Guide · Appointments

Booking your cita previa and TIE fingerprint appointment, free

Appointments for the NIE, the EU registration certificate, TIE fingerprints (huellas) or TIE collection are booked on a single official portal, by province. Here are the steps, which procedure to choose and what to do when there are no slots.

Reviewed: 24/10/2026 · Hola Papeles editorial team · How we write our guides

Freeofficial appointments cost nothing[1]
1 per personeach family member needs their own appointment[2]
Your provincethe TIE is requested in the province where you live[3]

Where to book

On the official public-administration appointment portal (ICP)[1], also linked from Spain's General Access Point[4]. It is the same portal everywhere: whether you live in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga, Alicante or elsewhere, you pick your province and the portal shows its procedures and offices.

Appointments are free and personal. Nobody can sell you an official appointment: Hola Papeles does not sell, book or request appointments for you.

Step by step

  1. Open the official portal. Go to the public-administration appointment portal (ICP).[1]
  2. Choose your province. For the TIE, the province where you live.[3]
  3. Choose the procedure. Use the table below to find the right name in your province’s list.
  4. Identify yourself. Enter your ID details; you can also log in with Cl@ve.[5]
  5. Pick office, date and time. If there are no slots, see “No appointments available?”.
  6. Save the confirmation. Note the booking reference and bring it.
  7. Prepare documents and pay the fee beforehand. For the TIE the fee must be paid before the card is issued.[3]

Which procedure to pick

Each province publishes its own list, in Spanish, and the names vary. Look for these words:

What you needLook forGuide
NIE (non-residents, for economic, professional or social reasons)“NIE” or “asignación de NIE”NIE
EU registration certificate (staying over 3 months)“certificado UE”, “ciudadanos UE” or “comunitarios”EU registration certificate
TIE: first card, renewal or replacement“toma de huellas” or “expedición de tarjeta”TIE · first issue (fingerprints)
Collecting your finished TIE“recogida de tarjeta” (TIE)TIE · first issue (fingerprints)
UK nationals (Withdrawal Agreement TIE)“Brexit” or “Reino Unido”Withdrawal Agreement TIE (Brexit)

Residence authorisations (e.g. renewing your permit, or arraigo) are filed with the Immigration Office, separately from the police fingerprint appointment; renewals can also be filed online.[6][7]

Deadlines not to miss

  • TIE: apply within one month of entering Spain or of your authorisation being granted.[3]
  • EU registration certificate: within 3 months of entry.[8]
  • EU family member card: within 3 months of entry.[9]
  • Renewing your authorisation: in the 2 months before expiry or the 3 months after.[10]
  • Change of address or TIE details: report it within one month.[3]

Collecting your TIE

  • The card is collected at the same police documentation unit where it was issued.[2]
  • The holder collects it; for children under 6, a parent or legal guardian (or someone authorised by them) can.[2]

No appointments available? What you can do

  • Check the portal regularly: slots are released irregularly.[5]
  • Try logging in with a digital ID (Cl@ve).[5]
  • File a complaint with the Government Delegation or Sub-delegation in your province.[5]
  • If that fails, you can go to the Spanish Ombudsman (Defensor del Pueblo).[11][5]
  • Never pay for an appointment: it is free. Be wary of anyone selling one.[1]

Frequently asked questions

How much does an extranjería appointment cost?
Nothing. The appointment is free on the official portal.[1] What you pay is the procedure fee (e.g. form 790-012).[13]
Can I book one appointment for my whole family?
No. Appointments are personal: book one for each family member.[2]
Can I do my TIE fingerprints in another province?
The TIE is requested at the police documentation unit of the province where you are registered as living.[3]
Can I collect my TIE at a different police station?
No. It is collected at the same unit where it was issued.[2]
Will Hola Papeles get me an appointment?
No. We show you how to book it yourself, free, on the official portal, and prepare your paperwork for the day. We never sell or book appointments.

Rather we prepared it with you?

Fixed-price document preparation: we check your documents, fill in the form and fee, and tell you what to bring. You attend the appointment.

General information based on official sources, not legal advice. If your case is complicated, consult an independent lawyer of your choice or the Legal Guidance Service (SOJ) of your provincial Bar Association.[12]

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