The form is only half of it: these applications are filed at an appointment. We look for the NIE assignment appointment or any other trámite for you, and you pay when it is confirmed, not before — request it here.
Every Spanish immigration procedure is filed with a numbered form, and picking the wrong one is among the most common reasons an appointment is wasted. Here is what each of them is for.
All the forms are free and can be downloaded from the Ministry of the Interior's electronic office. No website should charge you for them.
Used for authorisations granted on exceptional grounds, including the arraigo routes. The exact model depends on the modality, so confirm it before filing.
The form for long-term residence, normally after five years of legal and continuous residence in Spain. It also covers the EU long-term modality, which makes moving to other Union countries easier.
To apply for a Foreigner Identity Number for the first time, or to request related certificates. This is the usual route for non-residents who need the NIE to buy property, sign a contract or enrol in a school.
The form for the physical card. You hand it in at the fingerprint appointment together with the receipt for fee 790 code 012, whether it is a first issue, a renewal or a duplicate.
For citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland who will reside in Spain for more than three months. The result is the green certificate, which is not a TIE and carries no photograph.
For non-EU family members of an EU citizen: spouse, registered partner, children and dependent ascendants. Unlike the green certificate, this is a physical card and does require fingerprints.
Lets you leave Spain and re-enter while your card is expired or still being processed. It is applied for at a police station and does not replace your passport.
Last reviewed: 26 August 2026.
Sources: current Spanish immigration legislation and the electronic offices of the National Police and the Ministry of the Interior. Always check the official information for your own office before attending.
General information only; this is not legal advice. Requirements and timeframes can change.
From the Ministry of the Interior’s electronic office and the Spanish government’s portal, in the immigration forms and models section. They are free: if a website charges you to download one, it is not the official source.
The EX-15 is how you get the NIE, which is a number. The EX-17 is for the physical card (TIE) that proves your residence and carries that number printed on it. They are separate procedures and do not replace each other.
No. The EX-18 is for the EU citizen themselves and leads to the green certificate. The EX-19 is for their non-EU family member and leads to a physical card with fingerprints.
It depends on the procedure. Most cards carry fee 790 code 012, and the EU registration certificate has its own fee at a lower amount. The payment receipt is handed in together with the form.
Yes, as long as it is legible and signed. Many offices prefer it typed and printed because it reduces transcription errors.
The application can be rejected or held for correction, and in the case of police appointments the appointment is lost. That is why it is worth confirming the exact model for your procedure before booking.
We monitor the official system continuously, and you only pay once the appointment is confirmed.
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