How the procedure works
What a TIE is and when to apply for one
TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is a physical resident card issued by the Spanish National Police. It is not the residence permit itself, but the document that proves it: the residence decision confers the right, and the card makes that right visible to banks, employers, hospitals and border control. Every non-EU national who lives in Spain for more than six months is required to obtain one. The deadline to apply is one month, counted from whichever comes later — the date of entry on a D visa, or the date of notification of a positive decision on your case.
Appointment, fingerprints, and card collection
The procedure involves two visits. First, an appointment (cita previa) is booked through the administration’s e-services portal, in the fingerprinting section — toma de huellas. At the appointment at the police station or foreigners’ office, you submit form EX-17, the paid fee receipt under model 790-012 and photographs, and your fingerprints are taken. The second visit is to collect the completed card. Under departmental regulations, production takes approximately thirty to forty-five days after fingerprinting; this is the police’s timeline, not ours.
Why registration is needed before the card
For your appointment, you will be asked for a certificate of residential registration — the empadronamiento. It is issued by the ayuntamiento and has nothing to do with the police, so it is best to obtain it immediately after moving in, not once your fingerprint appointment has already been scheduled. Arriving in the wrong order is the most common reason people show up for their appointment and leave empty-handed.
What we need from you
- International passport and a copy of the personal data pages and entry stamps
- A D visa or notice of a positive decision on your application
- Proof of registration (empadronamiento) — current
- Three photographs, 32×26 mm, on a white background, without glasses or headwear
- Completed form EX-17
- Paid duty under form 790-012
What is holding the case up
- No available appointment slots for fingerprinting: in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, slots are taken within minutes — this is the single biggest bottleneck in the entire process
- More than a month has passed since the entry date or the decision date — a written explanation will be required
- Non-standard photos: an ordinary snapshot will not be accepted
- Registration is not completed, or was completed at an address that cannot be confirmed by a lease agreement
- The passport has too few pages remaining, or it expires before the requested card does
The procedure and fee amounts have been verified August 15, 2026 according to official sources: National Police electronic office — procedures for foreign nationals · Appointment booking, government portal. Fees and exemptions are reviewed periodically — check before you apply with the primary source.