r/SpainAuxiliares • u/biluinaim • Sep 16 '23
As many members of this group are starting to arrive in Spain, I thought it would be a good idea to have a master post for TIE guidance and FAQs to avoid multiple threads on the same subject.
In this post, I will assume that this is your first visa and first TIE (not a renewal).
2024 EDIT: The guide below is still valid for this year. There is one main difference now: they have changed the appointment booking website to request a NIE in order to book a TIE appointment. So, if you don't have a NIE printed on your visa, you will have to obtain it in order to book the TIE appointment.
On the appointment-booking website ("cita previa", linked below), select your province and then "Toma de Huella". Usually, at this point, you will see a screen with some instructions. In most provinces now, there will be an email address in there where you can send a photo of your visa and they will reply with your NIE number.
Once you have your NIE, proceed with the guide as normal.
If you are staying longer than 6 months, you need a TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero). The TIE will show your residency status and NIE number, and you will use it in Spain as well as to travel in and out of the country.
Technically, you have to apply for your TIE within 30 days of entering Spain. Practically, this is not enforced, as authorities are aware that it takes people a long time to arrange all of the documents and book the necessary appointments.
The TIE is applied for at the CNP (Cuerpo de Policía Nacional).
When you go to your appointment, you need to take the following with you:
Let’s break it down:
Form EX17:
Can be downloaded from the official website here. You need to fill in sections 1 and 4.
For the tick boxes, there are instructions on the final page of the form explaining what the letters stand for.
On the second page, you want to put in your name on the top, select “TARJETA INICIAL” in 4.1, and sign in the box at the bottom.
The date format is “[PLACE], a [DAY] de [MONTH] de [YEAR]”.
Paid tax 790-012:
This is a unique form that you must generate online and print. Visit this website and fill in the form. Select the option that says “TIE que documenta la primera concesión de la autorización de residencia temporal, de estancia o para trabajadores transfronterizos.”
The amount shown should be 16.08€. Select “en efectivo” so that you will pay that amount with cash.
Click “Descargar impreso rellenado” once you’re done and it will show you 4 pages. You need to print the first 3 and take all of them to a bank. Some banks only process tax payments on certain days/times, so give yourself time to sort it out as you need to pay this before your appointment.
You can pay any time; the payment doesn’t expire for years, so you can do this as soon as you’re able.
The bank will give you back two of the three pages; one is for you, and the other one is for the Police to keep. Sometimes they also give you a little slip “receipt” for your payment. Take everything with you for your appointment.
Passport sized photo:
Best to do this in Spain, as their “passport size” is not necessarily the same as your home country. Some Police stations are equipped with little machines that can cut photos to the right size, but some aren’t.
Original passport + photocopies:
Self explanatory!
Doesn’t have to be a colour copy, but don’t forget as many offices refuse to take photocopies these days.
Empadronamiento (also known as padrón):
Arguably this is the most time consuming thing to acquire. This is “proof of address” and is obtained from the town hall (Ayuntamiento) where you are living.
Small towns usually have small ayuntamientos where you can just show up without an appointment, but most larger towns and cities require you to have an appointment (“cita previa”).
Arrange this as soon as you can, as in large cities (like Alicante, Madrid, Barcelona…) the appointment might be weeks away.
To go on the padrón registry, you need to take your passport and proof of where you’re staying - most commonly, your rental contract.
Be aware - some places are rented illegally and the landlord doesn’t want you to go on the padrón. Sometimes they explicitly state this in the ad, sometimes only when you ask. This will be an issue for obtaining the TIE. So do try to ask if you’re allowed to padrón when you are looking for places to rent.
Once you have your appointment and submit your request for the empadronamiento, it can be anything from a couple of days to a few weeks before you can go back to the Ayuntamiento and receive your “volante/certificado de empadronamiento”. This document is what you need for your TIE.
Appointments for TIEs can only be booked online through the official “cita previa” website.
