There is a growing trend in Spain where these processes are being pushed online and would require a digital certificate. In fact, with the new immigration law passed as of May 2025, it is now expected that all TIE renewal applicants apply for Prorroga online with a digital certificate through Mercurio. If you literally have no other options, you may get lucky trying to apply in person, but please please please consider otherwise. It is a bad idea.
Article 55, section 4 of the new Regulation of the Immigration Law
“La prórroga deberá solicitarse por medios electrónicos, por la persona extranjera o a través de representante, en modelo oficial, e irá dirigida a la oficina de extranjería de la provincia donde obtuvo la autorización inicial.”
“The prórroga must be requested electronically, either by the foreign person or through a representative, using the official form, and it must be addressed to the immigration office of the province where the initial authorization was obtained.” (the province where you first got your TIE).
Article 197, section 2 of the new Regulation of the Immigration Law
“En aplicación de lo dispuesto en el artículo 14.3 de la Ley 39/2015, de 1 de octubre, tendrán obligación de relacionarse a través de los medios electrónicos habilitados las personas físicas que presenten alguno de los tipos de solicitud siguientes:
a) Solicitudes de prórroga de autorizaciones de estancia por estudios, movilidad de alumnos, servicios de voluntariado o actividades formativas…”
“In accordance with the provisions of Article 14.3 of Law 39/2015, of October 1, individuals submitting any of the following types of applications are required to do so via the designated electronic means
a) Prorroga applications for study, student mobility, volunteer services, or training activities…”
The only reason why you should be applying in person is if it is literally the only option available to you. Having said that, here is the guide for applying in person. I will not update this guide because this shouldn’t exist anyway. I will give you a quick overview then explain step 1 of the application process. The other steps will be identical to the original guide.
There are 3 steps in the TIE renewal process.
- Apply for Prorroga (extension of your TIE). Before this step, you need to first receive your Carta de Nombramiento for the next school year. You will direct your application to the province where you will be living next school year. I will elaborate on how to do this below.
Additionally, the window for applying is up to 60 days before your TIE expires and 90 days after it expires.
After this step, you can apply for a Regreso. This allows you to go back home for up to 90 days while your application is being processed. - Toma de Huellas. This is the same fingerprinting appointment as the first time you got your TIE, but you will need a different application form. Once you get your positive resolution in the first step, you can print it out, bring all the additional documents needed (see TIE Renewal Guide), and attend your appointment. Again, this will be at the province where you will be living next school year.
3. Recogida de TIE. Same as your initial TIE appointment. Bring your passport, Resguardo, and old TIE.
Below are the required documents for the initial application (Step 1):
- New and Old Carta de Nombramiento + Copies
- Tie + Copy
- Passport + Copy of all Pages
- Completed EX-00 Form + Copy
- Tasa 790-052
- Certificado de Aprovechamiento + Copy
- Proof of Health Insurance + Copy***
- Get an Appointment
General Information
Like everything, please double check the requirements through official sources.
Prórroga de estancia por estudios (inclusion.gob.es link)
You can submit your renewal either in person through an Oficina de Registro or Oficina de Extranjeria.
If you are changing provinces for the upcoming school year, make sure to apply at an Oficina de Registro and direct your application to the suitable Oficina de Extranjeria.
Because of the above stated regulations, I highly recommend you inquire with whomever is processing your application when applying in person. Ask about where exactly your application needs to be directed and if it would be accepted.
Again, you are making a bad decision by applying in person.
Bring everything in an organized fashion. This will include your documents plus copies, a pen, and a phone. During your appointment, you need to receive a número de expediente and a resguardo (usually a stamped copy of your application). If this is not automatically given to you, request it!
The número de expediente is a sequence of numbers that will allow you to track your application status online, and the resguardo is a document that serves as proof that you successfully submitted your documentation. You will need it to apply for a regreso during the TIE renewal process.
Here is a quick guide to your status (Katy Crestol and Becky Kates):
Source: 2021-2022 VLC TIE Renewal Guide
“If there is something wrong with or missing from your application the oficina de extranjería will get in touch with you to let you know (I believe with a letter in the mail, unless you’ve got a certificado digital or cl@ve and marked on your EX-00 form that you’d like to receive electronic notifications).
Either you’ll get this type of letter in the mail OR, if your application was all good, you will get another letter stating that your application has been approved (your “resuelto favorable letter” aka “approval letter”) You will then need to take this letter with you to your toma de huellas cita.”
Once you receive your positive result, move on to Step 2: Toma de Huellas.
Get an Appointment
Step 1:
You will need to submit your documents at an Oficina de Registro or Oficina de Extranjeria. Remember, for those of you changing regions, you will have to send your prórroga application to the province in which you will be living for the upcoming school year. You can still attend an appointment at an Oficina de Registro where you are currently living. In the forwarding address of your application (EX-00), make sure to include the address of the Oficina de Extranjeria for the province you will be in living next school year.
Depending on your region, the Oficina de Registro may or may not assist you and allow you to send your application.
Oficina de Extranjeria: some provinces allow you to apply for prórroga directly through the oficina de extranjeria. This is great for people remaining in the same province. To check, go to the following address:
https://icp.administracionelectronica.gob.es/icpplus/index.html
Oficina de Registro: You can also submit your documents at an oficina de registro. Additionally, you can include a forwarding address in your application form, and the office will send your application to the Oficina de Extranjeria. Below, you can find a link to make an appointment. For those of you that have gotten a digital certificate, this will be the same place where you confirmed your ID.
Some offices allow walk-ins during office hours.
Oficina de Registro appointment webpage for (most) regions: https://ssweb.seap.minhap.es/icpplus/citar?org=OIACR
*Madrid also has their own web portal (linked below)
There are various other methods depending on region, but the 2 options above cover most regions. I’ll include more options below.
País Vasco has their own application webpage for Oficinas de Registro:
https://www.euskadi.eus/zuzenean-atencion-presencial/web01-a2zuzen/es/#oficinas
and so does Galicia:
https://012.xunta.gal/servizos-destacados/cita-previa
And other regions such as Madrid also have their own webpage even though it’s included in the main webpage.
If you are having a difficult time finding an Oficina de Registro in your area, for example those living in small towns not included in the resources above, you can also use this office search tool for the appropriate office. Remember, you are looking for an Oficina de Registro, not Registro Civil.
https://administracion.gob.es/pag_Home/atencionCiudadana/encuentraTuOficina/OficinasRegistro.html
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