Tax & legal glossary International

TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) — Spanish Residence Card

The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is the physical biometric residence card issued by Spain's National Police to non-EU nationals who hold a Spanish residence authorisation. It incorporates the holder's NIE (identification number), photograph, fingerprint, and the details of their current residence permit, and serves as a valid identity document in Spain for its period of validity.

The TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) is the physical biometric residence card issued by Spain's National Police to non-EU nationals who hold a Spanish residence authorisation. It incorporates the holder's NIE (identification number), photograph, fingerprint, and the details of their current residence permit, and serves as a valid identity document in Spain for its period of validity.

In practice

What Is the TIE?

The Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE) is the biometric residence card issued by Spain’s National Police (Policía Nacional) to non-EU nationals who hold a valid Spanish residence authorisation. It is a credit-card-sized physical document incorporating the holder’s:

  • NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero — the personal identification number)
  • Photograph and fingerprint (biometric data)
  • Type of residence authorisation and its period of validity
  • Personal details (name, date of birth, nationality)

The TIE is not an authorisation in its own right — it is the physical evidence of a residence permit that has already been granted by the Secretariat of State for Migration (or, in the case of long-term residence, by the National Police itself).

Who Needs a TIE?

Any non-EU national holding a Spanish residence authorisation must obtain a TIE. The main situations that trigger this obligation include:

  • Entry into Spain with a long-stay residency visa issued by a Spanish consulate.
  • Favourable resolution of a residence authorisation applied for from within Spain (via the UGE-CE or a provincial immigration office).
  • Grant of long-term residence.
  • Renewal of any of the above authorisations.

How to Apply

The TIE is applied for in person at the designated Police Station (Comisaría de Policía) in the holder’s province of residence, with a prior appointment. The application deadline is one month from the date of entry on the qualifying visa or from the notification of the favourable authorisation.

Standard documentation required:

  1. Form EX-17 (residence card application).
  2. Valid passport (original and copy).
  3. Proof of the residence authorisation granted (visa or resolution).
  4. Payment receipt for Tax 790, code 012 (typically EUR 15–20, depending on permit type).
  5. One recent passport-format colour photograph.

TIE vs NIE: Key Distinction

NIETIE
What it isIdentification numberPhysical biometric card
FormatAlphanumeric (X-1234567-A)Credit-card-sized document
Who holds itAny foreigner with Spanish interestsOnly non-EU residents
ValidityPermanent (number never changes)Matches residence permit duration

TIE and Tax Residency

The TIE evidences administrative residence in Spain but does not determine tax residency. A holder may be administratively resident (TIE holder) but not a Spanish tax resident if they spend fewer than 183 days per year in Spain. Conversely, a person can become a Spanish tax resident even without a TIE if the relevant factual conditions are met. Tax residence is determined by Article 9 LIRPF and, in conflict cases, by the tie-breaker rules in the applicable double tax treaty.

Frequently asked questions

You must apply for the TIE within one month of entering Spain on a long-stay visa (visado de residencia), or within one month of the notification of a favourable residence authorisation if you applied from inside Spain. The application is filed in person at the designated Police Station (Comisaría de Policía) in your province of residence, with a prior appointment.
No. The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is solely the alphanumeric identification number assigned to a foreign national — it never changes. The TIE is the physical document that incorporates the NIE alongside the holder's photograph, fingerprint, and residence permit data. A non-resident foreigner can have a NIE without a TIE (for example, to buy property), but cannot have a TIE without a NIE.
No. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens receive a different document — the EU Citizen Registration Certificate (Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la UE, informally known as the "green card") — when they register in Spain. This certificate also includes a NIE but is issued under a different legal framework and does not incorporate biometric data in the same way as the TIE.
The TIE is valid for the same period as the underlying residence authorisation it evidences. When the residence permit is renewed, a new TIE must also be requested. A TIE associated with long-term residence (residencia de larga duración) is valid for five years and renewable.
The TIE alone is not a travel document. Non-EU residents must travel with their valid passport together with the TIE. The TIE demonstrates lawful residence in Spain and supports border checks, but the passport is required as the travel document. Some Schengen countries may require presentation of the TIE alongside the passport at entry points.
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Frequently asked questions

When must I apply for the TIE?
You must apply for the TIE within one month of entering Spain on a long-stay visa (visado de residencia), or within one month of the notification of a favourable residence authorisation if you applied from inside Spain. The application is filed in person at the designated Police Station (Comisaría de Policía) in your province of residence, with a prior appointment.
Is the TIE the same as the NIE?
No. The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is solely the alphanumeric identification number assigned to a foreign national — it never changes. The TIE is the physical document that incorporates the NIE alongside the holder's photograph, fingerprint, and residence permit data. A non-resident foreigner can have a NIE without a TIE (for example, to buy property), but cannot have a TIE without a NIE.
Do EU citizens receive a TIE?
No. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens receive a different document — the EU Citizen Registration Certificate (Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la UE, informally known as the "green card") — when they register in Spain. This certificate also includes a NIE but is issued under a different legal framework and does not incorporate biometric data in the same way as the TIE.
How long is the TIE valid?
The TIE is valid for the same period as the underlying residence authorisation it evidences. When the residence permit is renewed, a new TIE must also be requested. A TIE associated with long-term residence (residencia de larga duración) is valid for five years and renewable.
Can I travel within the Schengen area with a TIE?
The TIE alone is not a travel document. Non-EU residents must travel with their valid passport together with the TIE. The TIE demonstrates lawful residence in Spain and supports border checks, but the passport is required as the travel document. Some Schengen countries may require presentation of the TIE alongside the passport at entry points.

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