Parastoo Legal Group
The TIE Card in Spain: Everything MENA Residents Need to Know
What is the TIE, how do you get one, and what do you do when it needs to be renewed?
The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is the physical residence card issued to non-EU nationals who hold a Spanish residency permit. It is the document you carry and present in Spain as proof of your legal status. For MENA residents of Spain, understanding the TIE — how to obtain it, renew it, and what to do if it is lost or stolen — is essential.
What Is the TIE?
The TIE is a biometric card (similar to a national ID card) that shows your name, photograph, NIE number, and the type and expiry date of your residency permit. You must apply for a TIE within 30 days of entering Spain on your long-stay visa. The card is issued by the Spanish National Police.
How to Apply for Your TIE
You must book an appointment at your local police station (Comisaría de Policía) or Oficina de Extranjería through the Spanish government's online appointment system. Required documents: completed EX-23 form, passport and valid visa, passport-format photographs, and payment of the TIE fee (approximately EUR 16). We book appointments and accompany clients to their first TIE appointment.
TIE Validity Periods
The TIE is valid for the same period as your underlying residency authorisation. Initial Non-Lucrative and Digital Nomad Visa TIEs are valid for 1 year. After renewal, they are valid for 2 years, then 4 years. Long-term residency TIEs are valid for 5 years and renewable indefinitely.
Renewing Your TIE
You must apply to renew your TIE (and underlying residency authorisation) within 60 days before expiry. Failure to renew on time can result in a gap in your legal status. We manage all renewals for our clients, submitting applications well in advance and monitoring expiry dates.
Lost or Stolen TIE
If your TIE is lost or stolen, you must report it immediately to the Spanish National Police (denuncia de pérdida o robo) and then apply for a replacement. We assist clients with replacement TIE applications and advise on interim documentation (a comisaria receipt) that can be used while awaiting the new card.