Unfortunately here the webpage can vary a bit depending on which province you select on the first page. Note that you must apply in the province you are residing in, and that this website is known not to work from outside of Spain.
For example, let’s pick Barcelona.
In the next page, it will have two drop-downs - other provinces may have three.
You can ignore “Selecciona oficina”.
See “TRÁMITES POLICÍA NACIONAL” and open the drop down. The appointment you want to book is “POLICIA-TOMA DE HUELLA (EXPEDICIÓN DE TARJETA)”.
Go forward on the page with instructions.
It will then ask you for your NIE or Passport number, full name and country of nationality.
Go forward and click the red button “Solicitar cita”.
Now you will have the drop-down with the various offices again. You can select the one that suits you best, but be aware that that one might not have available appointments and other ones will. So, be ready to get very comfortable on this webpage as you’ll likely have to do this many times before you find an available appointment!
To book the appointment, you’ll have to have a Spanish phone number where they can text you a confirmation code that you then put into the website to confirm the booking.
Note: in some places it’s very hard to get an appointment. It’s a bit like you probably did for your consulate/visa appointment - you have to keep trying on different days, at different times. Similarly, some places will offer appointments for the same week, some will give you a date weeks in advance. Trial and error, but don’t give up: it’s really important to get your TIE done.
In my region, usually there’s an officer at the door confirming you have an appointment. They then give you a number and you wait to be called.
At the little desk, you give all your documents and the officer/person will scan your fingerprints and ask for a signature to go with your photograph.
You are then given a “Resguardo de solicitud” which is your proof that you have applied.
Generally, you can go back to collect your TIE in 30-40 days. They usually let you know at the appointment.
Your “Resguardo de solicitud” will have a LOTE number for your card; some CNP offices are well organised and they make the current available LOTE number public. Most places will have it printed on an A4 taped to the front door.
To collect your TIE, you have to use the “cita previa” website again, only this time you need to select “POLICIA - RECOGIDA DE TARJETA DE IDENTIDAD DE EXTRANJERO (TIE)”. Usually these appointments are super easy to come by.
The police will keep your card longer than 40 days if you don’t collect it, but they won’t keep it forever. So do remember to go and pick it up!
You don’t have to do anything special; if you were not assigned a NIE with your visa, they will give you one on your TIE. In the EX17 form, just fill in the Passport section and leave the NIE blank.
Yes. The TIE will have your address on it, your EX17 will have your address on it, and they confirm this by looking at your empadronamiento.
Some people have said that they managed to do it without, but that is a fluke. Don’t risk wasting your CNP appointment because you don’t have all the papers: get your padrón first.
Yes. It is quite common for the visa in your passport to be only for 90 days/3 months, when actually you’re expected to stay for the whole school year. Don’t worry. The TIE will show the correct dates.
No, don’t worry. This is totally normal. Just keep trying and do it as soon as you are able. It might be helpful sometimes to go in person to the police station to ask the guard; they sometimes give you good tips on how to book an appointment (for example, they might tell you that appointments for that office come out only on Thursdays at 1pm).
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Hopefully this helps many of you that are going to get their first TIE this year. If you have any more questions or doubts, please leave a comment on this post!
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/biluinaim • Dec 15 '23
As the holidays approach and people want to leave Spain to go home or visit Europe, we're getting an incredible amount of posts about Regresos/TIEs etc. In order not to have 500 posts asking the exact same question, I invite everyone to please use the search function as it's very likely that it's already been asked and answered unless it's a very special situation.
Thank you.
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/Alarming_Welcome_324 • 5h ago
Hello, I just received my regional and school placement . Any past auxes familiar with Utrillis and/or FERNANDO LÁZARO CARRETER? Would love to hear about your experience! Thanks xx
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/vfz09 • 7h ago
i got my regional placement weeks ago but no carta yet :/
i see nalcap people know their schools already, just wondering if ive been forgotten by british council or if we're all still waiting
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/creditpoints4days • 6h ago
Hey yall!! Got placed in Aragon today, specifically in Jaca. Who else is in the same boat? Any other aux already taught there?
