Planning to buy property in Spain soon or need a NIE number for other administrative matters? Then there is important news from the Spanish Consulate in Brussels. In this article, we discuss the recent announcement about the temporary suspension of NIE services and what this means for you.
What is going on?
The Consulate-General of Spain in Brussels has officially informed that the processing of NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) applications has been temporarily suspended. According to the official announcement, this measure is necessary due to technical reasons and an internal reorganisation of the services.
Although such interruptions are more common in government agencies, this comes at a
inopportune moment for many Belgians in the middle of a purchase process. Without an NIE number
After all, you cannot sign the final purchase deed (the escritura) at the Spanish
notary.
Note: This suspension applies specifically to applications made directly through the consulate
in Brussels expire. Applications already submitted before 30 April 2026 will in principle still be processed, but new arrangements are currently not possible.
How will this affect your plans?
For those looking to buy a property on the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol or the Balearic Islands at short notice, this could cause delays.
Among other things, the NIE number is essential for:
- The signing of the notarised purchase deed;
- Connecting utilities (water, electricity);
- Payment of necessary taxes;
- Cart import.
Learn more about the NIE number here.
Are there any alternatives?
At Confianz, we are often asked if there are other avenues when the consulate is saturated
or cease services. Fortunately, there are:
- Application via power of attorney in Spain: This is often the most efficient route. By means of a notarised power of attorney, our office can request the NIE number for you from the national police in Spain, without you having to be physically present yourself.
- Directly with the national police in Spain: If you are already in Spain (e.g. for viewings), you can visit a Policía Nacional office yourself with an appointment (cita previa).
We always advise our clients to start the NIE application as early as possible in the process. In the current context, we recommend not to wait for the reopening of services in Brussels, but to immediately look at the way via a power of attorney. This will prevent your purchase from being blocked by red tape at the notary.
