If you’re applying for a NIE number, registering as an EU citizen, or dealing with Spanish immigration paperwork, you’ll keep seeing the same three items come up:
- Modelo 790 (Tasa) – the payment form used to pay official fees (most often 790-012 for extranjería procedures).
- Formulario EX-15 – the application form most commonly used to request an NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero).
- Formulario EX-18 – the application form used by EU/EEA/Swiss citizens to register as a resident in Spain and obtain the green EU certificate (Certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión).
This guide explains what each form is for, who needs it, and gives you a step-by-step walkthrough for completing 790, EX-15 and EX-18 correctly. It’s written to help you avoid the most common issues that cause delays, rejected applications, or wasted appointments.
Table of Contents
- Why these three forms matter
- What is Form 790 (Modelo 790) in Spain?
- How to complete Form 790 (Modelo 790-012) step-by-step
- What is Form EX-15 in Spain?
- How to complete Form EX-15 step-by-step
- What is Form EX-18 in Spain?
- How to complete Form EX-18 step-by-step
- EX-15 vs EX-18: which one do you need?
- Common mistakes that cause delays
- FAQ (Forms 790, EX-15 and EX-18)
1) Why these three forms matter
Spain’s immigration and foreigners’ procedures are often a mix of:
- An application form (EX-15 or EX-18), and
- A fee payment form (Modelo 790, usually 790-012)
In most cases, if you arrive at your appointment without:
- the correct EX form printed and signed, and
- the correct 790 fee paid (with proof)
…your appointment may be refused or you may be told to rebook.
That’s why understanding these forms properly is such a big deal: the paperwork itself isn’t “hard”, but it’s very specific and small details matter.
2) What is Form 790 (Modelo 790) in Spain?
Modelo 790 is not an immigration “application form”. It’s a fee payment form used across Spanish public administration to pay official “tasas” (fees).
For foreigners’ procedures, the most common version is:
✅ Modelo 790-012 (Tasa 790 012)
This is the fee form linked to many Extranjería procedures such as:
- requesting/assigning an NIE
- certificates and some administrative immigration steps
Important: There are other 790 models (and sometimes other codes), but 790-012 is the one most people mean when they talk about “Form 790 for NIE”.
What Form 790 does
- It generates a document with your details and a barcode/receipt
- You use it to pay the fee (often at a bank or via online banking if enabled)
- You take the stamped/paid copy or payment proof to your appointment
3) How to complete Form 790 (Modelo 790-012) step-by-step
Below is a practical walkthrough for the typical 790-012 used for extranjería. Exact wording may vary slightly depending on the version or province, but the logic is the same.
Step 1: Choose the correct “tasa” (fee concept)
On the 790-012, you’ll usually see multiple tick-box options. Selecting the correct one is crucial.
Common scenarios:
- NIE assignment (often used alongside EX-15)
- EU registration certificate (often used alongside EX-18)
Tip: If you pay the wrong “concepto”, you may be asked to pay again, even if you already paid something similar.
Step 2: Fill in personal details
You’ll normally be asked for:
- Nombre y apellidos (first name + surname)
- NIE (if you already have one) or leave blank if it’s your first time
- Pasaporte / Documento (passport number or ID number)
- Nacionalidad (nationality)
- Domicilio (address in Spain)
- Teléfono / Email (sometimes included)
Common mistake: Using a hotel address is usually fine short-term, but if you’re applying for residency (EX-18), you should use your real local address when possible.
Step 3: Select the province / office (if requested)
Some versions ask for:
- Provincia
- Órgano gestor (managing body/office)
Choose the province where your appointment is.
Step 4: Generate and print
Most people:
- fill it online
- generate a PDF
- print all required copies
Often the form prints in multiple copies (for the bank, the administration, and you). Don’t throw any away until your procedure is finished.
Step 5: Pay the fee
Payment depends on what your bank supports:
- In-person bank payment (classic method): you take the printed 790 to a bank that accepts it and they stamp it.
