Last checked: 5 October 2026
The short answer: Your NIE is your permanent foreigner number; your TIE is the physical card that shows it with your residence status. Non-EU residents get a TIE in four steps: approved residence, a fingerprinting cita, the appointment itself, then collecting the card. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens get a paper registration certificate instead, with no fingerprinting. Citas are scarce, so start checking the booking portal early.
Key facts
- The NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) is assigned once and never changes. You’ll use it for banking, contracts, tax and utilities.
- Non-EU residents receive a TIE card; EU/EEA/Swiss citizens receive a paper certificado de registro, often called the “NIE verde”.
- Non-EU residents must apply for the TIE within one month of entry (non-lucrative visa) or of Social Security registration (work permit).
- Fingerprinting is booked on the national extranjería portal under “Policía — Toma de Huellas (Expedición TIE)”.
- You need the EX-17 form and proof of paying the Modelo 790, Código 012 fee. The form works out the amount for your card type, and it is updated every year.
- In Valencia, collecting the card often needs a separate, third appointment.
- The official booking system is free.
NIE, TIE, NIE verde. Within a week of arriving you’ll hear all three, often used as if they meant the same thing. They don’t, and mixing them up is how people end up booking the wrong appointment after weeks of waiting for one.
Four documents people mix up
| Document | What it is | Who issues it | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIE | Your foreigner identification number, for life | Assigned with your residence approval or EU registration | Every foreign resident |
| TIE | Physical card showing your NIE, status and validity dates | Policía Nacional | Non-EU residents |
| EU registration certificate (“NIE verde”) | Paper certificate showing your NIE | Oficina de Extranjería or police station | EU/EEA/Swiss citizens staying 3+ months |
| Padrón | Registration at your home address | Ayuntamiento de València | Everyone living in the city |
A fifth number, the NAF, is your Social Security number. It only matters once you start working.
Getting your TIE, step by step (non-EU)
- Residence approved. Your authorisation is approved by the Oficina de Extranjería, or by the consulate that issued your non-lucrative visa. This resolución favorable is what assigns your NIE.
- Book the fingerprinting cita. On the national portal, choose Valencia, then “Policía — Toma de Huellas (Expedición TIE)”. Several procedures have similar names, and picking the wrong one is the most common mistake.
- Attend the appointment. Bring the documents below. Your fingerprints and photo are taken, and you leave with a resguardo, a receipt slip, not the card.
- Collect the card. It takes days to weeks. In Valencia you often need a third appointment, “Policía — Recogida de Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE)”. Check with your comisaría. Bring the resguardo and your passport. Only you can collect it unless you’ve given someone power of attorney.
What to bring to fingerprinting:
- Passport with entry stamp
- Completed, signed EX-17 form
- Proof of payment of Modelo 790, Código 012
- One passport-style photo
- Your resolución favorable
- A recent padrón certificate: Valencia’s police stations commonly ask for one at this stage
Fill in the forms before you go. They usually aren’t available on site.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens
If you stay more than three months, you must register in person within three months of arrival. You book through the same portal and offices, but you get a paper certificate rather than a card, with no fingerprinting. You’ll need to show you are working, studying, or have sufficient means plus health insurance.
Why citas are so hard to get, and the resale market
Slots for NIE/TIE appointments are notoriously scarce. Checking daily for weeks, sometimes months, is normal. A grey market resells slots booked in bulk. Some sellers deliver; some people have paid and received nothing. If you use one, check who you’re dealing with and never pay a large sum upfront. The official system is free.
After your TIE: set up your digital ID
Once you have the card, register for Cl@ve, Spain’s single login for most government services. Online registration without a certificate needs your NIE and your card’s 8-digit support number (IXESP), not the NIE itself. A certificado digital from the FNMT goes further and lets you sign documents. Download it on the same computer and browser you used to request it.
FAQ
What is the difference between a NIE and a TIE? The NIE is a number; the TIE is a card. The TIE shows your NIE alongside your residence status and its validity dates.
How do I get a NIE appointment in Valencia? Book on the national extranjería portal, select Valencia, then the exact procedure. For a first TIE, that’s “Policía — Toma de Huellas (Expedición TIE)”.
Do EU citizens get a TIE? No. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens get a paper registration certificate showing their NIE, without fingerprinting.
How long do I have to apply for my TIE? One month from entry on a non-lucrative visa, or one month from Social Security registration on a work permit.
How much is the TIE fee? It depends on the card type and changes yearly. The Modelo 790, Código 012 form on the Policía Nacional site calculates it when you select your procedure.
What is the IXESP number? An 8-digit support number printed on your physical card. Online procedures use it to confirm you hold the genuine document.
Related guides
- New in Valencia: Guides for Settling In
- Empadronamiento in Valencia, Step by Step
- Moving to Valencia: Your First 90 Days, in Order
The TIE process tests patience more than anything else. Book early, double-check the procedure name before you confirm, and keep every resguardo and receipt in one folder. When the card finally arrives, set up Cl@ve that same week. It makes the next dozen bits of paperwork far easier.
