The number on its own
At its core the NIE is just an identifier — a letter, seven digits and a closing letter. Everyone receives one, whether they hold an EU passport or not. Standing alone it is simply a reference printed on a sheet of paper; it confers no right of residence by itself.
The green registration certificate
Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland who establish themselves in the Balearic Islands are issued a green document — either an A4 certificate or a card the size of a credit card. It records your NIE together with your registered address and confirms your status on the central register of EU residents.
The TIE residence card
Nationals from outside the EU receive a TIE — Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero — a laminated card bearing a photograph and fingerprint. It displays your NIE, the category of your residence permit and its expiry date, and it is the identity document non-EU residents are expected to keep on them.
In Mallorca
In Mallorca, the number, green certificate or tie is handled through Oficina de Extranjería de Illes Balears (Palma); our local team prepares your file and books the cita previa so it clears first time. We help clients from Pollença to Andratx.