The appointments to book in your first week

Terms used

• TIE — The TIE is the physical residence card for non-EU nationals, issued after you give fingerprints.
• Padrón — The padrón is the register of residents at your town hall, and proof of your address.
• NIE — The NIE is the foreigner identification number used for most official procedures in Spain.
• Cl@ve — Cl@ve is Spain's digital ID system for using online government services.
• Gestor — A gestor is a paid administrative agent who handles official paperwork for you.

Key rules

• TIE deadline: With a long-stay visa, you must apply for the TIE within one month of entering Spain or of your authorization starting.
• Start now: Request the TIE and padrón appointments in your first week, because big-city TIE slots can take weeks or months.
• Confirmation: Keep the confirmation code and a printed copy, since offices often ask for them on the day.

Book now: the TIE fingerprint appointment

If you are a non-EU national with a long-stay visa, book your TIE fingerprint appointment in your first days. The deadline for applying is set out in the timeline below, and the wait for a slot can be longer than you expect. Do not leave it until the end of that period.

The TIE appointment is handled by the national police or the immigration office (Extranjería). You book it online on the police's electronic office, or on the Extranjería portal for your province. Many offices also take bookings by phone.

Book now: the padrón appointment

The padrón is handled by your town hall. Book through your town hall's website, or ask whether it allows walk-ins or online registration. Some do.

How long the queue is

Waits change week by week, so look at the booking system itself for the current picture.

• TIE fingerprints in big cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Valencia): there have often been no free slots for weeks, sometimes months. Barcelona and Málaga are usually the most congested. Smaller provinces are usually easier.
• Padrón: usually quicker, from days to a few weeks.

How to book

You choose your province and the type of procedure. Have these ready: passport or NIE number, full name, date of birth, nationality, a phone number and an email address. Some offices also ask for Cl@ve or a digital certificate.

Save the confirmation code and print the confirmation. Offices often ask for it on the day.

If no slots appear

Slots often appear without notice. Do this:

1. Check several times a day, including early morning and just after midnight.
2. Try other offices in the same province.
3. Call the office's phone line, or visit the office.
4. Ask a gestor, a paid agent who handles paperwork for you.
5. Keep checking for cancellations.

Other offices to know about

Later in your first weeks you may also deal with the Seguridad Social for your social security number, the tax office, the traffic office (DGT) for a driving licence exchange, and your local health centre for the health card. The right office and the order can differ by region and by your status, so check locally. Banks and mobile operators are private companies and do not need these bookings.

If you are an EU citizen, you register with the police or Extranjería instead of getting a TIE.

The first-month tracker below helps you record your dates and numbers.

Timeline and deadlines

• Book your TIE fingerprint appointment: as soon as you arrive, if you entered on a long-stay visa

• Attend the TIE fingerprint appointment: within one month of entering Spain or of your authorization starting

• Book your padrón appointment: in your first weeks; slots usually come within days to a few weeks

Documents you need

• Passport or NIE number: needed to book most appointments and to enter your details.

• Printed cita confirmation with its confirmation code: often required on the day of the appointment.

• Cl@ve or a digital certificate: some offices ask for one to book online.

Checklist

• Work out which offices you need: town hall for padrón, police or Extranjería for the TIE, Seguridad Social for your social security number.

• Gather your passport or NIE number, date of birth, nationality, phone number and email address before you book.

• Book each cita previa online on the website of the responsible office, choosing your province and procedure type.

• Try the phone line or a different office in the same province if no slot appears.

First-month tracker: documents, numbers and dates

Copy this into a note or spreadsheet and fill it in as you go. Offices ask for the same numbers and papers again and again, so keeping them in one place saves you time at every appointment.

Your core numbers

One block per procedure

Copy this block for each procedure: padrón, NIE or TIE, bank, health card, school, driving licence and taxes.

• Procedure and office: ______
• Cita date, time and address: ______
• Confirmation code: ______
• File number (número de expediente): ______
• Fee form (Modelo 790) number and payment receipt saved: ______
• Deadline to finish: ______ (for example, the one-month window to apply for your TIE)
• Documents handed in: ______
• Next step and contact: ______

Document folder checklist

Keep one paper set and one scanned set of each item. Tick them off as you collect them.

• Passport, and national ID card if you have one
• Visa or residence documents
• NIE, TIE or EU registration certificate
• Padrón certificate
• Address proof: rental contract or title deed, plus utility bills
• Passport-style photos
• Proof of income, employment contract or funds
• Health insurance, or an S1 or EHIC
• Marriage and birth certificates
• School records for children
• Bank certificate or IBAN
• Tax documents
• Appointment confirmations

Photos, forms and copies

• TIE and EU registration certificate: bring colour passport-style photos on a plain light background (32x26 mm), the completed application form, the fee form where a fee applies, and copies of your passport and other documents.
• Padrón: bring the completed form, your ID and proof of address.
• Health card, bank account and school enrolment: bring ID and copies. Photos are not usually needed.
• In-person appointments: many procedures can be submitted online, but the appointment itself often needs printed documents. Print a set before you go.

Foreign documents

Birth, marriage and criminal record certificates and diplomas usually need an apostille, or consular legalisation if the country does not use apostilles. If they are not in Spanish or a co-official language, they usually also need a sworn translation (traducción jurada). Some EU documents on standard multilingual forms are exempt. Record below what you have done for each one.

Keep it safe

Back up your scans in a secure cloud folder and save every appointment confirmation there. Each office sets its own list of required documents, so check the list for your appointment before you go.

Frequently asked questions

What can I do if no cita previa slots are available?

If no slots show online, try the phone line, call or visit the office, or pay a gestor (a paid administrative agent) to look for one. Check again often, because slots appear without notice, and try other offices in the same province, early in the morning or just after midnight.

How long do I wait for a TIE fingerprint appointment in a big city?

In Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga and Valencia, TIE fingerprint appointments have often shown no free slots for weeks or sometimes months. Málaga and Barcelona are generally more congested than smaller provinces, so also try offices in nearby towns.

Is a padrón appointment quicker to get than a TIE appointment?

Yes, padrón appointments usually come sooner than police ones, from days to a few weeks. Some town halls also allow walk-ins or online registration, so check your town hall's site first.

What should I bring on the day of my cita previa?

Bring the confirmation code and the printed confirmation, which many offices require on the day. Also bring the passport or NIE number you used to book.