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Procedures

How to Check Your Spanish Immigration File Status

Once the decision is favourable, the next step is an appointment: fingerprints first, then card collection. We look for both for you and you pay when they are confirmed — fingerprint appointment or request it here.

Filing your application is only half the journey. Then comes the wait — and the question everyone asks: what is happening with my file? There are several official ways to check, and none of them cost money.

Official ways to check

The Ministry’s electronic office

The most complete route. With a digital certificate or Cl@ve you can access the immigration file status section and see the up-to-date situation.

Checking with your NIE and file number

Some regions let you check without digital identification, entering only the file number plus your NIE or year of birth.

The administration information line

The 060 line and each Immigration Office’s own phone numbers can confirm the file situation, though they rarely explain the reason in detail.

In person at the Immigration Office

The slowest route, with an appointment — but sometimes the only way to clarify a confusing requirement.

What you need to hand

  • File number: it appears on your filing receipt and usually starts with your province code.
  • NIE or passport number, exactly as it appears on the application.
  • The date you filed the application.
  • Digital certificate or Cl@ve, if you use the electronic office.

What each status means

  • En trámite (in progress): the application is being examined. No action needed.
  • Requerimiento (requirement): documents are missing. You normally have 10 working days to provide them, or the file is closed.
  • Favorable: the authorisation has been granted. Time to book the fingerprint appointment.
  • Desfavorable: refused. There is a deadline to appeal, stated in the decision itself.
  • Archivado (closed): almost always because a requirement was not answered in time.

You have a favourable decision — now what?

The next step is the fingerprint appointment so the card can be issued. Before attending, pay fee 790 code 012 and have the rest of your documents ready — the slot can appear from one day to the next.

Last reviewed: 30 August 2026.

Sources: current Spanish immigration legislation and the electronic offices of the National Police and the Ministry of the Interior. Always check your own office's official information before attending.

General information only; this is not legal advice. Requirements and timeframes can change.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I find my file number?

On the receipt you were given when filing, or on the electronic registry confirmation. It usually starts with your province code followed by the year and a sequence number.

Can I check the file without a digital certificate?

In some regions yes, entering the file number together with your NIE or year of birth. Full access to the electronic office requires a digital certificate or Cl@ve.

How long does a file take to be decided?

It depends on the type of authorisation and the province, and there is no guaranteed deadline. Many procedures have a legal deadline, but in practice each office’s workload stretches it.

I received a requirement — what do I do?

Provide the requested documents within the stated deadline, normally 10 working days. If it is not answered, the file is closed and you start over.

The status says "favorable" — can I work already?

The favourable decision grants the authorisation, but you should have the card in process or the receipt to prove it. It depends on the type of authorisation granted.

Can Citapre check my file for me?

No. The check is personal and uses your own identification. What we do handle is the fingerprint appointment once your file is approved.

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