TIE Card Spain (Foreigner Identity Card)
US citizens who have a Spanish visa facilitating a stay of six months or longer must apply for a TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) card to prove their legal status in the country.
If you’re unsure of if you need a TIE Card or how to get one, Total Law can help guide you. Call our team of expert immigration solicitors today on +1 844 290 6312 or contact us online to learn more.
What is the TIE in Spain?
A TIE Card, sometimes called a foreigner identity card, is a legal document that demonstrates the legal status of a foreigner resident in Spain for the duration of their stay. It is a residency card required for all foreign nationals who have a valid visa for a stay of six months or over in the country.
Physically, a TIE Card is a credit card sized document featuring a photograph of the holder, their personal data, details of their residence permit permissions and their NIE (Numero de Identidad de Extranjero).
It is unique to the holder and is non-transferable to anyone else, but may also detail any children aged under 18 or disabled and dependent upon them.
Page Contents
- What is the TIE in Spain?
- Difference between NIE and TIE
- Who has to apply for a TIE in Spain?
- Requirements for applying for the TIE in Spain
- How to apply for the TIE in Spain?
- Validity and Renewal of the TIE card in Spain
- What obligations do TIE holders have?
- What if My TIE Card is Lost, Damaged or Stolen?
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Difference between NIE and TIE
A TIE Card holds details of the holder’s NIE on it, but they are not the same thing. The NIE is a unique code identifying the foreign national, sometimes known as a foreigner identification number.
If required, Spanish Authorities can look up this number and find more information on their legal status on their systems.
Both a NIE and TIE are unique to the holder and cannot be shared with anyone else.
Who has to apply for a TIE in Spain?
The only people exempt from applying from a Spain foreigner identity card are those who:
- Hold a visa for a stay of less than six months in Spain
- Are visa-exempt in Spain (ie. are European Union (EU) nationals, European Economic Area (EEA) nationals)
This means that US citizens, who are non-EU citizens, must apply for a foreigner’s identity card while in Spain. This is, in effect, their residency card.
Requirements for applying for the TIE in Spain
To apply for the TIE long-term residence permit in Spain, applicants must demonstrate their eligibility through the provision of the following documents:
- A valid passport
- A valid visa
- All the supporting documents that were required for the processing of the visa
- A completed EX23 form (the TIE application form)
- A completed ‘Modelo 790 form code 012’ (this is essentially a receipt for the payment of the application card fee)
- 2x passport sized photographs
As with the application for the visa, all the documents must be presented with a certified Spanish translation if they are not already in Spanish.
Applicants for a TIE long term residence permit do not need a NIE number. If they don’t already have one, they may apply for it at the same time.
If you need guidance on supporting documentation or translations, call +1 844 290 6312 today to speak to a Total Law immigration expert.
How to apply for the TIE in Spain?
The application process for a TIE Card is dependent on when the applicant registered as a resident in Spain (ie when they were granted a visa for a period of six months or over):
Foreign Nationals who Registered as Resident After 6 July 2020
If you registered as a resident after 6th July 2020, you must attend the relevant local authority for immigration in your area. This is usually either a local police station or immigration office.
- Collect supporting documents – applicants must ensure they have all of the documents required for the TIE application as well as certified translations as necessary
- Schedule an immigration appointment – an immigration appointment must be booked within one month of arrival in Spain, even if the appointment itself doesn’t fall into that one month window. In some cases it may take a few weeks to receive an appointment, but most of the time it is just days
- Attend immigration appointment – the applicant must attend their immigration appointment on time and with all of their supporting documentation. A letter confirming application will be issued – if stopped by authorities and documents requested at any time, this letter may be provided as proof
- Wait for TIE Card – a TIE Card with NIE reference on it may be posted or the applicant may collect it from their local police station or immigration office. It will have the same validity as a residence card permit for foreign nationals and should be presented to authorities whenever requested
Foreign Nationals who Registered as Resident Before 6 July 2020
Foreign nationals who registered as a Spanish resident ahead of 6th July 2020 do not need to apply for a TIE Card. Instead, they can use their green certificate to prove their legal status and immigration rights.
If they choose to, they can exchange the green certificate for a new TIE card – and such a switch is often recommended as it is a physically more durable option than the paper certificates. This application can be filed as per the standard application procedure above, but there is no deadline for it to be exchanged and no legal requirement.
Unsure of where your residency sits or need support applying for a TIE Card? Total Law are on hand to help on +1 844 290 6312.
Validity and Renewal of the TIE card in Spain
If an applicant has been resident in Spain for less than five years, they will be issued with a TIE Card valid for five years or less (dependent on their visa duration); this is known as a ‘temporary TIE’.
After five years of residence in Spain, TIE card holders may apply for a permanent TIE. This is valid for 10 years and can be applied for before the original TIE expires.
Once a TIE residence permit is expiring, it must be renewed within three months of its expiration date. This is done at the local police station or immigration office, depending on locale. It is always recommended to renew your TIE card ahead of it expiring.
For advice on TIE card validity and renewals, call +1 844 290 6312 to speak to a specialist at Total Law.
What obligations do TIE holders have?
TIE Card holders are obliged to continue living in Spain legally and to meet all of the conditions of their original visa permission. If for whatever reason this is no longer the case, their TIE residence permit will be deemed invalid.
If your circumstances change while in Spain and you need a visa transfer or advice on your options, seek legal assistance. The Total Law team are available for consultation on +1 844 290 6312 to talk through your situation.
What if My TIE Card is Lost, Damaged or Stolen?
A TIE Card must be in pristine physical condition to be considered valid. This means that if the card is lost, damaged or stolen, it must be replaced.
In the case of a TIE card being lost or stolen, the holder has one month from the date of its disappearance to replace it; following the same process as the original application. Holders are advised that this is not a renewal, and so the expiry date of the replacement TIE will remain the same as the previous.
How Can Total Law Help?
Total Law are a firm of pure immigration specialists; working daily to help travellers gain the relevant visas, work permits and residence permits they need to vacation, live, work and study around the world.
Supporting applicants through applications and appeals, we maximize your chances of application success utilizing our unbeatable expert legal knowledge and strategic relationships.
Join thousands of other Americans in enjoying our specialist guidance and ensure you make the journey to Spain as easily and stress-free as possible. Call our team now on +1 844 290 6312 or fill out the online contact form, to take the first step today.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
A NIE and TIE are not the same thing. However, if a green certificate holder is resident in Spain legally, they may transfer their NIE from the paper certificate to a TIE Card following the standard application process.
Applicants may leave Spain while waiting for a TIE card to be processed; however, they are advised not to leave for a long period of time and only for justifiable reasons. If you’re unsure of the validity of your circumstances for travelling out of the country, call +1 844 290 6312 to speak to a Total Law specialist today.
A temporary TIE card allows legal residence for a period of five years, and a permanent TIE for ten years. However, holders are advised that they remain subject to their visa conditions and so must not overstay the stated duration on their original travel permission.
No. A TIE Card is simply an internal residence permit and does not count as a form of identification. Foreign nationals must continue to present a valid passport or legal travel document to identify themselves.
The TIE card application form issued by Spanish authorities is known as the EX23 form.
Yes. The United States is not part of the European Union and so American citizens are considered ‘third nation citizens’ for travel to Europe or any EU member states.
If you don’t already have a NIE, you may apply for one with your initial TIE card application and Spanish authorities will designate you a unique number.
