Spain TIE: How to Apply for a Spain Foreigner Identity Card

What is a TIE Card in Spain?

The TIE card in Spain (Foreigner Identity Card) is an identification document that proves your legal status as a foreign national in Spain. The TIE card is issued to foreign nationals that have authorisation to stay in Spain for more than 6 months.

The card in Spain is known as tarjeta de identidad de extranjero (TIE card). It contains your personal information, such as your name and surname, the period of validity, and a unique number known as a Foreigner Identity Number (NIE).

What is an NIE?

All foreign nationals who wish to stay longer than 6 months are given an NIE. It is the unique personal number on all of your documents that are processed and issued in Spain, including your TIE card.

The NIE contains 7 numbers and 2 letters. You need to apply for the number from your country of current residence by submitting an application at the Spanish Consulate, or you can apply at the same time as you apply for the TIE card in Spain.

Who Needs to Apply for a TIE in Spain?

Every person that has a visa valid for more than 6 months needs to apply for a TIE card once they arrive in Spain.

However, there are nationals that do not need a visa to stay in Spain for long-term residence. If you are a national from a European Union member country or are from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, you do not need to apply for a TIE card.

How to Get a TIE Card in Spain?

Applying for a TIE card is a straightforward process. You will need to bring all of the documents that are required to apply for a visa, with you in Spain. For any documents where you do not have the original copies you will need to provide copies. If your documents are in English, then you must submit them alongside an official translation of them in Spanish.

Applying for a TIE is different depending on when you registered for residence in Spain.

Foreign Nationals who Registered as Resident After 6 July 2020

If you register for residence after 6 July 2020 but were living in Spain before 1 January 2021, you will be required to follow the 2-step process below to obtain your TIE card. You will obtain the TIE card if you meet the necessary requirements and if your application is approved.

All children must apply and get their own TIE card.

Step 1: Submit Your Residence Application in Spain

Overview

You need to submit your residence application to the immigration office in the province where you live.

You can do this electronically, in person with an appointment at the immigration office or through a third-party such as Immigration Advice Service who can submit your application, electronically on your behalf.

What are the Required Documents to Reside in Spain?

• Application form EX20.
• Passport.
• Documentation that proves your residence in Spain before 1 January 2021.
• Documentation that proves you meet the EU residence criteria for income and healthcare.

How Much Income do I Need to Have?

Pensioner

For pensioners, you need to show a Spanish bank certificate which highlights the minimum balance and any payments made in Spain over the last 3 months.

The minimum balance that must be in your account (during the last 3 months before the appointment) should be:

• 1 person – €9,000
• 2 people – €18,000
• For each extra adult in your family – an additional €9,000 per person
• For each additional child in your family – an additional €4,500 per child

Non-pensioner and Non-working

For foreign nationals that are non-pensioners and not working, you must show a Spanish bank certificate showing the minimum balance and payments made in Spain over the last 3 months.

Employed Citizen

In the case of a foreign citizen in employment, you must be on a work contract, have an up-to-date working life certificate that has a minimum of 50% of the legal working hours, and have proof of income of a minimum of €750 each month.

Self-employed Citizen

In order to reside in Spain and be self-employed, you need proof of an up-to-date working life certificate and you must have been registered for a minimum of 3 months with a minimum income of €750 per month.

How do I Submit My Application?

You can submit your residence application via the online portal, as long as you have a digital signature.

If you wish to submit your application in person you must first apply for an appointment at a immigration office – you can contact the immigration office by telephone or by email to request an face-to-face appointment.

If you are not sure how to request an appointment, speak to IAS today on (+44) 333 4149244. Our team of specialist immigration advisers can guide you through each step of your residence application.

Step 2: Apply for the TIE card in Spain

When do You Apply for a TIE?

Once your residency has been approved by the immigration office, you have 1 month to apply for the TIE card from the national police.

We advise that you apply as soon as you are in Spain. It may take time to get an appointment, as well as process your application.

If your application does not get processed within the month, you are able to use the confirmation you received after you made the appointment if you are asked about your TIE card.

Where To Apply for a TIE?

You need to submit your application for the TIE card at the correct authorities of the province of your place of residence in Spain. The relevant authorities could include:

• A police station
• A Immigration Office

What Required Documents do You Need for a TIE?

For the application for a TIE card, you will need to have the following documents:

• A completed Form EX23
• Form ‘modelo 790, code 012’. This is for proof of payment of the card fee. The application will cost between €10 to €20.
• Passport.
• 2 passport-sized photographs.
  What Happens at the Appointment for the TIE Card in Spain?You have to schedule an appointment at the appropriate website of the Spanish immigration authorities for a TIE card. Depending on the number of applications that the Spanish authorities are receiving at the time, it can take between a few days to a couple of weeks to get an appointment.On the day of your appointment, you need to attend the police station or immigration office on time.  You will need to have all the documents with you. After you submit the documents, you will receive a letter that confirms you have applied.It can take about a month to get the TIE card in Spain. Your TIE card will have the same validity as a residence card permit for foreign nationals.

Foreign Nationals who Registered as Resident Before 6 July 2020

You do not need to register for the TIE card in Spain if you registered for residency before 6 July 2020. Your green certificate will be valid for proof of your own rights under the Withdrawal Agreement that was introduced on 6 July 2020.

It is up to you if you want to exchange your residence card for the TIE to reside in Spain. The Spanish government does recommend that you get the new type of residency certificate as it is more durable.

There is no deadline to exchange your green paper residency certificate for the card TIE. To start your application, simply make an appointment online. Follow the above instructions for making an appointment with the police or at the immigration office.

How Long is the TIE Valid in Spain?

Foreign nationals that have been resident in Spain for less than 5 years will be issued with a temporary TIE. This proof of residence is valid for 5 years.

After 5 years of legal residence, foreign nationals can apply for a permanent TIE in Spain, and this does not need to be when the original residency card has expired.

If you have been resident in Spain for more than 5 years, you will be issued with a permanent TIE that is valid for 10 years.

If your TIE residence permit is about to expire, you must get it renewed. It is advisable to do this in the month before the TIE expires, or within 3 months of it expiring.

What if My TIE Card is Lost, Damaged or Stolen?

You will have to apply for another TIE card in Spain if your original TIE card is lost, damaged or stolen. You have 1 month from the day the card is gone, to apply for a new one.

The application process is exactly the same as when you first apply for a TIE card, however, please note that your valid-until date will be the same as the previous one and will not be renewed when applying for another TIE card

How can IAS Help?

We can provide you with all the correct advice and any further support on how to apply for a TIE card in Spain. This will allow you to reside in Spain for more than 6 months.

With years of experience in the field of immigration law, we can work with you through the entire application process to ensure your application is completed to the highest of standards and with all the necessary documentation for the Spanish officials.

Get in touch with us today by phone for help with your application at (+44) 333 4149244, or send us an email at [email protected].