On 8 October 2026, Spain’s national police, Dirección General de la Policía, launched an administrative pilot that assigns Tarjeta de Identificación de Extrajero (TIE) fingerprint appointments automatically for some approved applicants in Girona, Tarragona, and Lleida. According to an announcement shared by the Ilustre Colegio de la Abogacía de Barcelona (ICAB), the pilot has expanded to applicants in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Málaga, and Murcia.

Update highlights:

• Only about 10% of cases are included for now. The pilot applies to selected approvals from October 8, 2026 onwards, and police describe it as a test phase.
• The police appointment system allocates the slot electronically. Applicants no longer need to book an appointment date through the web-based cita previa.
• Selected applicants automatically receive the appointment notice by email and SMS. No manual booking is needed in these cases.
• The pilot only changes how the appointment is booked. Applicants must still attend in person for fingerprinting and documents submission.
• If no appointment is assigned within 20 days of the residence approval being notified, the applicant must book through the usual online appointment system. 

What changed in the automatic TIE appointment?

The TIE is Spain’s Foreigner Identity Card. To get it, applicants must attend a police station to record their fingerprints (toma de huellas).

Previously, applicants had to book this appointment online, which often meant refreshing the page and competing for slots. Under the new pilot, the police system assigns the appointment automatically within 20 days of residence approval notice, so manual bookings may no longer be needed. Applicants must still attend in person for the biometrics, requirements submission, and to provide proof of Tasa payment.

How does the automatic TIE appointment work?

Once an immigration authority issues a favourable residence decision, the approval resolution may include instructions about an Automatic TIE assignment, so it is worth reading the decision carefully. The police appointment system will then initiate the allocation electronically within approximately 20 days following the resolution’s notification. The selected applicant will receive the date, time, and police station by SMS and email. The notice may also reach a designated representative rather than the applicant, so both inboxes should be checked. On the assigned TIE appointment day, the applicant must attend in person with the documents required for the residence card procedure that applies to their case. An applicant who fails to attend the appointment without appropriate cancellation may need to rebook manually rather than automatically receive a new slot.

Who can qualify for the automated TIE appointment?

As of writing, the pilot covers only about 10% of cases in the following regions/cities:

• Girona
• Tarragona
• Lleida
• Madrid
• Barcelona
• Valencia
• Alicante
• Málaga
• Murcia

 
The announcement from ICAB stated that authorities will decide later whether to extend it to all cases across Spain. This means that even in participating cities, most applicants may still need to manually book their own appointment.

We will continue to monitor this and share any significant changes.

Next steps for applicants

Whether the appointment is automatic or manual, the same documents, and proof of Tasa payment are required on the day. Preparing your requirements early and correctly could avoid a wasted trip to the police station.

If no automatic TIE appointment has been assigned after about 20 days from the resolution date, the applicant must book through the usual online appointment system. The 20 days does not extend the deadline to apply for the TIE, so waiting longer than necessary is not advisable.

For those who need help with their TIE, Lakbyte’s TIE assistance service offers full support, from preparing the necessary documents to booking the fingerprinting appointment at the police station. Applicants can get their residence card without having to navigate the system alone.