The TIE (tarjeta de identidad de extranjero) is a plastic foreigner identity card that confirms your status in Spain. It is what people informally call the “residence permit card”: the residence authorisation is granted by the immigration authorities, and the card is the physical document you carry with you. Below: how the TIE differs from the NIE, the deadline for getting it, how to book a fingerprinting appointment (cita previa), what to bring and what the card looks like.
How the TIE differs from the NIE
The NIE is a foreigner’s personal identification number. It is assigned once, never changes and does not in itself give the right to live in Spain: it is an identifier for the tax authority, banks and contracts. The number is covered in detail in our article on getting an NIE in Spain.
The TIE is a card with your photo and fingerprints, printed with the same NIE, the type of authorisation and its validity. The card is replaced at every renewal or change of grounds, while the NIE number stays the same.
Who needs the card and when
Everyone who has been granted an authorisation or visa for more than six months must obtain the card. You must apply for it in person within one month: from the date you entered Spain on a national visa, or from the date the authorisation was granted inside the country. For employees, the month runs from registration with the social security system. The deadlines are set by the regulation RD 1155/2024.
How to book fingerprinting: cita previa
A “cita” (cita previa) is a prior appointment with a public authority. Fingerprinting appointments for the card are booked online on the appointment portal for immigration services:
- choose the province where you live;
- in the list of police procedures, choose fingerprinting for issuing the card (toma de huellas — expedición de tarjeta);
- enter your NIE or passport number, name and nationality;
- choose an office and one of the available times.
In big cities free slots are snapped up quickly, so it is worth looking for an appointment in the very first days after approval or entry: the month to apply runs not from the appointment date but from entry or the granting of the authorisation.
What to bring to the appointment
- the application on form EX-17;
- your passport and a copy of it;
- the decision granting the authorisation, or the visa in your passport;
- a colour photo on a light background meeting the requirements for documents;
- the receipt for payment of the fee on form 790, code 012; the amount depends on the type of card;
- a certificate of municipal registration (empadronamiento): some provinces require it, so it is best to have a recent one.
How the appointment works and when the card is ready
At the appointment your documents are checked, your fingerprints are scanned and you are given a paper receipt (resguardo): until the card is issued, it confirms together with your passport that you have applied. The card is usually ready in about a month. In some provinces you collect it without an appointment; in others you need a separate appointment to collect it too. This is stated on the receipt or on the provincial police website.
What a Spanish residence permit card looks like
The TIE is a plastic card the size of a bank card. It shows your photo, name, NIE, nationality, date of birth, type of authorisation and validity. The type of authorisation shows exactly what is permitted: for example, residencia temporal y trabajo por cuenta ajena means residence and employment. On forms that ask for a “residence permit number”, people usually give the NIE printed on the card.
Renewal, replacement and loss
When you renew your residence permit or change its grounds, a new card is issued: after approval you book fingerprinting again and pay the fee. For holders of permanent (long-term) residence in Spain, the status itself is indefinite, but the card is renewed every five years. If the card is lost or stolen, you report it to the police and apply for a duplicate the same way: appointment, application, fee. All the grounds on which cards are issued are collected in our overview of all ways to get a Spanish residence permit.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cita in Spain?
A cita previa is a prior appointment with a public authority. For the TIE card, you book a police fingerprinting appointment online on the appointment portal for immigration services.
When do you need to apply for a TIE card?
Within a month of entering Spain on a national visa, or of the date the authorisation was granted inside the country; for employees, from registration with the social security system. The card is required for an authorisation of more than six months.
How does the TIE differ from the NIE?
The NIE is a foreigner’s permanent number and does not give the right to live in Spain. The TIE is a plastic card with a photo and fingerprints that confirms your authorisation; it is printed with the same NIE.
What documents are needed for a TIE card?
The application on form EX-17, your passport, the decision granting the authorisation or the visa, a photo and the receipt for the fee on form 790, code 012; in some provinces, a certificate of municipal registration.
What does a Spanish residence permit card look like?
It is a plastic card the size of a bank card, showing your photo, name, NIE, nationality, date of birth, type of authorisation and validity.
Sources
- Real Decreto 1155/2024, Reglamento de extranjería (Regulation on Foreigners): deadlines for applying for the foreigner identity card. BOE-A-2024-24099.
- Appointment portal: Cita previa Extranjería.
- National Police: fee 790, code 012.
