The EX-17 form
Download the current version of the form from the Ministry's website (extranjeros.inclusion.gob.es), not from the first site that comes up in a search — third-party copies may be out of date. The form asks for your personal details, passport, an address in Spain for notifications and — importantly — you tick the application type "inicial" (first-time), not "renovación" or "duplicado". It's better to fill it in on a computer rather than by hand: illegible handwriting is a common cause of problems at the appointment. Bring at least two copies of the form rather than one — a spare never hurts on the day.
Paying tasa 790-012
The fee is paid in advance on the police website, and the receipt is printed and brought along on paper. Check the current amount right before paying rather than relying on a figure from an old screenshot.
Not sure where to start?
A short two-minute quiz: based on your answers, we'll map out your route — what to do next and in what order.
Take the quizPassport and photo
You need your passport with all its stamps — the data page, the visa, the entry stamp — as the original plus a copy of every page. The photo must be in colour, on a plain light background, 32×26 mm — smaller than the usual 35×45 mm visa format, so the old photo from your visa application most likely won't work for the TIE. Your face must be uncovered, with no tinted glasses and no headwear (except for religious reasons). Bring 2–3 photos rather than one, just in case — if one isn't accepted on the day, you won't have to redo everything.
Do you need a certificate of registration at your address (empadronamiento)?
This needs clearing up, because you'll find contradictory advice online. Formally, at national level, empadronamiento isn't on the list of documents specifically for the TIE appointment — but in practice some police offices ask for it anyway and others don't, depending on the specific comisaría. If you don't have the certificate yet at the time of the appointment, some offices accept the address you give yourself on the EX-17 form instead of an official certificate. Even so, registering at your address is mandatory anyway if you stay longer than six months — it's a separate obligation not directly tied to getting a TIE. The most reliable strategy is to get your empadronamiento done in advance and bring the certificate, even if in your case no one asks for it.
Do you need the enrolment certificate again?
The certificate of enrolment at your school or university has usually already been used at the visa stage, and according to several university international offices, the police increasingly don't ask for it again at the TIE appointment. But this isn't a universal rule for all offices, so bringing a copy of the certificate just in case is a simple precaution that costs nothing.
Originals and copies
The almost unanimous recommendation is to bring both the original and a copy of every document: passport, EX-17 form, payment receipt, and the decision granting your stay permit. Technically, police staff can make a copy on the spot, but not every office has a working photocopier to hand, and delays because of this are common. Some consultants even advise bringing two sets of copies: one for the office and one to keep as a record of exactly what was submitted.
What if some documents are missing?
It's important not to confuse two different concepts here. Spanish general administrative law has a mechanism called subsanación — the chance to provide missing documents for an officially submitted application within a set period. But the fingerprinting appointment for the TIE isn't an application reviewed by correspondence — it's an in-person visit, and we couldn't find confirmation that the same grace period for providing documents applies to it. In consultants' experience, turning up to the appointment with an incomplete set most often means not a postponement but having to book again — and given how hard it is to find a free slot, that can cost you weeks of waiting. So it's safer to double-check the full list before your visit than to count on being able to bring documents later.
Quick checklist
- EX-17 form downloaded from the Ministry's official website and filled in as "inicial".
- Receipt for tasa 790-012 printed.
- Photo in the right format (32×26 mm), not the old visa photo.
- Empadronamiento done in advance, even if you might not be asked for it at the appointment.
- Originals and copies of every document gathered in advance, not left to the police.
Requirements differ between police offices more than you'd like, and finding out the exact list for your comisaría in advance isn't always easy. — we'll help you put together a set of documents for your specific case.
Frequently asked questions
There's no single rule for all offices — some comisarías ask for it, others accept the address given on the EX-17 form. Registering at your address is mandatory in any case, so it's safer to do it in advance.
Most likely not. The TIE needs a 32×26 mm format, while visa photos are usually a different size — 35×45 mm.
We couldn't confirm an official grace period for providing documents for this appointment. In practice it more often means booking again rather than a postponement — so it's safer to check the full list in advance.
According to several university offices, it's increasingly not required — the certificate was already used for the visa application. But the rule isn't universal for all offices, so bringing a copy doesn't hurt.