How cita previa works and what to do when no slots appear

Terms used

• Cl@ve — Cl@ve is the government's electronic identification system for online procedures.
• Registro — A registro is a public registry office where you can file official applications in writing.
• Subdelegación del Gobierno — The Subdelegación del Gobierno is the central government's office in each province, which handles foreigners' matters.
• TIE — The TIE is the physical foreigner identity card issued after your residence is approved.

Key rules

• Deadlines: Not getting an appointment does not pause a legal deadline.
• Fingerprints: TIE fingerprinting always needs a physical appointment.
• Other provinces: An office outside your province may refuse a file it is not responsible for.
• Timing: Slot release times are unpredictable, so do not rely on one pattern.

If no slots show, you still have options

No slots does not mean you are stuck. Try the steps below in order. Start with the ones that cost nothing.

Widen your search

• Try other offices. Pick other offices or police stations in your province. Each one has its own slots.
• Check at different times. New slots and cancellations appear unpredictably. People often report early mornings and the start of the working week, and single slots freed by cancellations can disappear within minutes. This differs by province and changes over time, so treat it as a tip, not a rule.
• Use cancellation lists where the office offers them.

Big provinces such as Madrid, Barcelona, Alicante and Málaga are the hardest. Expect to try many times there.

Booking in another province

The portal lets you choose any province, but the appointment is normally made where your procedure was filed or where you live. Some procedures, such as residence applications, belong to the competent office. A different office may refuse your file if it is not responsible for it. Ask the target office before you travel. Regions with their own systems work differently.

File without an appointment

Many applications do not need an appointment at all. You can file:

• Electronically, with a digital certificate or Cl@ve access. A representative or lawyer can do this for you with your written authorisation.
• In writing at a registro, which is any public registry office. This includes a post office, if you follow the proper formalities, and other administrations' registries.

Whether your procedure accepts this depends on the procedure, so check with the office that handles it. Filing in writing records the date. The office may then ask you to fix defects in the file.

Fingerprinting for the TIE always needs a physical appointment. You cannot file around it.

Missing a deadline because you could not get an appointment is not an excuse. The deadline keeps running, so file in writing through a registry or electronically to meet it.

Contact the authorities

Email or phone the Subdelegación del Gobierno for your province. If there is truly no availability, submit a written complaint. Keep a copy and proof of the date.

When a slot does appear, follow the booking steps below.

Book a cita previa step by step

Book a cita previa for foreigners' offices and police stations

• Open the cita previa page on the government's electronic office and choose 'Acceder al procedimiento': First step, when you are ready to book

• Select your province: Right after opening the procedure

• Pick the office or procedure type, for example 'Policía-Toma de huellas' (fingerprints), 'Policía-Certificados UE' or an Extranjería procedure: After choosing the province

• Accept the conditions and press 'Entrar': After choosing the procedure

• Enter your identification details: document type (passport, NIE or other), document number, full name, year of birth and country of nationality: On the first form after entering

• Choose an office and an available slot: After your details are accepted

• Enter your phone and email, then confirm the booking: Last step before the confirmation

• Keep the confirmation code shown on screen and sent by email: Straight after confirming, and bring it to your appointment

Documents you need

• A digital certificate or Cl@ve access, issued by the authorities, if you file your application electronically yourself.

• A written authorisation for your representative or lawyer, if they file electronically on your behalf.

Frequently asked questions

Can I book my appointment in a different province?

Sometimes you can book in another province, but the office may refuse your file if it is not the competent one. Fingerprinting and TIE collection are normally booked where the procedure was filed or where you live. Contact the target office first to confirm it will accept you.

Can I file my application without an appointment?

Yes, many applications can be filed in writing, either at a public registry or post office, or electronically with a digital certificate, Cl@ve or an authorised representative. Procedures that need fingerprints, such as TIE collection, still require a physical appointment. Filing in writing records your date, though the office may ask you to fix defects afterwards.

What time of day do new cita slots appear?

New slots often appear in the early morning or at the start of the working week, but there is no reliable pattern. Cancellations free single slots that are usually taken within minutes.