Finding the right office and procedure for your cita previa

Terms used

• Cita previa — The cita previa is an appointment you book, usually online, before visiting a public office.
• NIE — The NIE is the identification number Spain gives to foreigners for official, tax and legal matters.
• TIE — The TIE is the foreigner identity card issued to non-EU residents, taken after you give fingerprints.
• Padrón — The padrón is the register of residents kept by your town hall.
• NIF — The NIF is the tax identification number used for tax and official dealings.
• Oficina de Extranjería — The Oficina de Extranjería is the provincial government office that processes foreigners' residence and work authorisations.

Key rules

• Appointments: Extranjería, the TIE police, Seguridad Social and the tax agency now require a cita previa for in-person service, with limited exceptions.
• One office per task: NIE, TIE fingerprints, padrón, social security number and tax registration each go to a different office with its own booking system.
• Province matters: Which office does which task varies by province, so check your province's government delegation page first.
• Padrón: The padrón is booked with your town hall, not on the national portal.

The short answer

Each task has its own office and its own booking system. Most national offices now need a cita previa (an appointment) for in-person service. Book before you go.

Which office for which task

• NIE: the Oficina de Extranjería or a Policía Nacional station, depending on your province. Book on the national Ministry appointment portal, or at a Spanish consulate if you are still abroad.
• TIE fingerprints: a Policía Nacional station (or an Extranjería office the province designates). Use the same national portal and pick the fingerprinting option, called "Policía-Toma de huellas".
• Padrón registration: your town hall (ayuntamiento). It uses its own booking system or online form.
• Social security number: the Seguridad Social office. Book on the Seguridad Social appointment site. An employer can also request it for you.
• Tax registration (NIF use, forms 030/036/037, Cl@ve): the Agencia Tributaria. Book on its own appointment site.

The portals are listed below.

How the three kinds of foreigner office differ

• Oficinas de Extranjería sit inside each province's government office. They process residence and work authorisations and residence cards, and in some cases the NIE.
• Policía Nacional stations have a foreigners and documentation unit. They take fingerprints and issue the TIE. In many provinces they also issue the NIE.
• Asylum offices handle asylum claims. Asylum applicants have their own arrangements.

Which office does which task varies by province. Check your province's government delegation page before you book.

When you can go without an appointment

Some places still take walk-ins. Many small-town town halls and some registry offices serve people without an appointment, or with limited hours. Some police stations take urgent matters, such as reporting a theft, without one. Some Extranjería filings can be made electronically or at a registry without an appointment.

For Extranjería, the TIE police, Seguridad Social and the tax agency, plan on needing a cita. The exceptions are limited. The choice between booking and walking in is in the decision below.

Before you book

1. Name the task and find its office in the list above.
2. Check whether your province or town uses its own system. Some do.
3. Book on that office's portal, or file electronically if the procedure allows it.

Choosing between options

Do you need to book a cita previa, or can you go in without one?

• Book a cita previa: Your task is with Extranjería, the police for the TIE or NIE, Social Security or the tax agency. These almost always need an appointment for in-person service.

• Go in without an appointment: Your task is with a small-town town hall or a registry office that serves people unscheduled, or it is an urgent matter such as a police report.

• File electronically or at a registry: Your Extranjería filing can be sent online or at a registry, so no cita is needed.

Book a cita for national bodies unless the office confirms it takes walk-ins or your filing can be made online or at a registry. Small local offices are the most likely to see you without one.

Appointment portals by authority

Where to book, by office

• Oficina de Extranjería or Policía Nacional station: Book NIE, TIE fingerprints (toma de huellas), renewals and card collection through the Cita Previa section of the government's electronic office (the official website). Start from the home page, as page paths change. Some regions, such as Catalonia in certain cases, add their own channels.

• Seguridad Social (INSS/TGSS): Book in-person service under 'Cita previa' on the Seguridad Social electronic office (the official website). By phone, call 901 106 570 or 915 419 190.

• Agencia Tributaria (AEAT, Spain's tax agency): Book under 'Cita previa' on the tax agency's electronic office (the official website). You can ask for a slot with your NIF or NIE and a phone number, with or without Cl@ve (the government's online ID system). By phone, call 91 535 73 26 or 901 22 33 44.

• Your town hall (ayuntamiento), for the padrón: Search your town hall's name plus 'cita previa padrón' or 'empadronamiento', or look in the 'Sede electrónica' or 'Trámites' section of its website. Madrid and Barcelona use the 010 phone line, and Valencia, Málaga and Sevilla have their own online booking pages. Small towns often accept phone or walk-in requests.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go to a Spanish office without an appointment?

Yes, some offices still serve people without an appointment, but most national offices do not. Many small-town town halls and some registry offices take walk-ins or keep limited hours. Extranjería, the police for the TIE, Social Security and the tax agency now ask for a cita in person.

Which offices handle foreigners' procedures in Spain?

Three kinds of office handle them: Oficinas de Extranjería, Policía Nacional stations and, for asylum, Oficinas de Asilo y Refugio. Extranjería offices sit inside each province's government office and process residence and work permits. The police stations take fingerprints, issue the TIE card and, in many provinces, the NIE.

Can I file Extranjería paperwork without booking a cita?

Yes, some Extranjería filings can be made electronically or at a registry office without a cita. Ask your province's government office which of your filings allow this.

References

1. sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es
2. sede.seg-social.gob.es
3. sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es