Replacing a lost, stolen or damaged residence card (TIE)

Key rules

• Denuncia first: For a lost or stolen card, you need the police report before you can apply for the duplicate.
• In person: You must apply at an appointment, where your fingerprints are taken.
• Temporary proof: Your passport plus the denuncia and stamped receipt show your status, but they are unreliable for travel abroad.
• Damaged card: If the card is only damaged, you need no police report.

Do these three things in this order

1. Report the loss or theft to the police and get the denuncia.
2. Book a cita previa and apply for the duplicate in person.
3. Keep your proof of status with you until the new card arrives.

The timeline and checklist below show the steps at a glance. The sections here add what they leave out.

Step 1: Report the loss or theft

Go to a police station (comisaría) and file a denuncia. For a loss, you can often file online. You need the denuncia for the duplicate application, so do this first.

If your card is damaged rather than lost, skip this step. Bring the damaged card to the appointment instead. The office keeps it.

Step 2: Apply for the duplicate

You apply in person at the police foreigners' unit or the foreigners' office (Oficina de Extranjería). You need a cita previa first, so book it as soon as you have the denuncia. Appointments can have a wait.

Before you go:

• Fill in and sign form EX-17.
• Pay the fee with tasa 790 code 012, at a bank or online, and keep the proof of payment.
• Bring your passport, a recent passport-style photo and the denuncia.

The document list below has the full detail, including copies and photo size.

At the appointment, your fingerprints are taken and you get a stamped receipt (resguardo). Ask the officer where and when to collect the new card. The collection route varies by province, and you collect it later at the police station.

Step 3: Prove your status while you wait

Keep the denuncia and the stamped resguardo together with your passport. Together they are your temporary proof of identity and legal residence in Spain.

Banks and employers differ in what they accept. Some take these papers and some do not, so ask in advance and be ready to explain. If you used the card as identification at your bank, tell them it is lost.

Do not count on the receipt for travel abroad or for re-entering Spain. It is unreliable for that. The FAQ below covers travel.

How long it takes

Expect a few weeks from the fingerprint appointment to collection. Some provinces take a month, others several months. Ask at your appointment what to expect in your province.

Timeline and deadlines

• Report the loss or theft to the police and get the denuncia: as soon as you notice the card is missing

• Book an appointment (cita previa) at the foreigners' office or police unit: right after you have the police report

• Pay the fee and attend the appointment, where your fingerprints are taken and you get a stamped receipt: on the day of your appointment, which may have a wait

• Collect the new card at the police station: a few weeks after the fingerprint appointment; some provinces take from about one month to several months

Waiting times vary by province, so check the current wait with the office where you book your appointment.

Documents needed to replace a lost or damaged residence card (TIE)

Documents for a duplicate or corrected card

• Application form EX-17, completed and signed.

• Your original passport or travel document, plus a copy.

• The fee form (modelo 790 code 012), paid at a bank or online, with proof of payment. A correction of the office's own error is free, but bring any form or confirmation the office gave you.

• One recent colour passport-style photo, 32x26 mm, on a white background.

• For a lost or stolen card: a police report (denuncia), or a sworn statement of loss where the office accepts it.

• For a damaged card: the damaged card itself, which the office keeps. No police report is needed.

• For a correction: the wrongly issued card and evidence of the correct data, such as the original resolution or application. A short written note describing the error can help.

• A copy of your expired or previous card, if you have one.

• Proof of address (empadronamiento, your town hall registration) or documents showing the basis of your stay, if your office asks for them.

• Your appointment (cita previa) confirmation for the Oficina de Extranjería or police station that issues cards.

Checklist

• Report the loss or theft to the police (denuncia) at a comisaría, or online for a loss.

• Book a cita previa at the foreigners' office or police unit.

• Bring the EX-17 form, your passport and a photo to the appointment.

• Keep the police report and the stamped receipt with your passport as proof of status while you wait.

• Ask at the appointment where and when to collect the new card.

Frequently asked questions

Can I travel abroad while I wait for my duplicate TIE?

It is risky to travel abroad while you wait, because the police report and the stamped receipt are unreliable for travel and re-entry. Your passport with the receipt is normally accepted as proof of identity and residence inside Spain. If you must travel, ask the foreigners' office before you book.

Will banks and employers accept my receipt instead of the card?

Some banks and employers accept the police report and the stamped receipt for the duplicate, but others do not. Show them your passport together with the receipt. If they refuse, ask what else they need and bring it to them.

Where do I collect my new TIE after the fingerprint appointment?

You collect the new card later at the police station, after your fingerprints are taken at the appointment. The exact collection route varies by province, so ask at your appointment where and when to pick it up.

How long does a duplicate TIE take to arrive?

A duplicate TIE usually takes a few weeks from the fingerprint appointment to collection, though reports range from about one month to several months depending on the province. The wait for the appointment itself comes on top of that.