Can you open a bank account in Spain without an NIE?

In brief

The law does not make an NIE a condition for opening an account. Identification is done with a passport or a foreigner’s card (article 6 of Real Decreto 304/2014) [2].
You can open an account without an NIF, but you must give the NIF to the bank within 15 days. Until then, no transactions can be made on the account (article 28.3 of Real Decreto 1065/2007) [1].
A non-resident who has proved their status is exempt from the NIF identification regime for accounts in euros and in foreign currency. The status is proved with a certificate from the tax authority of the country of residence or a declaration on the ministry’s form (articles 28.7 and 28.9) [1].
The bank may refuse if it cannot apply the due diligence measures required by the anti-money laundering law (Ley 10/2010, article 7.3) [3].
For a foreign national, the NIE and the NIF are the same: the NIE is the tax number. How to get one is covered separately [4].

Do you need a NIE to open a bank account in Spain?

The law does not make the NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) a condition for opening an account. As an “obliged entity” under Ley 10/2010, the bank must identify the customer before the relationship begins, using reliable documents [3]. For a foreigner, Real Decreto 304/2014 (article 6) lists these documents as a residence card, a TIE, a passport or, for EU and EEA citizens, a national identity document. The document must be valid on the day the account is opened [2]. The NIE is not on the list of documents.

The tax number is a separate requirement. Under article 28 of Real Decreto 1065/2007, anyone who carries out transactions with banks must provide an NIF. For a foreigner, the NIE plays the role of the NIF: what an NIF is and how it differs from an NIE [1][4]. But article 28 makes exceptions to this rule; they are set out below.

What exactly the law allows without a NIE

Situation	What the law allows	Source
Account opened without an NIF	Allowed, but the NIF must be given within 15 days; no transactions until then	Art. 28.3 [1]
Non-resident has proved their status	Accounts in euros and foreign currency are excluded from the NIF identification regime	Art. 28.7 [1]
Proof of non-resident status	Certificate from the tax authority of the country of residence or a declaration on the ministry’s form	Art. 28.9 [1]
Joint account	The NIFs of all holders are required	Art. 28.6 [1]
Currency exchange or purchase of traveller’s cheques up to €3,000	A non-resident can do without an NIF	Art. 28.2 [1]

If the NIF is not given within 15 days, the bank must report the account to the tax authority: article 40 of Real Decreto 1065/2007 requires banks to send the AEAT quarterly information on accounts whose holders have not provided an NIF [1]. This is one reason why banks prefer to get the NIE straight away.

Why banks still ask for a NIE

The law sets a minimum, but each bank builds its own customer acceptance policy based on its risk assessment (article 7.1 of Ley 10/2010) [3]. The bank must also establish the purpose of the relationship and the nature of the customer’s activity, carry out ongoing monitoring and decline the relationship if it cannot apply these measures (articles 5, 6 and 7.3) [3]. In addition, the bank reports to the AEAT every month on the accounts opened with it (article 37 of Real Decreto 1065/2007) [1].

So one bank may open an account for a non-resident with a passport, while another will ask for an NIE. The law does not determine which approach a particular institution takes. We do not name banks or assess their practice: ask about the requirements in advance.

What to do if you do not have a NIE

Have a valid passport ready and proof of non-resident status: a certificate from the tax authority of your country of residence or a tax residence declaration on the form the bank gives you (article 28.9) [1].
Before your visit, ask the bank whether it will open an account without an NIE and which documents it needs about your activity and the source of funds.
If you need a tax number but have no NIE, the law allows a temporary NIF: the AEAT assigns it to a foreigner without an NIE for transactions with tax relevance; it has nine characters and starts with the letter M (article 20.2 of Real Decreto 1065/2007) [4]. Whether your bank accepts such a number depends on the bank.
If the bank requires an NIE, get one. The procedure, timescales and cost are covered in NIE in Barcelona: step by step and how much an NIE costs.
If you are entitled to a cuenta de pago básica (you live legally in the EU and have no other account in Spain), the bank must offer it to you, and any refusal must be in writing, with reasons, within 10 working days [5].
Once you have your NIE, give it to the bank: if the account was opened without an NIF, you have 15 days to do so [1].

What depends on your case

Whether you need an NIE depends on whether you are resident, how long you are opening the account for and the bank’s policy. You also need an NIE for tax matters, such as a tax return or buying a flat, separately from the account. The general procedure for opening an account is described in opening an account at a Spanish bank as a resident or non-resident. Getting an NIE and documents for a residence permit is covered on the “Documents” service page.

Frequently asked questions

Can you open an account in Spain without an NIE?

The law allows it: an identity document is enough, and the NIF can be given within 15 days; until then there are no transactions on the account. But the bank may require an NIE under its own policy, and that decides whether you get an account. [1][2][3]

Does a non-resident need an NIE to open an account?

A non-resident who has proved their status with a certificate from the tax authority of their country of residence or a declaration on the ministry’s form is exempt from the NIF identification regime for accounts in euros and foreign currency (articles 28.7 and 28.9 of Real Decreto 1065/2007). The bank may ask for an NIE under its own policy. [1]

What happens if the NIF is not given within 15 days?

Until the NIF is given, no transactions can be made on the account. The bank must report quarterly to the AEAT on accounts whose holders have not provided an NIF. Check the timescales and consequences for your case with the bank. [1]

Is the NIE the same as the NIF?

For a foreign national, the tax number is the NIE; once an NIE has been issued, no separate NIF is needed. The AEAT issues a temporary NIF when a tax transaction is needed and there is no NIE. [4]

What should you do if the bank refuses to open an account?

The bank may refuse if it cannot apply the due diligence measures (Ley 10/2010, article 7.3). For people who live legally in the EU and have no account in Spain, the bank must offer a cuenta de pago básica; a refusal is given in writing within 10 working days. [3][5]

Official sources

Sources reviewed on 02.10.2026. Consolidated texts and government reference pages are for information only: applying the law depends on official publications, amendments and the specific circumstances. Reviewed by lawyer Francisco Romero Jiménez (ICAB 33641) on 21.10.2026.

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ReloVictory · Sources reviewed 02.10.2026 · Not a substitute for individual legal advice.