Practical guide · Paperwork
Student TIE in Barcelonahow to get it step by step once you’re in Spain
You’re in Barcelona with your visa or study authorisation. Now comes the most important step: the Foreigner Identity Card (TIE). We explain what it is, when to apply, which documents to bring and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
By the Hugschool team · Updated October 2026 · 8 min read
In this guide
- What is the TIE and who needs it?
- Before you start: check your authorisation
- How to get your TIE in Barcelona, step by step
- Documents to bring to your appointment
- After the TIE: what you should know
- Tips to make it go smoothly
- Your life in Barcelona is more than paperwork
- Frequently asked questions about the student TIE
What is the TIE and who needs it?
The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is the physical card that proves you’re legally in Spain. It shows your photo, your fingerprint and your NIE, the foreigner identification number you’ll use for almost everything: opening a bank account, signing a rental contract or registering with a doctor.
Stays over 6 months
You need a TIE. You must apply in person within one month of entering Spain (or of being notified of your authorisation, if you applied from here).
Stays of 6 months or less
No card needed: your student visa is enough to prove your status during the course.
Before you start: check your authorisation
Since 20 May 2025, Spain’s new Immigration Regulation (Royal Decree 1155/2024) has been in force, changing several rules for student stays. Before booking your appointment, check three things:
- Your course qualifies. Studies must be full-time at an authorised centre. For Spanish or co-official language courses, the regulation only accepts official language schools (EOI), centres accredited by the Instituto Cervantes (or the equivalent body for the co-official language) and higher-education institutions. Always ask your school whether its course allows a student stay.
- You have the authorisation or visa. The TIE isn’t the authorisation itself: it’s the card that documents it. You first need your student visa or a favourable decision on your stay.
- If you applied from Spain, that’s only possible in certain cases (mainly higher education) and with strict deadlines: at least two months before your course starts, and within two months of arrival if you entered without a visa.
How to get your TIE in Barcelona, step by step
The process is the same across Spain, but in Barcelona it pays to start on day one: appointments go fast.
Register your address (empadronamiento)
Register on Barcelona City Council’s padrón with your passport and rental contract (or the owner’s authorisation). Book an appointment at a Citizen Service Office (OAC). You may be asked for the registration certificate at your TIE appointment.
Book your fingerprint appointment
Go to sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es (ICP), choose the province of Barcelona and the procedure “POLICÍA – TOMA DE HUELLA (EXPEDICIÓN DE TARJETA)”. You can pick any police station in the province with availability. Appointments are free: don’t pay anyone who offers to sell you one.
Fill in form EX-17
This is the official TIE application. Download the EX-17 form, fill it in with exactly the same details as your passport (name, surnames, NIE) and sign it. Tick the option for an initial card.
Pay fee 790-012
Generate form 790 código 012 on the Police website and tick “TIE que documenta la primera concesión de la autorización de residencia temporal, de estancia…”. In 2026 it costs €16.08. Pay at a bank or online and keep the stamped receipt.
Go to your appointment
Arrive early with all your documents, originals and copies. They’ll take your fingerprint and give you a receipt (resguardo) showing when you can collect your card. Keep it safe: it’s your proof while you wait.
Collect your TIE
The card is usually ready within a few weeks. Depending on the office, you can collect it directly or you’ll need another collection appointment. Bring your passport and receipt, and check all the details before you leave.
Documents to bring to your appointment
Each police station may ask for something extra, so always bring originals and photocopies:
- Form EX-17, completed and signed.
- Valid passport plus copies of the data page, visa and entry stamp.
- One recent colour photo, white background, ID size (32 × 26 mm).
- Proof of payment of fee 790-012.
- Favourable decision on your student stay, or your student visa.
- Recent registration certificate (empadronamiento).
- Your appointment confirmation.
After the TIE: what you should know
Validity
Your TIE lasts as long as your student authorisation and stops being valid when it ends.
Work
If you’re in higher education, you can work up to 30 hours a week, as long as it’s compatible with your studies.
Extension
If your course continues, apply for an extension in time. Under the new regulation it’s done online, and the number of extensions is limited depending on your type of studies.
Travel
With your TIE and a valid passport you can travel within the Schengen area for short stays. If your visa expires before you have the card, check before leaving Spain.
Tips to make it go smoothly
- Look for an appointment on day one. In Barcelona, slots are released daily, often early in the morning.
- Try other police stations in the province if there’s nothing in the city.
- Take screenshots of your attempts to book: they’ll help if you can’t get one within the deadline.
- Prepare a folder with all your documents, originals and copies, in the order of the list.
- Practise your Spanish. The appointment is usually in Spanish: understanding simple questions about your address, studies or personal details will give you peace of mind.
Your life in Barcelona is more than paperwork
How we support you at Hugschool
Every year we meet students who have just arrived and are in the middle of these procedures. We’re not a legal advisor, but we can help with what makes everything else easier: speaking Spanish and Catalan with confidence.
At our school in El Clot, with small groups and native teachers, we work on real-life Spanish: appointments, phone calls, the bank or the doctor. And if you need a certificate later on, we prepare you for the DELE and we’re an official SIELE exam centre.
If you’re still planning your move, you may find our guide to studying in Barcelona useful, and if you’d like to start practising, take a look at our Spanish courses and Catalan courses.
Frequently asked questions about the student TIE
How long do I have to apply for the TIE?
One month from entering Spain with your student visa, or from notification of your authorisation if you applied while in Spain.
How much does the student TIE cost?
Fee 790 code 012 for a first TIE is €16.08 in 2026. The appointment itself is free.
How long does the card take?
Usually a few weeks after your fingerprint appointment. The approximate date is on the receipt you get at the appointment.
What if I can’t find an appointment within the deadline?
Keep trying daily, try other police stations in the province and keep screenshots of your attempts as proof. If the deadline passes, ask a professional.
Do I need a TIE if my course is shorter than six months?
No. For student stays of six months or less, your visa is enough.
Can I work with a student TIE?
If you’re in higher education, you can work up to 30 hours a week, as long as it’s compatible with your studies.
Does any language course qualify for a student stay?
No. Under the new regulation, Spanish or co-official language courses must be taught in person at official language schools, Instituto Cervantes-accredited centres (or the equivalent body) or higher-education institutions.