The TIE fingerprint appointment in Barcelona is free and is booked on the official cita previa site, choosing the province of Barcelona and the procedure “POLICIA – TOMA DE HUELLAS (EXPEDICIÓN DE TARJETA) Y RENOVACIÓN DE TARJETA DE LARGA DURACIÓN”. You have one month to apply from your entry into Spain with a long-stay visa, or from the day your authorisation takes effect, and any police office in the province is valid.
That appointment is where the police check your documents and take your fingerprints. A few weeks later you go back, with a second appointment, to collect the card. This guide covers both, what to bring, and what to do when the calendar shows no free slots. If you would rather not deal with it, our TIE card service in Barcelona handles the whole process.
Your TIE card, start to finish — we handle the whole process
EX-17 form, fee form, fingerprint appointment within the one-month deadline and the collection appointment.
120 € + VAT.
Prices exclude VAT. Spanish VAT (21 %) applies to clients resident in the EU. If you live outside the EU, our advisory services are not subject to Spanish VAT; we confirm it in your quote.
Which appointment you need
Foreigners in Barcelona deal with three different appointments, and booking the wrong one is the most common way to lose a month:
| Appointment | Where | What for |
|---|---|---|
| Fingerprints (toma de huellas) | Policía Nacional | First TIE or renewal of the card, once the visa or authorisation exists |
| Card collection (recogida de TIE) | The police office on your fingerprint receipt | Picking up the card once it is printed |
| Filing a residence application | Oficina de Extranjería | Applying for or renewing the authorisation itself |
The last one is a different procedure, at a different office, and it comes before the TIE: our guide to the residency appointment in Barcelona covers it. This page is only about the police appointments for the card.
How to book the fingerprint appointment, step by step
Book only on the official system, sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es (icpplus). The screens are in Spanish:
- Province. Select “Barcelona” and click “Aceptar”.
- Office and procedure. Choose an office and “POLICIA – TOMA DE HUELLAS (EXPEDICIÓN DE TARJETA) Y RENOVACIÓN DE TARJETA DE LARGA DURACIÓN”. Any police office in the province is valid: Terrassa, Sabadell or L’Hospitalet count as much as Barcelona city.
- Access. Click “Entrar”. No digital certificate is needed.
- Your details. Your NIE, which starts with X, Y or Z and is printed on your visa, or your passport number if you have no NIE. Then your full name and nationality. If there is a field for the expiry date of a current card and you have none, leave it blank.
- Request. Check the details and click “Solicitar Cita”.
- Office again. Choose the office and click “Siguiente”.
- Contact. A Spanish mobile number for the confirmation code, and your email twice for the receipt.
- Date. Pick a day in the calendar, fill in the CAPTCHA, choose the time and confirm. Keep the receipt.
For the collection, book “POLICIA – RECOGIDA DE TARJETA DE IDENTIDAD DE EXTRANJERO (TIE)” in the same system. Here you cannot choose freely: you go to the office written on the receipt you were given at the fingerprint appointment.
The one-month deadline
The month runs from your entry into Spain with a long-stay visa, or from the day your residence authorisation takes effect if you were already here. It is the deadline to apply, and the appointment is how you apply, so plan the booking from your first week. If the calendar is empty and the month is running out, keep evidence of your attempts: screenshots of the “no appointments” message with the date.
What to bring to the fingerprint appointment
- The EX-17 form, completed and signed.
- The 790-012 fee form, paid at a bank beforehand. The amount for most first cards is currently 16,08 €; confirm it on the form. Our guide to modelo 790 código 012 explains how to fill it in and pay it.
- Passport, original and copy.
- A recent colour photo.
- Your visa or the resolution granting the authorisation.
- Your empadronamiento certificate, which offices in Barcelona normally ask for. If you are not registered yet, see empadronamiento in Barcelona.
When there are no slots
The practical answers are the same as for any police appointment: widen the search to the whole province, check at different times, have everything ready before you look, and never pay anyone for a slot. Appointments are free, and offers to buy them are resale that can leave you without the money and without the appointment. The full checklist is in our guide to no TIE appointment slots in Barcelona.
FAQ
Is the TIE appointment free? Yes. The appointment costs nothing. You pay the official fee with form 790-012, and our fee only if you ask us to handle the process.
Can I book the fingerprint appointment in another town? Yes, any police office in the province of Barcelona. The collection appointment, however, is at the office on your receipt.
Do EU citizens need a TIE appointment? No. They book “POLICIA – CERTIFICADO DE REGISTRO DE CIUDADANO DE LA UE” for the EU registration certificate. The difference is explained in NIE, EU registration certificate and TIE.
What if my month runs out without an appointment? Keep the evidence of your booking attempts and get advice on your specific case: what to do depends on your visa or authorisation.
Booking screens, procedure names, office lists and fee amounts change, so check the official site and the form before your appointment.
