Spain is introducing a new system for automatically allocating appointments for Foreigner Identity Cards (TIEs), in a move designed to make it easier for foreign residents to complete the immigration process and reduce difficulties securing fingerprinting appointments.
The Directorate-General of the Police has confirmed the expansion of the pilot scheme, which began operating in additional provinces on Friday, 9 October, following earlier trials elsewhere in the country. The system is intended to remove the need for eligible applicants to repeatedly search the online appointment platform after receiving a favourable decision on their residence or stay application.
However, the scheme remains in its testing phase and will initially cover approximately 10% of cases resolved from 8 October, according to a communication from the National Police's Documentation Division. The authorities will assess the results before deciding whether to extend the procedure to more applicants.
How will the automatic TIE appointment system work?
Under the new procedure, eligible immigration applications that receive a favourable decision can trigger the automatic allocation of an appointment for fingerprinting and the issuance of a TIE. Instead of having to find an available appointment themselves, applicants selected for the scheme will receive their appointment details directly through two channels:
- A text message (SMS).
- An email containing the date and time of the allocated appointment.
The National Police says the process operates automatically through the existing appointment application, without human intervention. The initiative is intended to simplify access to appointments at a time when foreign residents have reported difficulties finding available slots through the conventional online system.
The shortage of appointments has also been associated with the resale of booking slots. Spain's Interior Ministry has previously reported investigations into networks accused of using automated systems to obtain appointments and resell them to people struggling to secure a slot.
The new system is being tested as an alternative to the existing booking procedure, although it does not yet cover all eligible applications.
What happens if you do not receive an automatic appointment?
Foreign nationals who have not received an automatic appointment within 20 days of notification of their favourable immigration decision must request one through the traditional online booking system. The existing procedure will therefore remain in place for applicants who are not included in the initial rollout or who do not receive an automatic allocation.
Receiving a favourable residence decision does not necessarily mean an appointment will be arranged automatically, given that the pilot initially covers only around 10% of eligible cases. Applicants should follow the instructions accompanying their immigration decision and check the relevant authorities' guidance rather than assume they will automatically receive a date.
Will the system apply to Spain's extraordinary regularisation process?
The National Police's communication does not specifically address applications submitted under Spain's 2026 extraordinary regularisation process. Although the pilot covers a proportion of cases resolved from 8 October, the document does not identify every administrative procedure included in the scheme.
It is therefore unclear whether beneficiaries of the extraordinary regularisation process will receive automatic fingerprinting appointments as a general rule. The absence of a specific reference does not mean these applicants are excluded. Those affected should follow the instructions provided with their decision and seek clarification from the relevant authorities if necessary.
Where should applicants report technical problems?
The Directorate-General of the Police has clarified that its Documentation Units are not authorised to resolve technical problems relating to the automated appointment allocation process. Applicants experiencing difficulties should instead contact the User Support Centre, known in Spanish as the Centro de Atención a Usuarios (CAU), through the Immigration Office's online appointment platform. This channel is intended for technical queries and incidents affecting the system. It is not an alternative way to request a fingerprinting appointment directly.
What documents are needed for a TIE appointment?
Foreign nationals attending their fingerprinting appointment should prepare the documentation required for their application.
This generally includes:
- An original, valid passport or registration certificate.
- Their previous Foreigner Identity Card, where applicable.
- A recent colour photograph taken from the front against a white background.
- Proof of municipal registration (empadronamiento) if their address has changed since their previous card was issued, or authorisation for the authorities to check the information.
- The completed EX-17 application form.
- Proof of payment of the relevant fee using form 790, code 012.
The fee form is available through the National Police's electronic headquarters. Applicants should check the requirements for their individual circumstances before attending, as missing documentation may prevent the card from being issued.
Will automatic TIE appointments eventually be available throughout Spain?
The automatic appointment system remains in a pilot and development phase, with the authorities yet to confirm a nationwide rollout covering all eligible cases. Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Malaga and Murcia joined the scheme on 9 October 2026, while trials had already begun in Girona, Tarragona and Lleida, as well as other provinces across Spain.
The results of the pilot will help determine whether the procedure can be extended more widely. There has been no specific confirmation that the system will be introduced in the Balearic Islands, including Mallorca, where foreign residents would also stand to benefit from a simpler appointment process.
For now, automatic appointments initially cover only around 10% of eligible cases, meaning foreign residents should not assume that every favourable immigration decision will result in an automatically allocated appointment. The traditional online booking system remains necessary for anyone who does not receive an automatic notification within 20 days of being notified of their favourable decision.