuance.
- Assuming the NIE-to-DNI switch spreads on its own between Social Security, the Tax Agency, and your bank.
Getting your DNI is the last piece of a long process. What’s left is mostly about order: taking the oath on time, requesting documents on the right dates, and then completing the NIE-to-DNI switch with each agency. At ILLAY Legal, we handle the final stretch of Spanish citizenship: we review your file after approval and prepare the documents for the oath and the DNI. We also tell you who to notify and in what order, 100% online and in your language. Tell us where your citizenship stands (approval, oath, or registration) and which province you live in, and we’ll tell you what’s missing for your DNI and in what order to update your details.
Keep reading: how long Spanish citizenship takes · Spanish citizenship requirements and types · Spanish citizenship by marriage
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting a Spanish DNI for the First Time
Does my Social Security number change when I switch from NIE to DNI?
No. Your Social Security number is assigned once for life, so it stays the same. What changes is the ID document linked to that number, and you have to report it. On the Importass portal, you can do it with your old NIE card’s support number. Without a digital ID, you can send a request with a selfie and Form TA.1.
Once you’re done, download a report of your personal details and check that the DNI now appears. If you’re an employee, let your employer know too, so your paycheck doesn’t keep showing the NIE.
What happens to debts, loans, or contracts I signed with my NIE?
They remain exactly as they were. A new ID document doesn’t make you a different person: your contracts, your mortgage, your loans, and your debts all stay in your name. Only the number you use to identify yourself changes. That’s why it’s worth taking your DNI and the certificate of concordance to each company, since it proves your old NIE and your new DNI belong to the same person. It prevents blocks when a bank or insurer cross-checks your details.
Can I get my DNI and passport at the same appointment?
Yes, and many people do it to avoid a second trip. A Spanish passport requires a valid DNI, so the DNI is issued first and then the passport. Check when booking that your appointment covers both. The passport has its own fee, €30 as of September 2026, and it’s also free for large families. If you’re traveling outside the EU soon, go for the joint appointment: without a Spanish passport, you’ll have to keep using the one from your country of origin.
Do my minor children need a DNI if they’re Spanish too?
It’s mandatory from age 14 for anyone living in Spain, and they can get one earlier. Each child who has acquired citizenship needs their own registration, their own birth certificate for DNI purposes, and their own appointment. Minors attend with the parent or legal guardian. Children under 6 aren’t fingerprinted. If your children’s situation differs from yours, see our guide to Spanish citizenship for minors.
Is there a mobile app for managing or renewing a Spanish DNI?
Yes, there’s an official digital version of the DNI for your phone, but it only works if you hold a valid physical DNI, and it has the same validity. It’s useful to identify yourself to government agencies and companies, but it doesn’t replace the physical card for travel. Renewals still require going in person. The electronic certificates inside the card last two years under Royal Decree 255/2025 and are managed with your PIN at the update terminals in issuing offices.
How can I apply for a Spanish DNI from the United States?
As a rule, you can’t: the first DNI is issued in person in Spain. Royal Decree 255/2025 allows embassies and consulates to issue it where the National Police has the equipment and staff, but for now that’s the exception. Ask your consulate whether it offers the service. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to travel to Spain and bring a residence certificate from the consulate, issued within the last three months, instead of proof of municipal registration.
Can I hire a legal service to handle my Spanish DNI application?
Partly. No one can attend the appointment for you, because the law requires you to appear in person for fingerprints and signature. What a law firm can do is review your file after approval, make sure the birth certificate and proof of address are valid on the appointment date, and handle the certificate of concordance and the NIE-to-DNI updates afterward. At ILLAY Legal we do this 100% online and in your language.
