🍼 FIRST TIME NIE – CHILDREN BORN IN SPAIN
 

If your baby was born in Spain, congratulations! 🎉

Many parents don’t know that children born in Spain to foreign parents can get their own residence permit (NIE) very easily — as long as one parent already has legal residence in Spain.

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This residence card gives your child the right to live legally in Spain and later apply for Spanish nationality. Below we explain everything step by step 👇

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💡 What Is This Permit?

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This is a residence permit for foreign minors born in Spain.

It’s called “Autorización de residencia temporal del menor extranjero acompañado nacido en España”.

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In simple words:

➡️ It allows your baby to have their own NIE and residence card, connected to your residence status.
➡️ It’s valid for 5 years and can be renewed later.
➡️ When your child grows up, this permit will even allow them to work legally in Spain (no extra procedure needed).

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✅ Who Can Apply?

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To apply for this residence permit, the following conditions must be met:

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1. The child was born in Spain and is under 18 years old.

2. The child already has a valid passport.

3. At least one parent has legal residence in Spain (it can be any type of residence).

4. The child is currently living in Spain and has not left the country since birth.

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If neither parent has residence yet, the application cannot be made until one of them obtains it.

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📋 Documents You Need

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To submit the application, you’ll need:

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• Passport of the child (all pages).

• Passport and residence card (NIE) of the parent(s).

• Spanish birth certificate of the child (recent, less than 3 months old).

• Volante de Convivencia.

• If your child is old enough for school, proof of school enrolment or a schooling declaration form.

• Translations and legalizations for any foreign documents (if not in Spanish or Catalan).

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💡 Tip: The birth certificate must always be from the Spanish Civil Registry, not from the consulate.

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🗓️ When Can You Apply?

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You can submit the application:

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• Within 6 months after your child’s birth, or

• Within 6 months after you (the parent) get your residence permit — as long as your child has stayed in Spain continuously.

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If you miss these time limits, don’t worry — you can still apply, but it may need to be done through a family reunification procedure, which takes a bit longer.

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⏳ How Long Does It Take?

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Usually, the Immigration Office takes about one month to give an answer.

If you don’t receive a reply after that time, the application is considered denied by administrative silence (though in practice, most cases are resolved on time).

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Once it’s approved ✅, your child’s residence permit will be valid for 5 years.

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After receiving the approval, you’ll need to make an appointment at the police station to collect the residence card (TIE) — we can help you with that too 👇

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🇪🇸 When Can My Child Apply for Spanish Nationality?

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Your child can apply for Spanish nationality after 1 year of legal residence in Spain (that means one year since getting their NIE card).

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Once your child becomes Spanish, the parents may also be able to apply for residence and work permits through the “arraigo familiar” route.

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⚖️ What If the Parents Don’t Have Papers?

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Unfortunately, if neither parent has legal residence, the child cannot apply for the NIE or residence permit yet.

First, one of the parents needs to get a residence permit — then the child can apply immediately after.

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💼 How We Can Help You

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At MSM Legal Consulting, our immigration lawyers help families all over Spain 🇪🇸 with this process — from start to finish.

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We handle everything for you:

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✔️ Checking your documents and explaining all requirements clearly.
✔️ Preparing and submitting the full application and government fees.
✔️ Monitoring your file and keeping you informed.
✔️ Helping with the fingerprint appointment and card collection.
✔️ Assisting later with your child’s Spanish nationality application.

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📬 How to Send Us Your Documents

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We work with clients in Barcelona, all over Spain, and even abroad 🌍.
You can:

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• 📍 Bring your documents to our office in person (we’ll be happy to meet you!)

• 📧 Send them by email: info@msmlegalconsulting.es

• 💬 Or simply send them via WhatsApp for a faster review.

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We’ll check everything and start your child’s application right away! 👶✨

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💬 Need more help or have questions?

You can easily book a consultation with our attorney for personalized legal advice and guidance about your case.