How to book your immigration appointment in Barcelona yourself (it's free)

First: which appointment do you need?

In immigration matters there are two types of appointment. Each one is booked in a different place.

• To submit an application (arraigo, residence for family members of Spanish nationals, family reunification, renewals…). This goes to the Immigration Office (Oficina de Extranjería). Many applications can be submitted online through the Mercurio platform, with a digital certificate. Then you do not need an appointment. The Barcelona Office itself recommends the online route.
• For the Policía Nacional (national police). This is for fingerprinting and collecting the TIE. Also for the NIE (foreigner identity number) and the EU (European Union) registration certificate. And for the letter of invitation or the return authorisation (autorización de regreso). You book it on the online appointment system (cita previa).

Steps for the fingerprinting or TIE collection appointment

1. Wait until your authorisation has been granted. The TIE is requested after the favourable decision, or on entering Spain if you arrive with a visa. You have 1 month to apply for it in person (art. 209.1). For arraigo, the month counts from the notification (art. 130.6).
2. Pay the government fee. It is form 790, code 012. A first-issue TIE costs 16.08 €, and a renewal, 19.30 €. A long-term residence one, 21.87 €. One for a family member of a Spanish national or of an EU citizen, 12.00 € (Order PJC/617/2025). The form is generated on the police website. You pay it at a bank, without needing an account there.
3. Fill in form EX-17. It is the card application.
4. Go to the appointment website. Choose the province of Barcelona and click «Aceptar» (Accept). Under the police procedures, choose fingerprinting (toma de huellas) or card collection (recogida de tarjeta). Click «Aceptar». Then click «Entrar» (Enter), type in your details and click «Solicitar cita» (Request appointment).
5. Choose the police station and the time. The system shows you the offices and the available appointments. If you see no free slots, try again another day.
6. Go in person. Fingerprinting is personal: you have to go yourself (art. 209.3). Take your passport, the EX-17, the fee receipt and your decision. And anything the decision asks for, for example a photograph.
7. Keep the receipt and collect the card. When it is ready, you collect it in person. Collection also needs an appointment. Check the collection place when you book it, because it can change.

Steps for an appointment at the Barcelona Immigration Office

If you do not apply online, the Barcelona Office only gives in-person appointments to the applicant. Its notice updated on 20-05-2025 says so. Check first on the Government Delegation (Delegación del Gobierno) website that it is still in force.

1. Have all your documents ready. The Office asks you to book only with a complete file.
2. Arraigo (EX-10), family member of a Spanish national (EX-24), EU family member card (EX-19) and residence under the United Kingdom Withdrawal Agreement (Brexit). Write to citabarcelona@correo.gob.es. Subject: «PETICIÓN CITA PREVIA». In the message include only this: your passport or NIE, first name and surname, mobile, email, type of application and number of applications. If you are applying for several family members, give the total. Do not attach files: those emails are not processed.
3. 9 other procedures. For example: stay for studies (EX-00), family reunification (EX-02), renewal of residence and work as an employee (EX-03) or art. 191 changes handled by the Office (EX-26). Use the Immigration Offices’ online form. Choose «Oficina de Extranjería de Barcelona» and the type «Consultas sobre cita previa» (appointment queries). In the subject write «CITA» and the procedure. In the comment, your details and the type of application. If you are renewing, add your current authorisation and its expiry date.
4. Wait for the reply. If appropriate, the Office sends you an email with the place, day and time.

A note on the compulsory online route. The 2025 notice says that some applications can only be submitted through Mercurio. For example, the renewal of non-lucrative residence. That obligation came from art. 197.2 of the Regulation. The Supreme Court annulled it (BOE of 22-09-2026). If your procedure is on that list, ask the Office which channel it accepts now.

What is specific to Barcelona and Catalonia

• In Barcelona city, according to the police office finder, the TIE is issued at Rambla Guipúscoa, 74. Cards are handed over at Calle Mallorca, 213, Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 14:00. Both are offices of the Provincial Immigration and Borders Brigade.
• Outside Barcelona city, many police stations in the province issue the TIE, but not all of them. For example, the one in Badalona does not have it on its list. We go through it town by town in immigration procedures in Barcelona and its province.
• If you have the nationality of an EU country. The registration certificate is processed at police stations that offer «Régimen comunitario» (EU regime). In Barcelona city, at Rambla Guipúscoa, 74.
• The Immigration Office does not manage police appointments. Its own notice says so. For questions about police procedures, use the Ministry of the Interior’s information form.

Common mistakes

• Paying someone for an appointment. The appointment is a public service and has no cost. In 2024 the Ministry of the Interior reported a group charging between 50 and 90 € per appointment.
• Booking the fingerprinting appointment before you have the decision. With no authorisation granted, there is no card to issue.
• Letting the month for applying for the TIE go by. The time limit is 1 month (art. 209.1). Write down the date of the notification.
• Paying the wrong fee. The TIE goes with 790-012. 790-052 is the fee for the authorisation.
• Sending the appointment email with attachments or with extra details. The Barcelona Office does not process those emails.
• Confusing the NIE and the TIE. The NIE is your number. The TIE is the physical card, with your photo.

Can we help you with the procedure?

We do not sell or obtain appointments. You book the fingerprinting appointment yourself. What we do is the paperwork before that: we review your documents, prepare your application and explain each step until you have the card.

• If you need to renew, start with residence renewal.
• If it is your first authorisation, see the types of arraigo.
• If you are a family member of a Spanish national, see residence for family members of Spanish nationals.

We help you from Barcelona and online: find out about our immigration procedures service in Barcelona.