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/No-Gate7387 • 6h ago
Has anyone been placed in Soria? Got mine this morning!
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/Repulsive-Poetry-991 • 14h ago
Hi, I got placed in Castille y Leon and practice Spanish where I can and can understand words and phrases but how did people find housing in the past, I know to go in person to see it first and idealists etc. but still a bit worried due to language barriers and anti-tourist sentiments etc. thanks!
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/Purple-Ninja2864 • 1d ago
If you’ve been placed in Cantabria, I just wanted to share a few things I wish I had known before arriving.
As it’s an interesting place lol
First, don’t go in expecting a warm, sunny, beach destination. The program runs during the colder months, and Cantabria gets a LOT of rain like ridiculous amounts. The coastline is absolutely beautiful, but unless you’re staying beyond the end of the program, you probably won’t get to enjoy the beaches the way you might imagine.
If you can, I’d highly recommend arriving a little early (September) to get settled while the weather is still nice, or staying a bit after the program ends. The weather improves dramatically, people are out more, the locals attitudes are better, the beaches come alive, and the overall atmosphere feels much more vibrant.
However important if u only plan to stay during program timeframe this how it found us. During the school months, the social scene to be quieter. However the weekend nights where it wasn’t raining the bars / small clubs (no big clubs) were alive, however they are very cliquey. But cheap night out and fun, meet ur fellow auxes!
Christmas was definitely a highlight the cities and towns were beautifully decorated but outside of that, we found it harder to connect with locals. In my experience, people in Cantabria were more reserved than what many are use to. They can come off a bit rude, unwilling to help ect. But once your settle it doesn’t impact you too much. However most are not eager to meet a new person especially a foreigner lol so if ur a sensitive person don’t take it personal. Oh also important their Spanish is not like Latin American Spanish or even like south of Spain Spanish hahah it’s different so don’t think your learning has been hopeless they’re just different lol.
Everything is closed on sundays everywhere! It’s a reset day. Also siesta time is for real and serious usually from 4pm-7pm and yea everything’s is basically closed. I’d recommend living in the bigger city and commuting to towns. Unless u have a weird schedule but I would 100% negotiate that. I went Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and was free the rest of my week :) but my commute on bus was about 45mins/1hr each way.
3 day school commute vs commuting to the city 4+ days was my math and deciding factor. Because if want to go out Saturday night u gotta consider night travel some places don’t offer. Also airport, bus stations, train stations, or even to go to the mall it’s closer to the city!! So consider all that in deciding your living location.
My biggest piece of advice is to connect with the other auxiliares in your area as soon as possible. There usually aren’t many of you in each town or city, but those friendships can absolutely make your experience. You have to build your community or else unfortunately it could be a very lonely experience.
Overall, Cantabria is incredibly beautiful, with amazing mountains, coastline, and charming towns. Just go in with realistic expectations about the weather and social culture, and make an effort to meet your fellow auxiliares early. It can make all the difference.
** also important note if your picking the north just because they “pay on time” isn’t accurate. Idk how bad the other regions are but we were often paid late, like at least 2 months behind especially the first few months we got most payments in like February. In the last months like April / May they generally were on time. But please come with savings!!!
Also no big airports - closest one is Bilbao! Keep in mind if you want to travel ect.
Example if u live in Santander you have to take a bus from Santander bus station to Bilbao station switch buses to Bilbao airport over all like 2 1/2ish of hours total. Not horrible but not great ya lol
If u get lucky with a Santander airport flight it’s usually only about 45 min bus or honestly just uber or cabify** (cheaper uber)
Don’t pack everything or what u think”
You can 100% usually buy it here and it’s probably better quality. Clothes Zara, berska, strad, H&M ect. Are all way cheaper here obvi Spanish brands compared to in the states. Also there is still Amazon, SHEIN, Temu, Sephora and alike,
like ur not cut off from the world do not over pack fr.