- Online payment / cargo en cuenta: possible with some banks/online systems.
Click here for a guide to How to pay your NIE Number tax
Step 6: Keep proof of payment
Bring to your appointment:
- the paid/stamped copy or
- an online payment receipt
Pro tip: Take a photo and keep a PDF copy on your phone too.
4) What is Form EX-15 in Spain?
Form EX-15 is one of the core “extranjería” forms.
✅ What EX-15 is used for
EX-15 is most commonly used for:
- Solicitud de NIE (requesting the assignment of an NIE)
- Certificados related to foreigners’ administrative identification
In plain English: EX-15 is usually the form you use to request an NIE number (especially if you’re not registering as an EU resident yet, but you need an NIE for a specific reason such as property purchase, inheritance, banking, taxes, etc.).
Who usually needs EX-15?
Typical applicants:
- Non-residents needing an NIE for a transaction
- People buying property, signing deeds, paying taxes, inheriting assets, or setting up a business process that requires an NIE
- EU citizens who only need an NIE (not residency registration)
Note: Many people confuse “getting an NIE” with “getting residency”. EX-15 is usually about the number (or administrative certificate), not residency status.
5) How to complete Form EX-15 step-by-step
EX-15 can look intimidating because it’s in Spanish and includes some legal terms, but most sections are straightforward.
Before you start: what you should have ready
- Passport (and copy)
- Address in Spain (or your home address if you truly have none yet)
- Appointment details (if needed)
- A clear “reason” (motivo) for the NIE request
Section-by-section guide
A) Datos del solicitante (Applicant details)
You’ll typically fill:
- Primer apellido (first surname)
- Segundo apellido (second surname) – if you don’t have one, leave blank
- Nombre (first name)
- Fecha de nacimiento (date of birth)
- Lugar de nacimiento (city/region)
- País de nacimiento (country)
- Nacionalidad
- Sexo
- Estado civil (marital status)
- Nombre del padre / madre (sometimes requested)
Tip for UK/Irish naming formats: If you only have one surname, place it in Primer apellido and leave Segundo apellidoblank.
B) Domicilio en España / a efectos de notificaciones (Address for notifications)
You may see wording like:
- Domicilio en España
- Domicilio a efectos de notificaciones
Fill in:
- Street name, number, floor, door
- Town/municipality
- Province
- Postcode
If you don’t live in Spain yet, some applicants use a reliable contact address. If you do this, make sure it’s somewhere you can actually receive correspondence.
C) Datos del representante (Representative details) – only if applicable
If someone is submitting for you (gestor/representative), they fill this.
If you are applying in person, you normally leave it blank.
D) Tipo de documento / Pasaporte
Enter your:
- passport number
- issue/expiry dates (if requested)
E) Motivo de la solicitud (Reason for request)
This is one of the most important areas.
You’ll often need to explain why you need an NIE. Good reasons are concrete and documentable, such as:
- Compra de inmueble (property purchase)
- Trámites notariales (notary procedures)
- Apertura de cuenta bancaria (opening a bank account)
- Herencia (inheritance)
- Trabajo / contrato (employment/contract)
- Trámites fiscales (tax procedures)
Best practice: Keep it short, clear, and true. If you have a supporting document (reservation contract, notary email, bank requirement letter), bring it.
F) Lugar, fecha y firma (Place, date and signature)
- Sign it
- Use the date of submission (the day you attend the appointment)
Common mistake: Forgetting to sign. This is a surprisingly frequent reason for being turned away.
6) What is Form EX-18 in Spain?
Form EX-18 is the key form for EU citizens who are registering their residency in Spain under EU free movement rules.
✅ What EX-18 is used for
EX-18 is used for:
- Certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión(EU registration certificate – commonly called the “green certificate”)
If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen and you intend to live in Spain beyond a short stay, EX-18 is often part of the process to formalise your registration.
What you typically obtain after EX-18
Depending on your case and office:
- a green A4 certificate or
- a credit-card size green certificatethat shows your NIE and confirms you are registered as an EU citizen in Spain.
