How to Get Your TIE Resident Card in Spain After Permit Approval
Getting your residence permit approved is not the end of the process. The physical resident card — Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE) — is issued separately at a police station after an in-person appointment to take your fingerprints. You have one month to apply.
TIE renewal: your filing window
File too late — and you risk months of irregularidad.
Who needs a TIE
Citizens of countries outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland who have been granted a visa or residence permit for more than six months in Spain must obtain a TIE. This covers all permit types: employed work (trabajo por cuenta ajena), self-employment (cuenta propia), family reunification (reagrupación familiar), non-lucrative residence (residencia no lucrativa), studies (estudios), and investor/golden-visa permits already granted before that route was abolished, among others.
The obligation to obtain a TIE is established by LO 4/2000 and RD 1155/2024 (título XIII). Failure to do so may result in a fine (art. 53.1.a LO 4/2000).
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Application deadline
You have 1 month to submit the application. The clock starts differently depending on your situation:
- If the permit was processed abroad and you enter on a visa — one month from the date of entry into Spain.
- If the permit was processed inside Spain — one month from the date of notification of the favourable decision.
Step 1 — Pay the government fee
The payment receipt must be in your hands before you go to the police station. You cannot pay on the day of the appointment.
- The form is available at sede.policia.gob.es → "Impreso Tasa 790 — Código 012".
- The fee amount is set by Orden PJC/617/2025 of 13 June 2025. Check the current figure when filling in the form.
- Pay at any bank branch — you do not need to hold an account there.
- Keep the receipt: you must present it at your appointment.
Step 2 — Fill in form EX-17
Its official name is "Solicitud de Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero" (application for a foreigner's identity card). The same form is used for all TIE types: first issue, renewal or change of details. Complete it in two copies and sign by hand.
Where to find it: sede.policia.gob.es → Trámites de Extranjería → Tarjeta inicial o renovación residencia o residencia y trabajo → Formulario EX-17.
Step 3 — Book an appointment
- Portal: sede.administraciones.gob.es → Cita Previa → Policía.
- Select your province → type of procedure → enter your details → choose a date and time.
- Save or print the confirmation.
- Book as early as possible: in large cities the wait can be several weeks.
Step 4 — Go to the police station and give your fingerprints
You must attend in person: biometric data are collected, so the card cannot be processed without you. Exception: children under 5 are not required to give fingerprints, but they must attend in person.
- Passport — original and photocopy of all pages.
- Permit approval decision or visa — original and photocopy.
- Form EX-17, completed and signed, in two copies.
- Recent colour passport-size photo(s) (32×26 mm), white background, as indicated by the appointment or office.
- Fee payment receipt (modelo 790, código 012).
- Some offices also request a certificate of registration at your address (volante de empadronamiento). Check the requirements of your specific office in advance.
Step 5 — Collect the card
- Production takes approximately 30–40 days (varies by province).
- The card is sent to the same office where you gave your fingerprints.
- Collection requires a separate appointment via sede.administraciones.gob.es.
- Attend in person with your passport and receipt. The card is only handed to its holder.
What the TIE contains and how long it is valid
The TIE is a plastic card with a chip. It shows your name and surname, nationality, date of birth, foreigner identification number (NIE), permit type and expiry date, and photograph. It is personal and non-transferable.
The TIE's validity matches the permit's duration (RD 1155/2024). A one-year permit gives a one-year card; a two-year permit gives a two-year card.
Can you work before receiving the card?
Yes. The permit grants rights from the moment it is issued — the card confirms those rights, it does not create them. In practice, the approval decision and the receipt obtained after fingerprinting are sufficient to start employment. Specific requirements of the employer or Social Security (Seguridad Social) may vary slightly — check in each individual case.
Quick reference
- Pay fee modelo 790 código 012 at a bank branch.
- Complete form EX-17 in two copies.
- Book "Policía — Expedición TIE (Huella)" at sede.administraciones.gob.es.
- Attend in person with documents, give fingerprints, receive receipt.
- Book "Policía — Recogida TIE" and collect the card.
- Passport (original + photocopy of all pages)
- Permit decision / visa (original + photocopy)
- EX-17 × 2 copies
- Passport-size photo(s) (32×26 mm, white background), as indicated by the appointment or office
- Fee receipt modelo 790 código 012
A real case: a residence permit declared extinct over six months abroad — and restored by the Supreme Court
A woman from Iran held a temporary residence and work permit in Spain. In 2019 the Government Sub-delegation in Girona declared it extinct: border records from El Prat airport showed she had spent more than six months outside Spain within a year. The regulation then in force (art. 162.2.e of Royal Decree 557/2011) said a temporary permit was extinguished by an absence of more than six months in a year. She explained that she had undergone surgery in Turkey on 30 May 2019 — but by that date the six months had already run out, so the administrative court and the High Court of Justice of Catalonia both ruled against her. The Supreme Court took a different route: instead of counting her days, it examined the rule itself. Freedom of movement is a fundamental right of every lawful resident, and limits on it can only be set by an organic law passed by Parliament — not by a government regulation. The provision was declared null and void, and her permit was restored.
