TIE after your residencia is approved: fingerprints and collecting the card
The approval of the resolución favorable is not the card yet. A separate route follows: booking the fingerprint appointment (toma de huellas), then the visit to collect the TIE card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero). Here is how it works, step by step.
Step 1. Read the decision
The resolución states: the permit category, its duration, whether you have the right to work, and whether there are conditions (for example, social security registration). Check every field — correcting a mistake on the card later takes months.
Step 2. Cita previa for the fingerprints
The appointment for the toma de huellas is booked through the same portal, sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es (the procedure is called «toma de huellas/renovación de tarjeta» depending on the province). Slots are as scarce as everywhere else: check in the morning and after lunch.
What to bring to the fingerprints: passport, the approved resolución, the paid card fee — 16,08 € for the first card (tasa 4.2, Orden PJC/617/2025), empadronamiento, a 32×26 mm photo. The exact list — depends on the province.
Step 3. Collecting the card
After the fingerprints, the card is produced in roughly 30–40 days (depending on the province — some are faster). When it is ready, you book a separate appointment to collect it. Carry your passport: the card is always shown together with it.
While the card is not there yet
- your status in the country is confirmed by the resolución + passport: you are legal from the moment of approval;
- travel rules are stricter: you can cross the border without the card only with additional documents (an authorisation for a relative to collect the card, and so on) — check the conditions for your type;
- do not miss the appointment: fingerprints not taken on the booked date can «cancel» your queue.
Common questions
How long is the card valid? Usually the same period as the permit. What about renewals? The same scheme: permit renewal → fingerprints → new card (TIE renewal — tasa 4.3, 19,30 €). And for EU citizens? No TIE is needed: they hold a certificado de registro, and everything is done in one visit.
The NIE - Easy pack includes a checklist for the fingerprints and the card collection, so no document is forgotten at home.
Informational material, not legal advice. Conditions differ between provinces — check the official websites.