Many people confuse renewing the authorisation with renewing the card. There are two steps: first you file the renewal of your residence authorisation, and once it is granted you need a fingerprint appointment for the physical card to be issued.
How it works
File the renewal in time
You can start within the 60 days before expiry and up to 90 days after. Not leaving it to the last day is the difference between a calm process and a rushed one.
Keep the decision or receipt
While it is being processed, the receipt proves your situation. Always carry it with you, including when travelling.
Pay fee 790 code 012
This is the card issue fee. Without the payment receipt the station will not complete the procedure.
Request the fingerprint appointment
This is where we come in: we search for a slot in your province and book as soon as one matching your dates appears.
Questions about your case? Message us on WhatsApp →
Deadlines you should know
- You can file the renewal from 60 days before your card expires.
- Filing up to 90 days after expiry is also accepted, without that automatically implying a penalty.
- The fingerprint appointment can take weeks to appear: allow for that margin when planning.
- Starting 2 or 3 months before expiry avoids the last-minute scenario.
Usual documentation
- Valid passport, original and photocopy.
- Favourable decision on the renewal, or the receipt for the application.
- Proof of payment of fee 790 code 012.
- Previous TIE card.
- Recent padrón certificate, if the office asks for it.
- Recent passport-size photograph on a light background.
Service price
A fixed fee for managing the appointment. Nothing is charged in advance: payment is requested once the appointment is confirmed and you can verify it yourself.
TIE Renewal
Appointment management, any province
- Continuous search for slots in your province
- WhatsApp alert as soon as availability appears
- Official confirmation you verify yourself
- No advance payment
Official administration fees are not included: they are paid directly to the state.
How long the renewed card lasts
Under the current regulation (Real Decreto 1155/2024, in force since 20 May 2025) a renewed authorisation generally runs for four years. The old pattern was 1 + 2 + 2. In practice most residents now go through a single renewal before they can apply for long-term residence: one initial year, a four-year renewal, and at five years of legal continuous residence, the long-term card. Fewer renewals means fewer fees, fewer appointments and fewer chances to miss a deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Can I renew the TIE if it has already expired?
Yes. The rules allow filing the renewal up to 90 days after expiry. Even so, the sooner you file, the fewer practical problems arise.
Can I work while the renewal is being processed?
With the application in progress and the receipt, your situation is considered extended for residence and work purposes. Always keep the receipt with you.
Can I travel with an expired card?
To leave Spain and re-enter while the card is being processed you normally need a return authorisation, in addition to your passport.
Are renewal and collection the same appointment?
No. After the renewal fingerprints you need a separate appointment to pick up the new card once it has been produced.
When do I pay for your service?
Afterwards. Only once the appointment is confirmed and you can verify it yourself. We charge nothing in advance.
Last reviewed: August 2026. General information only; this is not legal advice. Requirements may vary according to current legislation and the relevant office.
You may also be interested in
Renewing the TIE: the deadlines that decide the outcome
What matters in a renewal is the filing date of the application, not the date of the fingerprint appointment. Everything else follows from that.
The window
- From 60 days before the card expires.
- Up to 90 days after expiry, with a possible penalty for lateness.
- Filed in time, your situation stays lawful until the decision, and the filing receipt evidences it even with an expired card.
- The application itself is normally filed electronically: no appointment is needed for that step.
Evidence, by situation
- Employed: contract, payslips and working life report.
- Self-employed: tax and Social Security registrations, and returns filed.
- Not working: sufficient means and health cover, or the documents for your authorisation type.
- Family routes: proof that the relationship and the sponsor situation continue.
After approval
- Book the fingerprint appointment within one month of the notification, with the EX-17 and the paid 790-012 receipt.
- The card is manufactured in about 30 to 45 days.
- Collection is a separate appointment: keep the receipt from the fingerprint visit.
- Travelling in between? Consider the return authorisation.
If the 90 days pass
The renewal route closes and the case moves towards a new application, which is longer and harder. If your date is close, file first and deal with the appointment afterwards.
Last reviewed: 1 September 2026.
General information only; this is not legal advice. Requirements and timeframes can change.
Confirmations from appointments we have obtained
Real documents from appointments we booked, with the holder’s details covered. The procedure, date, time and office are the ones printed on the confirmation. Availability depends on the administration: we do not promise specific dates.
No payment upfront
You pay only once the appointment is confirmed.
Continuous monitoring
We watch the official system until a slot opens.
All 52 provinces
In seven languages, by WhatsApp or through the form.
“I had a very good experience with my appointment. The service was excellent, professional, and very helpful. Everything was handled smoothly and efficiently. I would definitely recommend their service.”