Booking a GP appointment (cita previa): phone, app and online

Terms used

• Cl@ve — Cl@ve is Spain's government digital identity system, used to log in to many public online services.
• NIE — The NIE is the identification number Spain gives to foreigners.
• CIP — The CIP is the personal number on your regional health card, called SIP or similar in some regions.
• DNIe — The DNIe is the electronic version of the Spanish national ID card, which works as a digital certificate.

Key rules

• Region: Your region's health service runs your booking, so use its phone line, website or app, not another region's.
• Login: Most portals accept Cl@ve or a digital certificate, and some accept your health card number plus date of birth.
• Fallback: Phone and in-person booking at the admissions desk are available everywhere.
• Cancelling: Change or cancel through the same channel you booked with, and do it in advance.

The short version

You book a GP visit with your own region's health service. Every region has its own phone line, website and app, so the first step is finding yours. The phone and in-person options work everywhere.

Find your region's service

Each of the 17 autonomous communities runs its own health service. Ceuta and Melilla are run by a national body, INGESA. Some examples:

• Andalucía: Salud Responde and Clic Salud.
• Catalonia: La Meva Salut.
• Madrid: Cita Sanitaria and Tarjeta Sanitaria Virtual.
• Valencia: GVA Salut.
• Galicia: Sergas Móbil.
• Basque Country: Osakidetza.

App names and web addresses change often. Search for your regional health service's name, or start from the Ministry of Health website, which points to each region.

Ways to book

• Phone. Call your region's appointment line or your health centre's own number.
• Website. Use your regional health service's portal.
• App. Most regions have a mobile app.
• In person. Ask at the centre's admissions desk (admisión).

Some centres also take bookings by email or WhatsApp. Availability differs by region, so ask your centre.

If online login gives you trouble, phone or go in person. You lose nothing by doing so.

Logging in to the portal

Most regional portals accept one of these:

• Cl@ve, in its PIN or permanent version.
• A digital certificate or the electronic DNI (DNIe).

Some portals also let you in with your health card number (called CIP, SIP or similar, depending on the region) plus your date of birth, a PIN or a password. The Valencian Community, for example, uses the SIP number. Some portals let you register a username and password.

As a foreigner you need a NIE and a registered health card to use these portals. If you do not have them yet, book by phone or in person. The documents list below shows what to have ready.

Change or cancel

Use the same channel you booked with: the app or website (often a cancel button or link), the phone line, or the admissions desk. Many regions send SMS reminders with a cancel option.

Cancel as early as you can if you cannot go. That frees the slot for someone else.

If there is no slot for weeks

See the "What if" box below for options. The checklist and FAQ below cover the rest.

Documents you need

• Your NIE, the foreigner identification number, which you need to use the regional booking portals.

• Your registered health card, with the number on it (CIP, SIP or similar depending on region), needed to log in to the portals.

• A Cl@ve account or a digital certificate, which most regional portals accept for login.

Checklist

• Find your region's health service portal and appointment app by searching its name.

• Check which login your portal accepts: Cl@ve, a digital certificate, or your health card number plus date of birth.

• Book through the channel that suits you: phone, website, app, or in person at the admissions desk.

• Change or cancel through the same channel you used to book.

• Cancel in advance if you cannot attend, so the slot can be reused.

What if no GP appointment is available for weeks?

You do not have to wait weeks for a routine slot. Ask for a same-day appointment first, and use the urgent primary-care service if the centre is closed.

Ask for a same-day or phone slot

Go to the administrative desk at your centre, or phone it, and say the problem cannot wait. Ask for a cita urgente (an urgent appointment, sometimes called "a demanda"). The triage nurse or a GP may see you the same day if the problem is urgent.

Many centres also offer a phone consultation with the GP or nurse. Ask whether one is available. Your region may also have a health phone line or app. In several regions the number is 061.

See the nurse or another doctor

Your nurse can often see you sooner than your GP, and can tell you whether you need a doctor. If your own GP has no slots, the centre will often offer another doctor in the same centre, especially for urgent issues.

Booking at a different centre is less common. It usually only works for urgent care, or when you are away from home. You can ask to change your assigned doctor or centre. Approval depends on availability and your region's rules.

Use urgent primary care when the centre is closed

Most areas have an urgent primary-care service, called a PAC or a SUAP. It treats problems that cannot wait but are not life-threatening, such as:

• high fever
• injuries or minor trauma
• acute pain
• infections

These services usually run when your centre is closed. That means weekday evenings and nights, typically from about 15:00 or 20:00 to 08:00, and around the clock at weekends and holidays. Some run 24 hours. Names and hours vary by region, so check the local hours with your centre.

When to call 112

For a life-threatening emergency, call 112 or go straight to a hospital emergency department. Do not wait for a PAC or an appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Will I get a reminder if I booked a GP appointment?

Yes, many regions send an SMS reminder, often with an option to cancel, but not every region does. If you get one, use its cancel option so the slot can be reused.

Can I book a GP appointment without using the app or website?

Yes, you can still book by phone or in person at the admissions desk (admisión) of your health centre in every region. Some centres also accept email or WhatsApp.