TIE appointment in Spain 2026: how to book and what to bring

01What is the TIE and why do I need a fingerprint appointment?

The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero, foreigner's identity card) is the physical residence card issued to non-EU nationals who hold a visa or permit to stay in Spain for more than six months. It carries your NIE number, photo and fingerprint. British nationals covered by the Withdrawal Agreement receive a special version of the same card.

Under Article 209 of Spain's immigration regulations (Royal Decree 1155/2024), you must apply for the card in person within one month of arriving in Spain on your visa, or of your permit being granted or taking effect. Applying means attending a police station to have your fingerprints taken, which is why you need an appointment (cita previa). Nobody else can attend this part for you.

02How do I book a TIE appointment online?

There is one official booking site for all immigration appointments in Spain: the public administration's cita previa portal (icp.administracionelectronica.gob.es). It is free. The procedure names are in Spanish, so it helps to know what to look for.

Open the cita previa portal and select the province where you live.
Choose the police (Policía) procedure for fingerprinting and card issue (toma de huellas, expedición de tarjeta). Renewal of a long-term card has its own option.
Enter your NIE or passport number, full name and nationality exactly as they appear on your permit or visa.
Pick an office, date and time, then save the confirmation as a PDF.
If you see a message that no appointments are available, there are no slots at that moment. Try again later.

According to the official portal, the appointment can be booked by the applicant or an authorised representative, so a lawyer or relative can do the booking. In a pilot running since January 2026 in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), the government assigns the fingerprint appointment automatically once a permit is granted and sends it by email or text. Elsewhere you still have to book.

03Why are there no TIE appointments, and what actually helps?

In many provinces demand far exceeds the slots released. On top of that, automated programs grab appointments the moment they appear in order to resell them. Spain's National Police have broken up groups doing exactly this, and pressure on the system grew in 2026 with the extraordinary regularisation.

There is no official release time. Advice on Reddit and expat forums about a particular hour may have worked for one office in one month and not since. What helps more is persistence and flexibility.

Try several times a day, on different days of the week.
Select every police station in the province that issues TIE cards, not just the nearest one.
Keep your details ready to paste: NIE, exact name, nationality, phone number.
Take dated screenshots of failed attempts. They are your evidence if the one-month deadline passes.
Never hand your NIE or passport details to social media accounts selling appointments.

04What do I bring to my TIE appointment?

The National Police list form EX-17 and proof of payment of fee form 790, code 012, for an initial or renewal card. In practice the officer will also check your identity and the permit behind the card. Take originals and one copy of everything.

Form EX-17, completed and signed, original and copy, ticking initial card, renewal or duplicate.
Proof of payment of the 790 code 012 fee, paid at a Spanish bank, with the correct box ticked for your card type.
Valid passport plus copies of the photo page, your visa and the entry stamp if you arrived on a visa.
Your permit decision (resolución), or your residence visa if the card follows a visa.
One recent colour passport-style photo on a white background.
If your permit allows you to work, proof of Social Security registration.
Your appointment confirmation, printed or on your phone.
As a precaution, a recent certificate of registration on the local population register (padrón). It is not on the official list, but some police stations ask for it.

Card or procedure	790-012 fee (National Police, October 2026)
TIE for a first temporary residence permit or stay	16.08 euros
TIE on renewal of temporary residence or extension of stay	19.30 euros
Long-term residence TIE	21.87 euros
TIE for family members of Spanish nationals	12 euros
Withdrawal Agreement TIE (UK nationals) and EU family member card	12 euros
Return authorisation (autorización de regreso)	10.72 euros
NIE number on request	9.84 euros

The most common avoidable mistake is paying the fee under the wrong heading. The police will not accept it, and you will have to pay again and sometimes rebook. Also check that your name on the EX-17 matches your passport and permit letter for letter, including middle names.

05Is it legal to pay someone for a TIE appointment?

The appointment itself is a free, personal public service. Buying one from someone who captured it with a bot carries real risks: it may be booked under someone else's details and be useless to you, you hand your passport and NIE to strangers, and you feed a market the police are actively prosecuting.

Paying a lawyer or registered professional to prepare your file, complete the EX-17 and fee form, check your documents and book the appointment in your name is a different matter and entirely lawful. You are paying for an identifiable professional service, not for a slot in a public diary.

06My one-month deadline is running out and I cannot get a slot

Missing the deadline can, in theory, lead to a fine under Organic Law 4/2000. In practice, what matters is being able to show you tried in time. Keep your dated screenshots and, if the month runs out, it is sensible to send a short written notice to the competent office through the electronic registry explaining that you have been unable to book.

Your legal status does not depend on the card. It comes from your permit decision or, if you entered on a residence visa, from the visa itself, which under Article 208 of the regulations remains valid proof until you obtain the TIE. The card documents a right you already have.

07After fingerprints: how long until I get the card, and can I travel?

On the day, your fingerprints are taken, your papers are checked and you receive a receipt (resguardo). The card is usually ready within a few weeks, but timing varies a great deal between police stations. Some require a second appointment to collect it; others hand cards out at set times without one. As a rule the holder collects the card in person with their passport and receipt, and a parent or guardian accompanies a child.

The fingerprint receipt is not a travel document. While your residence visa is still valid you can normally travel on it. If your permit is being renewed, you can apply for a return authorisation (autorización de regreso, form EX-13), valid for up to 90 days and only for re-entry through Spanish border posts. For a first permit with no card yet, Article 5 of the regulations only allows a return authorisation in cases of need and exceptional reasons. Plan trips around the card if you can.

08UK nationals and renewals

British nationals resident in Spain before 2021 are entitled to the Withdrawal Agreement TIE, which costs 12 euros. If you already hold the green EU registration certificate, you exchange it at a police station with a fingerprint appointment. If you never had one, the application goes first to the immigration office. Our page on the TIE for UK nationals covers this in detail, including renewal of the five-year card.

When any permit is renewed, you have one month from notification to apply for the new card, using the same process with renewal ticked on the EX-17. If you would rather hand over the paperwork, we prepare the forms and fee, check your documents and book the appointment, so that the visit you cannot avoid is short.

09Frequently asked questions

Does the TIE appointment cost anything?

No. Booking is free. What you pay is the card fee on form 790 code 012, which depends on the type of TIE: 16.08 euros for a first temporary residence card and 12 euros for the Withdrawal Agreement card, according to the National Police in October 2026.

What photo size do I need for the TIE?

A recent colour passport-style photo on a white background. The official form does not give exact measurements, so use a standard Spanish ID-style photo from a photo booth or shop that knows the format, and avoid glasses, hats or shadows.

Can I book my appointment in a different province?

The card is applied for at the police station that corresponds to where you live. Booking in another province because it has slots usually ends with the appointment being turned away. If you are about to move, ask us whether to wait or apply where you are.

What if I cannot attend the appointment I booked?

Cancel it on the same portal using your confirmation so the slot is released, and book again. If you simply do not turn up, the appointment is lost and your one-month deadline keeps running.

Do children need their own TIE appointment?

Yes. A child with a residence permit needs their own card and must attend with a parent or legal guardian, who signs the EX-17 for them. Book one appointment per family member, ideally on the same day.

My TIE has a spelling mistake. What should I do?

Ask the same police station to correct it as soon as possible, bringing the document that shows the correct spelling. A misspelt name causes problems later with banks, notaries, the tax office and any future citizenship application.

··Official sources

Information reviewed on 03.10.2026 against the law in force. This page is for general information and is not a substitute for advice on your own case.

How to get a TIE appointment and fingerprints in Spain

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