What to Do If You Can’t Get an Immigration Appointment

Written by Equipo Legal Con Fines · Last updated: 2026-09-20

What to Do If You Can’t Get an Immigration Appointment

Getting an appointment for fingerprinting and the issuance of your Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) can sometimes feel like an obstacle course.

You have received your favourable decision, you can finally relax… and then a new problem appears: you enter the appointment system only to see the dreaded message “No appointments are currently available.”

If you are in this situation, there are several things you should know.

First: NIE and TIE Are Not the Same Thing

Before going any further, it is worth clearing up a very common misunderstanding.

Your NIE is your Número de Identidad de Extranjero (Foreigner Identity Number). It is a personal identification number used for administrative purposes and does not change simply because your card expires.

Your TIE, on the other hand, is the physical card that proves your immigration status in Spain and contains, among other information, your NIE, photograph and address.

Therefore, when we talk about getting an appointment to “have your fingerprints taken”, we are referring to the procedure for applying for the issuance of your TIE.

When Do I Need to Apply for the TIE?

This depends on the type of authorisation, but in many cases there is a one-month deadline to apply for the TIE in person. In fact, favourable decisions often expressly state this deadline.

At present, because of the difficulties in obtaining fingerprint appointments in some provinces, a certain degree of flexibility is being seen in practice when the first available appointment falls after the one-month period.

However, this does not mean that the legal deadline has disappeared or that it has been automatically extended.

For this reason, we recommend that you start looking for an appointment as soon as possible and, if none are available, keep screenshots showing your attempts to obtain one.

Before Looking for an Appointment: Register Your Address (Empadronamiento)

This is a step that many people leave until the last minute.

The TIE must be processed by the Police in the province corresponding to your place of residence, so it is important to complete your empadronamiento before attending your fingerprint appointment.

Depending on your circumstances and the police station, you may also be asked to provide a recent certificado or volante de empadronamiento, particularly where you need to prove your address or have recently moved.

As a practical precaution, we recommend bringing proof of empadronamiento issued recently, preferably within the previous three months, to avoid problems on the day of your appointment.

Where Do I Book a Fingerprint Appointment?

The TIE application must be made in person at the relevant National Police Documentation Unit.

Appointments are booked through the official Spanish Public Administration appointment system:

Book an immigration appointment

You will first need to select your province and then choose the relevant procedure.

You will normally need to look for:

POLICÍA – TOMA DE HUELLA (EXPEDICIÓN DE TARJETA) Y RENOVACIÓN DE TARJETA DE LARGA DURACIÓN.

The exact wording displayed in the system may vary.

What Should I Do If It Says “No Appointments Available”?

Just because there are no appointments available today does not mean that new appointments will not become available.

Appointment calendars may be updated, and slots may also become available due to cancellations, so it is worth checking the official system regularly.

It may also help to:

• check on different days and at different times;
• look at the different police stations available within your province;
• check back regularly in case cancelled appointments become available; and
• avoid limiting your search to a single police station if other authorised stations in your province provide the same service.

Before booking, however, always make sure that the police station you select actually carries out the fingerprinting procedure you need.

Can I Have My Fingerprints Taken in Any Province in Spain?

You need to be careful here.

Your TIE application must be made at the National Police Documentation Unit corresponding to the province where your residence is registered.

Therefore, finding an available appointment in another province does not necessarily mean that you can use it for your application.

Always check which office is competent before travelling there.

Can My Lawyer Attend the TIE Appointment for Me?

No.

Applying for the TIE is an in-person procedure because, among other things, the applicant’s fingerprints must be taken.

A lawyer can help you review your documents, check which procedure applies and advise you about the appointment, but cannot attend the fingerprint appointment on your behalf.

Keep Evidence That You Are Trying to Get an Appointment

If you are within the deadline for applying for your card but cannot find an available appointment, we recommend keeping evidence of your attempts to book one.

For example:

• screenshots showing that no appointments are available;
• the dates and times of your attempts;
• confirmations or communications relating to the appointment; and
• any other relevant evidence.

This evidence does not replace your obligation to apply for the TIE and is not equivalent to having an appointment, but it may help demonstrate that you tried to complete the procedure within the applicable deadline and that the lack of appointments was beyond your control.

Be Careful When Buying Appointments

When days go by and no appointments become available, it is understandable to become concerned.

Unfortunately, this situation has also led to people offering to “get appointments” in exchange for money.

