The offices you will deal with in your first month

Terms used

• IRPF — The IRPF is Spain's personal income tax.
• Padrón — The padrón is the municipal register of people living in a town, and proof of your address.
• Ayuntamiento — The Ayuntamiento is your local town hall.
• Oficina de Extranjería — The Oficina de Extranjería is the provincial immigration office that processes residence and work authorisations.
• Policía Nacional — The Policía Nacional is the national police, who take fingerprints and issue the residence card.
• TIE — The TIE is the residence card for foreigners, with your photo and NIE.
• NIE — The NIE is your foreigner identification number, used for official and tax matters.
• TGSS — The TGSS is the social security office that issues your social security number and registers you.

Key rules

• Padrón first: Register on the padrón early, because other offices usually need it.
• TIE deadline: Request your TIE within one month of your authorisation.
• Health card: Your regional health service issues it, not a national office.
• Local differences: Office names, appointment systems and who handles the NIE vary by province.

Which office does what

Five public bodies cover almost everything in your first month. Each task has one office.

Your town hall: the padrón

Start here. Registration on the padrón is usually needed before other offices will deal with you, and you will often be asked for the certificate. Ask your Ayuntamiento how to book, as the process varies by town.

Oficina de Extranjería: your authorisation

This is a provincial office inside the Delegación or Subdelegación del Gobierno. It processes residence and work authorisations. Some applications are now filed online through the Mercurio platform. Check whether your case can be filed online and how appointments work in your province.

Policía Nacional: NIE and TIE

The Policía Nacional, through the Comisaría or the Brigada Provincial de Extranjería y Fronteras, takes your fingerprints and issues your TIE. You must request the TIE within one month of your authorisation being granted, so book the fingerprint appointment as soon as you have it.

Your NIE is handled by either the Oficina de Extranjería or the Policía Nacional, depending on the province. Ask which one applies where you live.

TGSS: social security

The TGSS is the social security office. It gives you your social security number and registers you as affiliated. You need this before the health service can issue your card.

AEAT: tax

The AEAT is the tax agency. It handles your tax number, IRPF and the registration forms Modelo 030, 036 and 037. Which form you need depends on your situation.

Health card

Your regional health service issues the card, through your local centro de salud. Examples are the Servicio Andaluz de Salud and CatSalut. In some cases you must first be affiliated with the INSS. Rules differ by region, so ask at your centro de salud what they require.

Registro Civil

You will not normally need it in your first month. It handles births, marriages, deaths and nationality. Since the 2025 reform it works through the Oficinas Generales del Registro Civil.

Where the names differ

Office names and the way tasks are split vary slightly by province. The timeline, documents list and questions below give the order and what to bring.

Timeline and deadlines

• Register on the padrón at your local Ayuntamiento: first, before the other steps

• Get your residence authorisation from the Oficina de Extranjería: before you request the TIE

• Register with the TGSS for your social security number, then ask your regional health service for your health card: after you are on the padrón

Documents you need

• NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero), your foreigner identification number, issued by the Oficina de Extranjería or the Policía Nacional depending on the province.

• TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero), your residence card, issued by the Policía Nacional after the Oficina de Extranjería authorises your residence.

• Padrón registration, the certificate that you are on the municipal register, issued by your local Ayuntamiento (town hall). It is usually needed before other steps such as the health card.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need the Registro Civil in my first month?

No, the Registro Civil is usually not part of your first-month tasks, because it deals with births, marriages, deaths and nationality files. You only go there if you need one of those civil records.

Is the Oficina de Extranjería the same office as the Policía Nacional?

No, they are different offices with different jobs. The Oficina de Extranjería processes and authorises your residence, while the Policía Nacional takes your fingerprints and issues the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero). In some provinces the NIE is handled by the Oficina de Extranjería and in others by the Policía Nacional.

Can I apply for my residence authorisation online?

Yes, some applications are now filed online through the Mercurio platform, but not every procedure or province uses it. Ask your provincial Oficina de Extranjería which route applies to you.

Which office do I go to for my health card?

You go to your regional health service through your local centro de salud, for example the Servicio Andaluz de Salud in Andalusia or CatSalut in Catalonia. In some cases you must first be affiliated with the INSS, the national social security institute. Register on the padrón first, as it is usually needed before the health card.