Apply for your Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) in Spain

The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is the physical document that certifies the legal residence status of a non-EU foreign citizen in Spain. It is issued by the Dirección General de la Policía and contains your photo, address, NIE number, type of authorisation and validity dates.

You need it if you have been granted authorisation to reside in Spain for more than six months: residence and work permit, studies, family reunification, arraigo, digital nomad visa or non-lucrative residence. It is your identity document within Spanish territory.

Every non-EU foreign citizen (not belonging to the EU, EEA or Switzerland) who has been granted authorisation to stay in Spain for more than six months. This includes:

• Holders of residence and work permits (employed or self-employed).
• Students with a student visa.
• Digital nomads with a specific visa.
• People with non-lucrative residence.
• Beneficiaries of family reunification.
• People with authorisation through arraigo (social, work or family ties).

EU citizens do not receive a TIE. They receive a Certificate of Registration as EU Citizen (the green document).

The TIE fee is paid using form 790 code 012. The updated amounts (Order PJC/617/2025) are:

• First issue: €16.08.
• Renewal for temporary residence: €19.30.
• Long-term residence or EU long-term: €21.87.
• EU citizen family member: €12.00.
• Duplicate (loss, theft or damage): same amount as the original issue.

The fee is paid before the fingerprinting appointment at any partner bank (BBVA, Santander, CaixaBank), by scanning the barcode on the form at an ATM.

The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is a tax identification number. It is assigned to any foreigner who needs it for a transaction in Spain, whether or not they live in the country. The NIE does not expire and does not authorise you to reside or work.

The TIE is a physical card with a photo that proves you legally reside in Spain. It contains your printed NIE, but also the type of authorisation and validity dates. Everyone with a TIE has an NIE, but not everyone with an NIE has a TIE.

The legal deadline is one month from when you enter Spain or from when your residence authorisation is granted (whichever comes later). Article 209 of Royal Decree 1155/2024 (the new Immigration Regulations, in force since 20 May 2025) establishes this obligation.

In practice, the fingerprinting appointment may take longer than a month to become available, especially in large cities. In that case, keep the proof that you requested the appointment as evidence that you are within the deadline.

The general documentation for applying for the TIE for the first time is:

• Valid passport (original and full copy).
• Completed and signed EX-17 form.
• One recent passport-size photo (colour, white background, 32×26 mm).
• Favourable resolution of the residence authorisation or visa.
• Registration certificate (less than 3 months old).
• Proof of payment of fee 790 code 012.

Depending on the type of authorisation, you may also be asked for: Social Security registration, employment contract, university enrolment, health insurance or proof of financial means.

The appointment is booked on the government's electronic portal: sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es. Select your province and the procedure "Policía — Toma de Huellas (Expedición de Tarjeta)" or similar.

In large cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga), appointments run out quickly. It is best to try first thing in the morning or at midnight, when new slots are released. In January 2026 a pilot programme was launched in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona) that automatically assigns appointments within about 15 days of a favourable resolution.

Once you complete the fingerprinting, the card takes between 30 and 45 days to be ready, depending on the province:

• Madrid: 40-60 days.
• Barcelona: 35-50 days.
• Valencia: 30-45 days.
• Smaller cities: 20-35 days.

In the meantime, you receive a receipt (resguardo) that proves you have applied for the TIE. That receipt, together with your passport, serves as proof of your legal status during the waiting period.

The TIE is renewed when the linked residence authorisation expires. The renewal window is: 60 days before expiry to 90 days after. If you renew within this window, your authorisation is automatically extended while the renewal is being processed.

Documents for renewal: valid passport, current TIE (copy of both sides), new photo, updated registration certificate if you changed address, and proof of payment of fee 790 code 012 (€19.30 for temporary residence, €21.87 for long-term).

If you let more than 90 days pass after expiry, you may lose your residence authorisation and fines range from €500 to €1,000.

The TIE expires when the residence authorisation behind it ends. If you renew within the window (from 60 days before to 90 days after expiry), your legal status is maintained while the new authorisation is processed.

If you fail to renew on time, you face an administrative infraction. Not carrying valid documentation is a minor infraction (up to a €500 fine under Organic Law 4/2000). More serious infractions related to irregular stay can lead to expulsion proceedings.

If you lose your TIE, it is stolen or damaged, you must request a duplicate as soon as possible. The steps are:

1. If theft, file a police report at the National Police station.
2. Book a fingerprinting appointment (same process as the initial application).
3. Bring: police report (if theft), valid passport, photo, EX-17 form, fee 790 code 012 paid and, if available, a copy of the previous TIE.

The duplicate fee is the same as the original issue for your type of authorisation. Until you receive the new card, the receipt given at the appointment and your passport prove your status.

Royal Decree 1155/2024, in force since 20 May 2025, replaces the previous RD 557/2011. It is the largest overhaul of the immigration system in over a decade. Changes affecting the TIE:

• TIE regulation moves from article 210 to article 209.
• Fees are updated for the first time in more than 10 years (Order PJC/617/2025).
• A self-assessment system for fee payment is introduced.
• Online renewal applications through the Mercurio platform are allowed.
• EU Directive 2024/1233 on single residence and work permits is partially transposed.

The forms (EX-17) and the fingerprinting process remain the same.