This page is for people who are already in Spain or are only planning to move and want to understand which papers they will need and in what order. It gives only the overall picture. Detailed steps for each document are on separate pages, with links at the end.
How do NIE, TIE and a residence permit differ?
The NIE is a number, the TIE is a card with that number, and only a decision by an authority gives you the right to live in Spain. The Spanish Tax Agency specifically warns against confusing the number with the card: having an NIE does not prove that a person is in the country legally or has the right to work.
| NIE | TIE | Permit or temporary protection | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A foreigner's personal number | The card that carries the NIE | A decision by an authority (resolución) |
| Does it give the right to live in Spain | No | Confirms a right you already have | Yes |
| Provision of Regulation RD 1155/2024 | Art. 205 | Art. 209 | Art. 206 lists the decision among the documents that confirm status |
In what order are documents issued?
Usually the NIE number comes first, then the decision on your right to stay, and after it the TIE card. You register at your address (padrón) as soon as you have housing.
- NIE. If you apply for a permit or temporary protection, the number is assigned as part of that procedure; you do not need to request it separately. Holders of temporary protection have the NIE written on the receipt issued on the day they apply. People who have economic, professional or social interests in Spain apply for the number separately.
- Decision on your status. It is the decision that gives you the right to live in Spain and, on some grounds, to work. The grounds are described in the section Legal status in Spain.
- TIE. If your visa or permit was issued for more than six months, you must apply for the card in person within one month of the day of entry or the day the permit was granted or took effect.
- Padrón. You register with the municipality (ayuntamiento) where you live.
Is address registration mandatory?
Yes. The Law on the Bases of Local Government (Ley 7/1985) requires everyone who lives in Spain to register on the padrón of the municipality where they usually live. Padrón data are proof of residence in the municipality and of your address.
You can register regardless of your immigration status: the municipality does not check whether you are in the country legally. Your address is proven by a property document or a valid rental contract together with the latest payment receipt. The municipality may also accept other documents or check the address itself. It is best to show your TIE card: the instructions on keeping the padrón name it as the preferred document. If you do not have a card, you give the NIE from a Spanish document or your passport number.
Foreign nationals from non-EU countries who do not have a long-term permit must renew their padrón registration every two years. If they do not, the registration may be canceled. Check how exactly to apply on your municipality’s website.
Do Ukrainian documents need an apostille and translation?
For residence permit applications, yes. Ukraine and Spain are parties to the 1961 Hague Convention, so Ukrainian documents for these procedures are certified with an apostille, unless an international agreement exempts the particular document. The list of documents for a temporary protection application published by the Ministry of the Interior does not include an apostille.
A translation into Spanish can be made in one of three ways:
- by a sworn translator (traductor jurado or traductor-intérprete jurado) authorized by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs; a list of these translators is available in the official search on the ministry’s website;
- at a Spanish consulate abroad, which makes or checks the translation, followed by legalization;
- at a Ukrainian consulate in Spain, followed by certification with an apostille or legalization.
In regions with a second official language, you can also submit the translation in that language.
How do you book an appointment with the police or the immigration office?
Through the official cita previa booking service at sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es. There you choose the province, the office and the procedure.
If the service says that no appointments are available, the official help page advises checking again later: all appointments for that time are taken. For questions not related to how the website works, you can call 060. Forms EX-15 (NIE application) and EX-17 (TIE application) are free, and they state expressly that selling them is prohibited.