Important: EX-18 is not the same as the TIE (which is the physical card for many non-EU residents). EU citizens usually get the green certificate, not a TIE (with exceptions and evolving processes in some contexts).
7) How to complete Form EX-18 step-by-step
EX-18 is more “status-based” than EX-15. The big difference: you’ll normally need to show you meet the conditions for EU residency (work, self-employment, sufficient funds, study, etc.), and you may be asked for padrón (town hall registration) and proof of health cover.
Before you start: typical supporting documents (varies by situation)
- Valid passport/ID
- Padrón certificate (empadronamiento) – often required
- Proof of reason/eligibility:
- Employment contract + social security registration, or
- Self-employed registration, or
- Proof of funds + health insurance, or
- Enrollment if student + insurance, etc.
- Paid Modelo 790 fee (commonly 790-012)
Requirements can vary by office and your personal circumstances, but these are the common categories.
Section-by-section guide
A) Datos del solicitante (Applicant details)
Similar to EX-15:
- surnames, name
- date/place of birth
- nationality
- passport/ID number
- address in Spain
- contact details
B) Tipo de solicitud
EX-18 typically includes tick boxes for the kind of registration, such as:
- Initial registration
- Change of address
- Other updates
Tick the option that matches your situation (usually initial registration if it’s your first time).
C) Domicilio (Address)
Use your current address in Spain as registered (ideally matching your padrón).
Common mistake: Mismatch between address on EX-18 and padrón.
D) Economic activity / basis for registration
This is where many applicants get stuck, because it’s not just “I want to live in Spain”.
You may need to indicate you are:
- employed
- self-employed
- financially self-sufficient
- a student
Choose the category that matches your evidence.
E) Place/date/signature
- Sign it
- Date it
8) EX-15 vs EX-18: which one do you need?
Here’s the simplest way to think about it:
You likely need
EX-15
if:
- You only need an NIE number for a transaction
- You are not registering EU residency yet
- You’re a non-resident who needs the NIE for admin/legal reasons
You likely need
EX-18
if:
- You are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen
- You are registering as living in Spain (EU registration)
- You want/need the green EU certificate
And Form 790?
- Often used in both cases to pay the fee, most commonly Modelo 790-012.
9) Common mistakes that cause delays
These are the issues that most often create problems:
- Wrong fee selected on Modelo 790
- Turning up without proof the fee is paid
- Not signing EX-15 or EX-18
- Surname fields completed incorrectly (especially for non-Spanish naming formats)
- Address mismatch (EX-18 vs padrón)
- Weak or vague “motivo” for EX-15 (no supporting evidence)
- Assuming NIE = residency (they are different processes)
- Outdated forms (always use the latest version available from official sources)
- Missing photocopies (bring copies of passport/ID and key documents)
Appointment tip: Bring a small folder with originals + copies, plus a pen. Spanish offices often expect paper.
10) FAQ: Forms 790, EX-15 and EX-18
Do I always need Modelo 790?
For many procedures, yes—there is usually a fee. But not every single situation uses the same code, and some steps can be fee-free depending on the process. For NIE and EU registration, a 790 fee is extremely common.
Can I submit EX-15 and EX-18 online?
Some procedures can be done digitally with a digital certificate or Cl@ve, but availability depends on the procedure and system. Many people still complete these via in-person appointment.
Is EX-18 only for EU citizens?
EX-18 is for EU citizens and their eligible family circumstances connected to EU registration. Non-EU residents normally use other forms and processes (often leading to a TIE card).
If I already have an NIE, do I still need EX-18?
If you’re an EU citizen and want to register as living in Spain (and obtain the green certificate), yes, EX-18 can still be required even if you already have an NIE from a previous EX-15.
What if I make a mistake on the form?
If it’s minor and you catch it early, reprint and correct it. If you notice at the appointment, it depends on the office. Best practice is to arrive with a clean, accurate copy.