TIE Card in Madrid

What it is

The Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero is the physical card that proves a non-EU national is authorised to be in Spain. It carries your NIE, your photograph, the type of permit and its expiry date, and in Madrid you will be asked for it everywhere, from opening a bank account to registering at your health centre.

You request the card in person at the police unit that covers the place where you live. In Madrid that can be the Brigada Provincial de Extranjería y Fronteras on Avenida de los Poblados (Aluche) or one of the police stations across the Community that issue foreigners’ documents. The rule to keep in mind is the deadline: as a general rule you have one month from entering Spain with a long-stay visa, or from when your authorisation is granted, to apply.

Who needs it

• Students, remote workers, retirees and employees who have just landed in Madrid with a national visa.
• People whose residence or work authorisation has been approved by the Madrid foreigners' office.
• Residents who have renewed and need the new card.
• Anyone in Madrid whose card has been lost, stolen or damaged.
• Non-EU relatives of EU citizens living in Madrid.

Documents you will usually need

• Passport with the visa stamped in it, if you entered with one, and a copy.
• Form EX-17, filled in and signed.
• Receipt for the official fee (form 790, code 012).
• One recent colour photograph, passport size, white background.
• The approval of your authorisation, where relevant.
• Usually, a recent padrón certificate from your Madrid address.

The list varies with the type of permit and the police station. We confirm yours before we book anything.

How we do it

1. Deadline first. From your entry stamp or approval date we work out how long you have left.
2. File. We prepare the EX-17 and the fee document and check your photo and paperwork.
3. Fingerprint appointment. We search the Madrid cita previa system, often for several days, and book the fingerprint appointment at an office that covers your address.
4. Collection. When the card is ready, we book the collection appointment and remind you what to take.
5. Padrón if needed. If you are not yet registered at your Madrid address, we organise the padrón in parallel.

How long it takes

Expect the fingerprint appointment to be the bottleneck. After fingerprints, the card normally takes a few weeks; you are given a receipt that covers you in the meantime. In total, one to two months is a realistic figure for Madrid, sometimes more at busy times of year such as September.

Price

From 200 € + VAT: forms, fee document, fingerprint appointment and collection appointment. The official fee is paid separately. Padrón in Madrid can be added to the same quote.

Questions we often get