What was not obvious. The TIE is a document, not the permit: the permit is a separate administrative decision, and the administration can declare it extinct before the date printed on the card. When that happens the card loses its validity too (art. 209.7 of the Reglamento de extranjería, RD 1155/2024) — a card that looks current is not proof that the permit still stands. Such a decision can be appealed, and in this case the appeal did not argue about dates at all: it attacked the legal basis of the rule. The person had lost twice before winning at the Supreme Court.
Outcome: the rule that had ended her residence was declared null, and her temporary residence and work permit was restored. The path ran Sub-delegation (2019) → administrative court → High Court of Justice of Catalonia → Supreme Court (June 2023).
The regulation itself has since been replaced: Royal Decree 1155/2024 (in force since 20 May 2025) lists the grounds for extinguishing a temporary permit in art. 200 — expiry of the term, an entry ban, fraud in obtaining it, using it for another purpose, losing the conditions it was granted on, loss of nationality, no valid passport, public order or health, certain criminal convictions — and an absence abroad is not among them. Art. 202 sets the procedure: it can only be opened while the permit is valid, you get at least 10 days to be heard, the decision must respect proportionality, and it can be appealed in reposición or before the administrative courts. Long absences still matter for long-term residence, where continuity allows up to six consecutive months abroad and no more than ten months in five years. The duty to apply for the TIE in person within one month is now art. 209.
The guide above is about getting the card. This case is about what the card does not protect you from: the permit behind it can be withdrawn by the administration, and that decision can be challenged.
Check my TIE situationStuck getting your TIE?
The guide above is your free step-by-step guide. Can't book an appointment (cita) for fingerprints or at extranjería? We'll draft a free official complaint in minutes. Need your specific case reviewed? Book a consultation.
Can't get a cita — file a complaint Get a consultation on my caseLegal basis: Ley Orgánica 4/2000 (LO 4/2000); Real Decreto 1155/2024, de 19 de noviembre; Orden PJC/617/2025, de 13 de junio; sede.policia.gob.es. For information purposes only. Updated June 2026.
FAQ
What is the TIE card and who needs it?
The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is the physical residence card for non-EU nationals in Spain. It contains your NIE number, photo, and permit type. You must obtain it within 30 days of receiving your residence authorization or entering Spain with a residence visa.
What documents do I need for the TIE appointment?
Completed form EX-17, passport (original + copy), recent passport-size photo(s) (white background, as indicated by the appointment or office), proof of fee payment (Tasa 790 código 012; the amount depends on the procedure: initial TIE currently €16.08, renewal €19.30, long-term €21.87), and the resolution granting your permit. Some offices also require empadronamiento.
How do I get a cita previa (appointment) for the TIE?
Book online at sede.administracionespublica.gob.es (select your province → "Policía - Toma de Huellas"). Appointments are scarce — check early morning (7-8am) when new slots open. If no slots appear, try daily for 1-2 weeks or try neighboring provinces.
How long does it take to receive the TIE card after fingerprints?
Typically 30-45 days after the fingerprint appointment. You receive a resguardo (receipt) at the appointment which serves as temporary proof of your legal status. Some offices in Madrid and Barcelona take up to 60 days during peak periods.
Can I travel with the resguardo (TIE receipt) while waiting for my card?
Within Spain, yes — the resguardo proves your legal status. For international travel, it depends on the country. For Schengen travel, you generally need the physical TIE card. Some airlines accept the resguardo + passport, but border police may not.
What happens if I don't apply for the TIE within 30 days?
You may receive an administrative sanction (multa) of €501-€10,000 for not carrying a valid identity document. In practice, late applications are often processed if you have a valid underlying permit, but the sanction risk remains. It's still best to apply on time.
How do I renew my TIE card?
First renew the underlying residence authorization in its own procedure: generally during the 2 months before expiry, or within 3 months after expiry with possible sanction risk. After a favourable renewal, request the new TIE with form EX-17, passport, current TIE, Tasa 790 código 012 and the renewal decision or proof required by the police office.
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This guide is general information about Spanish law, not a legal opinion on your case. Rules change and outcomes depend on your own facts and documents — check your situation before you act on it.