How to Get Your NIE in Madrid for the First Time (2019)

After arriving in Madrid, you will notice that your visa is actually only good for 90 days and you’re thinking, “but wait! I will be here the whole year! What do I do?!” The answer is that you need to get a TIE or a tarjeta de identidad extranjera, which is basically your foreign identity card and your visa (which will be good until June 30th).

*Important: Apply for your TIE within 30 days of entering Spain*

If you were in Madrid last year and you need to renew your TIE, click here.

If you were in Madrid last year and want to prepare for your fingerprint appointment, click here.

How to Apply for your TIE for the First Time

Step 1 // Book an appointment.

Click HERE for an appointment.

Select ‘Madrid’ and select the option ‘Policia–Toma de Huellas (Expedición de Tarjeta)…’. Click ‘aceptar’. This new page is telling you what you need for your appointment, which I will get to in a minute. Scroll down and click ‘entrar’.
Enter your information (you can use your passport number OR the TIE number, which is listed on the visa in your passport). Enter your last name (apellido) and first name (primer nombre), your country (EEUU for USA) and the date that your visa will expire- sometime in December probably.
Hit enter
On the new page, click the button that says ‘solicitar cita’. It will say “Ave Poblados…’. Click ‘siguiente’.
Enter your telefono (mobile number), and your email (twice). Click ‘siguiente’.
Choose an appointment. BEFORE EXITING, MAKE SURE YOU RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION E-MAIL. It’s always a good idea to screen shot the confirmation and send it to yourself.

Step 2 // Make sure you are ’empadronado’.

To be ’empadronado’ means that you are listed on the city’s registry. It is a way for the city to know who is living where, etc.

If you are not empadronado, make an appointment ASAP.

Click HERE to make an appointment.

Click ‘pedir cita previa’. Under ‘tipo de servicio’, choose ‘attencion a la ciudania’. Under ‘gestion’, click ‘Padron’. Under ‘oficina’, choose an area. If you are pressed for time, look for one with an appointment soon, otherwise choose the area closest to you.
Choose and date and time
Enter your information and click ‘continuar’. Check that everything is correct and click ‘crear cita’.
On the day of your appointment, bring: your application (click here), passport and a copy, your house contract that lists you as a renter. You can also bring a bill that has your name on it. If you DON’T have a contract, you can click here to find out what you need to do.
Go to your appointment and they will give you a ‘volante’, which is a document that says you are ’empadronado’. Don’t lose this.

Step 3 // Download, fill out, and print the EX-17.

Click HERE to print the EX-17. It’s always good to bring two copies, in case you do something wrong. Fill in the entire first box and the third box. Leave the second box blank. Under part 4.1 (Tipo Documento), check “documento inicial”. Under part 4.2 (Situacion en Espana), check off the first one: estancia por estudios, investigacion, etc etc. Date the document and sign it. Don’t worry about the other pages, but bring them to the appointment.

Step 4 // Pay the tax (or, tasa) at the bank.

Click HERE for the link to the tax document.

Click ‘rellenar formulario y descargar’
Fill in your information at the top.
When it asks you to choose an option, choose “TIE que documenta la primera concesión de la autorización de residencia temporal, de estancia o para trabajadores transfronterizos”
Click ‘efectivo’ to pay in cash and leave the IBAN section blank. At the bottom, it should say 15.76 Euros (as of August 2019).
Click ‘descargar impreso rellenado’, which will allow you to download it and print it.
Take the 3 pages to the closest bank (with your passport) and ask to pay the tasa. You will need to pay in cash, and you often need to pay before 2 pm. They will take one copy for them and then stamp the other two copies and give them back to you. SAVE THESE for your appointment. *If the bank tells you that you can’t do it, go to another bank! I usually have good luck with Santander.

Step 5 // Collect your documents.

Proof of your appointment (the email they should have sent, which is your ‘justificante’). If not, take the screenshot I told you to take.
Your completed EX-17 form. See above. Be safe and bring an extra copy.
Original passport
2 copies of your passport (some people say it’s a good idea to bring a copy of ALL pages, but they probably won’t use any page except the picture page and visa page).
2 copies of the visa in your passport.
2 recent passport-sized photos (you can get these in small photo booths in the metro stations (Lavapies, Sol and Plaza de Espana definitely have them). They are only like 5 Euros.
Original certificate of residency (called Empadronamiento). See above.
Copy of the certificate of residency (called Empadronamiento). See above.
Receipt of tax payment from the bank (2 pages). See above.
Copy of the health insurance policy you have from your auxiliar job, or your private insurance if you are not an auxiliar
Document that certifies your reason for being in Spain (if you are an auxiliar, this is your carta or the document they sent you with the information about your school. If not, this could be an acceptance letter from your university.

Step 6 // Go to your appointment!

Go to the appointment, be prepared to wait in line, and then get your fingerprints taken. They will give you a document (like a receipt) saying you were there. DO NOT LOSE THIS! You need it to pick up your TIE.

Once they take your fingerprints (which they do at this appointment), they usually will tell you to come back within 30 days to pick up your TIE. Bring your passport and the document they gave you at your appointment. You do not need an appointment to pick up the card.

FAQ

What if I need to travel after my original visa expires, but before I get my TIE?

You will need a ‘regreso’, which is a document that allows you to travel outside of Spain and then come back in without your actual card. Click here to learn how to get this document.

What if I want to stay in Spain 2 year?

You will need to renew your TIE for another year. Click here to learn how to do this.

Is this a big pain in the a$$?

Yes, but not impossible. Hang in there!