Official immigration and Police appointments are free of charge.

Be particularly cautious of anyone who asks you to pay simply to buy an appointment, requests personal documents without clearly explaining how they will be used, or promises a “guaranteed” appointment through unofficial channels.

Besides the financial risk, you could also be handing over highly sensitive information such as your NIE, passport details, telephone number or other personal data.

Does My Residence Authorisation Stop Being Valid If I Do Not Have My New TIE Yet?

This is one of the most common concerns.

Your residence authorisation and the physical card are not exactly the same thing.

The TIE is the document that proves your immigration status, but the expiry date printed on your previous card does not, by itself, mean that you have lost an authorisation that has been renewed or granted.

For example, in various renewal procedures, submitting the application within the applicable deadline extends the validity of the previous authorisation until a decision is issued.

Once you have received a favourable renewal decision, your immigration status derives from that authorisation, even if you are still waiting to receive the new physical card.

It is therefore important to distinguish between:

having a valid residence authorisation

and

having the physical card documenting that authorisation already issued.

Can I Travel If I Do Not Have My New TIE Yet?

Particular caution is advisable here.

Having a favourable decision does not automatically mean that you can leave Spain and re-enter without difficulty if your previous TIE has expired.

In certain circumstances, you may need to apply for an authorisation to return (autorización de regreso) before travelling.

The autorización de regreso is requested from the Police and, depending on your circumstances, you will need to provide evidence of the reason for and necessity of your journey.

If you are waiting to obtain your TIE and need to travel, we recommend taking, among other documents:

• your valid passport;
• the favourable decision granting or renewing your authorisation;
• your travel tickets or booking confirmation;
• the documents required for the autorización de regreso application; and
• if the problem is that you have been unable to obtain a fingerprint appointment, it may also be useful to provide screenshots or other evidence of your attempts to obtain one.

An autorización de regreso is not automatically available in every situation, so it is important to check beforehand whether you meet the applicable requirements.

And remember: if you are planning to travel while waiting for your new TIE, check your situation before leaving Spain.

What Documents Do I Need for My Fingerprint Appointment?

Although additional documents may be required depending on your authorisation and individual circumstances, for a standard fingerprint appointment we recommend preparing:

Form EX-17, completed and signed.

👉 Download Form EX-17

Your original valid passport.

Your favourable decision — bring a printed copy of the complete decision.

Modelo 790 Código 012 fee form, correctly completed, together with proof of payment.

👉 Download and complete Modelo 790 Código 012

The fee can be paid at a bank. For example, you can take the form to a branch of CaixaBank, Santander or BBVA and pay it at the counter. Keep the stamped copy or corresponding proof of payment.

• A recent passport-size colour photograph, with a white background and your face fully visible.
• A recent certificado or volante de empadronamiento, particularly to prove your address or if you have recently moved. As a practical recommendation, try to ensure that it was issued within the previous three months.
• Proof of your appointment, either printed or available on your phone.
• Your previous TIE, if you are renewing, changing your status or obtaining a new card and still have it.

Additional documents may be required in some cases. For example, where the card results from certain visas or initial authorisations, evidence of entry into Spain may be relevant.

For this reason, before attending your appointment, always check the specific requirements applicable to your authorisation and the police station where your appointment will take place.

Do Not Confuse the Fingerprint Appointment with Submitting Your Immigration Application

This distinction is very important.

Many immigration authorisations, renewals and changes of status can be submitted electronically, in person or through an authorised representative where permitted by law.

However, the TIE is issued after the authorisation has been granted and requires the cardholder to attend in person.

Therefore, if you already have a favourable decision and are looking for a fingerprint appointment, you do not need to submit your immigration application again. You are now at the stage of obtaining the physical document that proves an authorisation that has already been granted.

Our Recommendation: Do Not Wait to Start Looking for an Appointment

If your authorisation has already been granted and you need to obtain a TIE, start looking for an appointment as soon as possible.

In particular:

• complete your empadronamiento if you have not already done so;
• check the deadline stated in your favourable decision;
• check which police stations in your province provide the service;
• prepare Form EX-17;
• complete and pay the Modelo 790 Código 012 fee;
• prepare the rest of your documents;
• keep evidence if you cannot find an available appointment; and
• check the official appointment system regularly.

That way, as soon as an appointment becomes available, you will have everything ready to complete the procedure.

The information on this page is indicative and updated in line with current regulations. Timing largely depends on the competent authority.