As leading Barcelona relocation experts, we are often asked ‘how do I get a TIE card in Spain?’ Below you’ll find a Q&A format to best tailor our answers for you.
For further questions about getting a TIE card in Barcelona please contact Lasose Properties & Investments.
What is the TIE card in Spain?
The Spanish TIE card stands for Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (foreigner identity card). According to Spain’s Ministry of the Interior, the TIE card grants foreigners the legal right to reside in Spain.
The TIE card was introduced in accordance with the Ley Orgánica 4/2000 on 11th January of that year to facilitate the rights, liberties and social integration of foreigners in Spain.
Legal texts order a valid TIE card be given to any foreigner with a visa or authorisation to remain in Spain for more than six months and for the following reasons:
- When renewing your visa or authorisation to remain in Spain (beyond six months)
- When your visa or authorisation to reside in Spain has changed (and still grants the right to remain in Spain beyond six months)
- When your personal data has changed
- When your existing TIE card has been stolen, lost, destroyed or rendered useless
The TIE card in Spain is a plastic ID card the same size as a credit/ debit card.
What’s the difference between a NIE number and a TIE card?
Foreigners planning to reside in Spain will encounter several different forms of official identification, which can cause confusion.
A NIE number stands for Numero de Identidad de Extranjero. A NIE number is assigned to any foreign citizen who needs to carry out formalities with the Spanish government – it’s essentially a tax identification number – even if you don’t have permission to reside in Spain.
Unlike the plastic TIE card, a NIE number is issued on a sheet of A4 paper. (You can see an example and learn more here how to apply for a NIE number in Barcelona.)
Your NIE number never changes, even if your residency status does.
Your NIE number identifies you in all areas: for example, it appears on your Spanish driver’s licence, health insurance card and on your TIE card.
Who needs to apply for a TIE?
Anyone who is not an existing Spanish national or a citizen of an EU country will need a TIE card to establish their residency in Spain beyond six months.
This means the TIE in Spain is required for UK citizens after Brexit. It is also the de facto form of identification for foreigners from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and South American countries like Colombia, Venezuela and México who have a visa or authorisation to remain in Spain beyond six months.
In many cases, the process of applying and obtaining a TIE card is simple – the biggest challenge for foreigners moving to Spain can be obtaining a visa or similar authorisation.
This is because obtaining a visa to reside to Spain comes with stipulations, such as a job offer, a place at a university, proof of sufficient income, proof of sufficient savings and other requirements.
What are the requirements to get a TIE card in Spain?
The only requirements to get a TIE are prior authorisation or a visa to reside in Spain beyond six months.
However, you cannot just walk into an immigration office with a visa and receive your TIE card. You will need to fill out certain forms, make an appointment with the relevant Spanish authority and then bring all relevant documents at the scheduled time.
See below (How do I get the TIE card in Spain?) for the forms you’ll need.
How quickly do I need to apply for a TIE card once I’m in Spain?
Once you arrive in Spain with a visa or authorisation to reside beyond six months, you have one month to apply for the TIE card.
If you miss this month-long window, you could be refused the right to reside in Spain.
We strongly advise you to begin applying for your TIE card in Spain as soon as you arrive. This is both for practical reasons as well the long time it can take to receive your physical card (see below).
After you request an appointment for a TIE card in Spain at the relevant authority, you will receive a confirmation email or message. As mentioned in VisaGuide.World you can use this confirmation if requested to provide identification of your right to reside in Spain and you haven’t received your physical TIE card yet. Although your visa or authorisation may allow you to pass through passport control at the Spanish border, it’s your TIE card that establishes your right to reside in Spain beyond six months.
Note: if you are planning to engage in paid activity in Spain, the first thing you need to do is register with Spain’s social security system within a month of arrival in Spain. After registering there, you have another month to apply for the TIE card in Spain.
How long does it take to process a TIE card application in Spain?
The time it takes to receive your TIE card depends both on how quickly you can get an appointment at a relevant authority, and then how long it takes to actually receive your TIE card in Spain.
Both of these vary from region to region. According to this official page from the Barcelona regional government, it takes approximately 45 days to receive your TIE card in Barcelona.
How do I get the TIE card in Spain?
You can submit your application for a TIE card through these means:
- In person
- Through a representative or third-party (contact our Barcelona relocations team at Lasose Properties & Investments for support obtaining a TIE card in Barcelona)
- By electronic means
Typically you will need to go to the immigration office of the province in which you intend to establish your residence, to work, or where you already own a property. Often the immigration office is at the nearest Policía Nacional station.
To get the TIE card in Spain you will need:
- Two copies of the official EX-17 application form, fully completed and signed (you can find a link to the EX-17 form via this official page from the Spanish portal de inmigración)
- Passport or travel document bearing the stamp or visa authorising your entry into Spain
- Proof of payment of an administrative fee – the form 790 code 012
- A passport-size photograph, in colour, with a white background
- Where applicable: accreditation with the Spanish social security
- Where applicable: proof of theft, loss or damage to your existing TIE card
- Where applicable: copy of the administrative decision awarding the residence permit. In the case of minors, they must be accompanied by their legal representative (parent or guardian) with the appropriate documentation. In the case of family reunification, the family member must come with his or her original card. In the case of permits or visas requested jointly by family units, the holder of the visa or permit must be present at each of the appointments of any family members.
You can find more information about how you get the TIE card in Spain, requirements, forms, and procedures through the official portal de inmigración from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior (in Spanish only).
How much does a TIE card in Spain cost?
The cost of obtaining a TIE card in Spain is only between €10 to €20. This is one-time fee you pay on the form 170/012 (see How do I get the TIE card in Spain?)
This 170/012 fee is aside from any costs of getting your visa to reside in Spain, and separate from the cost of having a third-party apply for a TIE card on your behalf.
(If you would like the help of Lasose Properties & Investments in getting a TIE card in Barcelona for you, your family or for corporate relocations, contact us to discuss your situation and costs.)
You can find out the exact cost of the 790/012 form fee online – it is generated automatically as you fill out your details. ImmigrationSpain.com has taken the trouble to give examples of a few different scenarios:
- To renew temporary work residence or to extend a stay for study purposes: €18.92.
- In order to apply for your initial residency card or student visa: €15.75.
- For long-term residency and long-term EU permits: € 21.44.
- As a family member of an EU citizen: €12.00.
- For authorization to return to Spain: €10.50.
You can make the payment at any bank, cooperative or savings bank.
What if I am a UK citizen and already have a green A4 residence card?
British citizens who obtained residency in Spain before Brexit will find the steps to obtain a TIE card in Spain much easier.
If you already hold the A4 or card-sized green residence card the steps you will only need to exchange it for a TIE card. (I.e. you will not need to reapply for a visa or other authorisation.)
You can find out the simple steps to convert your green residency document to a TIE card via this page from the Citizens Advice Spain. UK citizens can find out more information from the UK government’s guidance on living in Spain here.
Conclusion: How do I get the TIE card in Spain?
If you’re not from the EU, you’ll need a TIE card to live in Spain long-term.
Once you have a visa or sufficient authorisation to reside in Spain for more than a year, getting a TIE card in Spain is straightforward – follow the steps above.
For help getting a TIE card in Barcelona for you, your family or for corporate relocations, please get in touch with our expert Barcelona relocations staff at Lasose Properties & Investments.
We’d be delighted to help.