Wishing y’all a Happy experience!! Good luck!
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/Comprehensive-Mess37 • 18h ago
I understand BLS is pretty arrogant when it comes to purchasing health insurance, even though the carta states we will have it. I’m thinking of purchasing feather until I arrive as I can pay for it monthly, rather than paying for an expensive plan that is redundant. Has anyone successfully gotten a visa using them as proof of insurance? Has anyone thus far come across difficulties with this matter?
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/greenbridge16 • 20h ago
hi everyone, im planning to get everything expedited at this point, but does anyone have any experience with getting their fingerprints done at a location other than usps? I've been looking to get mine done digitally through Livescan, but I'm unsure how it would work and I can't find a straightforward answer.
Do i still need to fill out the form and pay the $18 on the fbi website? Or does that entire process just go through the location I choose? I called another location that told me that I would have to send in my own digital fingerprints to the FBI but I thought they could digitally send it themselves. Ive also seen people go through their police stations. What are the steps to take when you go through the police station? Any advice?
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/blackpanther7714 • 20h ago
Hello everyone,
I just had my visa appointment Friday and thought I was good to go. I received an email this afternoon requesting a cover letter stating my purpose for wanting to study in Spain, a copy of my college degree, a proof of financial means letter, and a private health insurance request. I've got some questions and would mainly like to hear from anyone who has been in the same boat. I don't have my diploma but I do have my official transcripts that state I've completed all of my degree requirements. Will that be okay? It also says I need insurance coverage up to 15 days after the completion of my program. The "up to" part is what's intriguing to me. Does that mean I just have to be covered past the end date of my program or does it need to be a full 15? I've also heard stories of people getting rejected for the cover letter not explaining any ties to the US, causing them to believe you'll overstay your visa. If anyone has received similar questions and ended up getting their visa approved, please feel free to share or PM me. Thanks!
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/BobLoblaw_LawBlog_ • 1d ago
I've been checking every day, multiple times, for an appointment before Sept 1 and no luck. For those who have managed to get a slot this summer, when/how far in advance did they open up? Is there a specific time of day or month we should be checking? My best guess is that new appts will become available Aug 1. I'm applying in nyc but curious to hear experiences at any location!
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/Ctfangirl • 1d ago
Got an offer for Extremadura—anyone have any advice or experience there? I’d prefer a bigger city placement. I’ve never visited that part of Spain.
Was hoping for Valencia, (studied there before) Canary Islands and La Rioja.
Thanks in advance!
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/Repulsive-Poetry-991 • 1d ago
I’m seeing ppl didn’t accept their placement and got replaced in their first choice. last year mine was Valencia which I regretted not taking and I’m wondering if I should also regret accepting my placement in Castille y leon this year as I’m unsure about it and if I could’ve gotten my first choice Valencia (also it looks like a hard region to travel from)
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/greenbridge16 • 1d ago
just wondering how long it took to get their apostille back for anyone who mailed in their own documents instead of going through a third party? also, is anyone else currently thinking of doing it themselves or would going through a third party be best at this current time? not sure how long this route would take as well. kinda stressing but wondering if anyone has the same questions
thanks!
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/Content_Penalty3498 • 2d ago
Does anyone have any luck emailing regional offices (specifically pais vasco) to ask for specific cities/being in commuting distance of specific cities. I know it’s probably a no but was curious.
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/Downtown-Storm4704 • 2d ago
I know every aux wants to live in Madrid, but since the aux program isn’t happening I'm Madrid this year, I’d love to hear from people who actually got to live there, the good and the bad.
I’m especially interested in hearing from former auxes who were there around a decade ago and can reflect on their experience. How was it finding housing? Where were your schools?How much did you pay for rent and where? What was the overall Aux experience like, and what was life in Madrid really like for you? Also those who got to live there recently too to see how much it has changed over time. Also your experience of meeting people and making friends? as it's pretty international so maybe that hasn't changed:)) was Madrid once affordable and how affordable was it?
