I am really confused about how to obtain this dreaded N.I.E. Number.  I own a timeshare in Gran Canaria and want to transfer the deed over to my daughter.  When I bought the timeshare no N.I.E. Numbers were needed.  I have trawled the internet and get various conflicting bits of information.  This is what I understand:

That the N.I.E. Number lasts forever (once you have it of course!)
That you can submit a form to a Spanish Police Station in person to obtain the number.
That you can go to the Spanish Consulate in UK and submit the form there.

What confuses me though is the bit about how do you actually get the number?  One site I looked on said if you apply in person to a Spanish Police Station it can be posted to a UK address, another said it can only be posted to a Spanish Address and another said it has to be picked up personally after about 4 weeks.

If I go to the Consulate does the same apply there?  Will they post it to me or do I have to go and get it, or will they only post it to a Spanish address?

I dont want to go all the way over to Spain to be told I dont have the right information etc. etc. or find out I have to go back again to pick up the number.

This number also applies for my daughter so this information will apply to her also.  She is actually going to Gran Canaria in a few weeks and she thought she could apply for the N.I.E. number whilst she was there in the local Police Station.  But if it has to be picked up personally after a few weeks this will be no good for her.

Any help from anyone who actually knows what we are supposed to do would be greatly appreciated. Even the timeshare people are not all that sure what is supposed to be done in this regard.  All they can tell me is to go to the Police Station.  Also, it states on the form that you have to put a Spanish address that you are staying at.  I am supposing that I just put the address of the timeshare?

Just to confuse matters even further, I don’t actually think you need an NIE.

An NIE suggests a permanent or semi-permanent residential status in either your own property or as a long term rental.

You neither own the property outright nor do you rent it. So the question arises why do you think you need an NIE?

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I just got my NIE last year in August. I am of Dutch nationality and all I had to do was go to La officina extranjeros in the province where I live. (Granada)With a passport and a filled out application form I had to wait for about an hour before an official put my info in the computer. He then printed out a form which I had to take to the bank to pay the 12 euro’s it costs and then with the receipt I could just go and pick up my green residencia with NIE number. That simple. They did not ask for any proof of where I live.
It’s that simple!! 
I’m not sure if you do need a NIE though.

Hi

I arrived in Spain 13 years ago and applied for my NIE in the local police station - I would suggest you start there, the process generally takes about 6 weeks to complete, in the summer this takes longer and do not lose the original!

Do you have a lawyer? I would ask them to sort this for me if you do not get anywhere with the police station. I couldn’t buy a house without my NIE, this registers that you are in Spain

Hope this helps, good luck

Simone