Do you need a CIF to do business in Spain?

If you’re planning to do business in Spain, whether that means opening a branch here, hiring employees, signing contracts, or trading with Spanish clients, one of the first things you’ll need is a company CIF. This is the Spanish tax identification number for businesses, and it’s a legal requirement for carrying out almost any kind of commercial activity in the country.

Without a CIF, your company won’t be able to issue invoices, pay taxes, employ staff, or operate within Spanish regulations. It is the starting point for making sure your business is set up correctly and legally in Spain.

At Gascon Bernabeu, our English-speaking solicitors help international companies navigate the CIF registration process. Whether you are expanding into Spain for the first time, appointing a local representative, or need to make sure your operations meet Spanish legal requirements, we are here to help from the very beginning.

If you think you may need to register for a CIF, or if you are unsure what the process involves, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

CIF or NIF?

The CIF, or Código de Identificación Fiscal, used to be the name for a company’s tax ID number in Spain. In 2008, the law changed and replaced CIF with NIF, which means Número de Identificación Fiscal. Today, NIF is the official term, but many people still use CIF informally when talking about a business’s tax number.

The NIF is necessary because it registers your business with the Spanish tax office and also acts as your VAT number. So, it handles both tax ID and VAT in one, making it a key requirement for doing any official business in Spain. A NIF/CIF is also required if you want to open a business bank account in Spain, register for Spanish VAT, or apply for a European EORI number for customs clearance.

If you set your business up in Spain, you will receive a NIF automatically as part of the registration process. However, if your business is based outside Spain, you will need to apply for one separately. The process involves specific documentation and an understanding of Spanish administrative procedures, which our team of English-speaking Spanish solicitors can handle on your behalf to make sure everything is completed correctly.

What does the CIF registration process involve?

Registering for a CIF involves submitting a number of official documents that identify your company and confirm its legal structure. These documents may vary slightly depending on how your company is set up and how many directors it has, but the basic requirements remain the same.

To begin with, your company’s directors will need to obtain an NIE, which is a Spanish foreign identification number. This is a mandatory step in the CIF process, and it is required for anyone who is legally representing your company in Spain. Our team can manage the full NIE application on your behalf to make sure this is completed properly.

Once the NIEs are in place, we will prepare the rest of the documents needed for the CIF application. This includes arranging certified translations, submitting the paperwork to the tax authorities, and confirming the registration once it is complete.

What happens after your company receives a CIF?

Once your CIF is registered, your business will be able to operate legally in Spain. From there, we can continue to support you with any additional services you may need. This may include helping you with employment contracts, registering staff for Social Security, submitting tax returns, and making sure your business follows Spanish rules. We’re here to support you at every stage, so your business can keep growing within the Spanish market.

How we can help you get started

At Gascón Bernabéu, we specialise in helping international businesses establish a legal and successful presence in Spain. Our English-speaking Spanish solicitors have extensive experience in handling CIF/NIF registrations, and we understand the challenges that foreign companies often face when navigating Spanish bureaucracy.

We’ll take care of the whole process for you, from start to finish. That means you won’t need to worry about dealing with tax offices, complicated forms, or translation work – we’ll handle it all and keep things as simple and stress-free as possible.

If you would like to learn more or are ready to begin your CIF registration, we are happy to offer a complimentary, no-obligation consultation. You can contact us by filling out the form on our website, sending an email to info@gbabogados.co.uk, messaging us on WhatsApp, or giving us a call directly on +44 (0)20 3137 1320.