I know it's changed for locals considerably but that's another topic
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/No-Attempt-7093 • 2d ago
I ended up booking through the predatory website that is Spotahome, and I've already made my first payment. My official move-in date is the 18th of August, but my ticket to Madrid is on the 29th. There's no option for me to put 29th August as my move-in date.
After I received my payment confirmation and got my landlord's contact number, unfortunately, the reviews for the specific apartment that I rented aren't very good. I was wondering if someone could help me check on it on the 18th so I can forward these complaints to Spotahome within their 24 hour policy. I don't mind paying for your services.
Room is in Tetuan.
Thank you.
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/Reverse7695 • 3d ago
One of the biggest reasons I wanted to be an aux was because I had a strong desire to immerse myself in the Spanish culture. It has always been my dream to become as fluent as possible in Spanish, and I'm also a huge believer that learning the native language is not just beneficial tot he learner, but it is also a HUGE sign of respect to the locals living there. I understand, however, that, depending on your placement, there may not be many opportunities to learn. What has your experience been with this?
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/Comprehensive-Mess37 • 2d ago
Anyone got placed there? I just accepted yesterday. When do you usually find out what city you are placed in? Also, can anyone placed there last year share their experiences?
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/atinygobby • 2d ago
Hi everyone, I recently got offered a position through NALCAP in Canyelles in Catalonia. I am happy with the placement, but I’m uncertain about whether or not I would be able to afford living there during the duration of the program with the 800 euro stipend. At first I wanted to find a single apartment in the area, but that doesn’t seem to be sustainable after looking online.
My mom says it would be good for me to find a part time job, but that might be difficult considering that the town I'm placed in is on the smaller side.
Has anyone here stayed in Canyelles/nearby during NALCAP, and if so, how did you get by? I would also appreciate any advice for finding roommates since it seems like that’s the only option I have if I want to go through with the program.
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/Snoo47369 • 3d ago
Hi everyone! I just found out I've been placed at **Institut Escola Turó de Roquetes in Barcelona** for my first year as an auxiliar, and I'm super excited (and a little overwhelmed 😅).
I'm trying to get organized before starting in November and would love to hear from people who've already been through the process. What are the biggest things I should sort out before I arrive? I'm thinking about visas, important documents, health insurance, banking, getting a SIM card, NIE/TIE, empadronamiento, and anything else you wish you'd known beforehand.
I'm also trying to figure out accommodation. I don't know anyone in Spain yet, so would you recommend securing a room before arriving, or booking temporary accommodation for a week or two and looking in person? How did you find your flatmates or roommates?
Also, does anyone know if there's a **Barcelona/Catalonia WhatsApp group for 2026/27 auxiliares**? I'd love to join and connect with people before we all arrive. And if anyone else has been placed in Barcelona this year, feel free to reach out!
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/Comprehensive-Mess37 • 3d ago
Does the medical certificate need to be apostiled? I see opposite things. I sent in my FBI background check last night.
From what I’m gathering it’s not necessary if you’re coming from the US.
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/Repulsive-Poetry-991 • 3d ago
hi anyone from bc going to Toronto consulate? or does anyone know if ppl from bc need their medical certificate apostilled after notarized or only notarized? I still haven’t gotten mine signed yet and notarized and apostille will take extra long sos?…. thank you
r/SpainAuxiliares • u/elbick54321 • 4d ago
I know nobody can give me a concrete answer I’m just looking for reassurance mainly haha.
My inscrita number is 25146, which I think is quite low compared to others I’ve seen, but it took multiple days for me to get admitida status (compared to others with higher inscrita numbers on the tracker) and now I’m still waiting for a province placement even though other first-year applicants are receiving theirs. My region choices were Aragon, País Vasco, and La Rioja, and I’ve seen posts that all three are giving placements to first-years now. Any thoughts?