Regularisation granted: how to get your TIE in Málaga within the one-month deadline
You have the favourable decision, but not the card yet. What to bring, where to give your fingerprints in the province, what to do if your passport has expired and how long it really takes.
This week we have seen the same scene several times: someone walks into the office with the favourable decision printed out, convinced that everything is done. Almost. They are missing the step that turns that paper into a document they can show at the bank, at work or at the airport.
The decision grants the permit; the TIE proves it. And there is a short deadline to apply for it, right when a huge number of people are chasing the same appointment as you. It is not a difficult procedure, but small details trip people up: a photo that is not accepted, a fee with the wrong box ticked, a passport that expired while you were waiting.
Why the favourable decision is not the end
The regularisation was approved by Royal Decree 316/2026 of 14 April. When your file is decided in your favour, you are granted a residence and work authorisation. It exists from that moment, but what proves it day to day is the TIE: the card with your photo, your fingerprint and the type of permit.
The Royal Decree leaves no room for interpretation: during the month immediately following the grant of the authorisation, the foreign national must apply for the foreigner identity card. It is not a recommendation: it is an obligation with a deadline. In practice, that month is counted from the day you are notified of the decision.
Do not confuse it with the NIE either. The NIE is only your identification number and says nothing about whether you are in a regular situation. What proves a valid permit is the TIE; that is why the bank asks for «the card» even if you bring your NIE and the printed decision.
Your one-month deadline, counted properly
A month sounds like plenty until you break it down. The part you control is short: getting the papers ready. The part you do not control is the appointment, and that is what decides whether you arrive comfortably or in a rush. This is the full route:
| Stage | Who controls it | What you need to know |
|---|---|---|
| Notification of the decision | The Administration | Your month starts here. Download it and keep it as a PDF and on paper. |
| Getting the papers ready | You | EX-17, fee, photo and copies. One or two days if there are no surprises with your passport. |
| Getting the fingerprint appointment | Availability on the portal | The stage that gets stuck the most. Start searching the day you are notified. The appointment date can fall in the following month: what matters is booking it within the month. |
| Fingerprinting | The National Police station | A short visit. You leave with a receipt you must keep. |
| Card production and pickup | The National Police | Currently 20 to 40 days in Málaga. You collect it in person. |
The typical mistake is gathering the papers first and searching for the appointment afterwards. The other way round works better: search for the appointment from day one and prepare the papers in the meantime.
What to bring on fingerprint day
On top of what the National Police asks for any first TIE, on 1 July 2026 the Secretary of State for Security issued Instruction 7/2026, specific to this regularisation, which clarifies which identity document is accepted and what happens with your address. This is the list:
| Document | Details | What to watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| EX-17 form | Foreigner Identity Card application, original and copy, signed. | Tick that it is a first card. Details identical to those on the decision. |
| Valid original passport | A registration card (cédula de inscripción) or a travel document recognised by Spain is also accepted. | Originals and in good condition. If it has expired, see the next section. |
| One photograph | Passport size, in colour, white background, recent. | Old photos or coloured backgrounds are rejected at the counter. |
| 790 code 012 fee | Paid. For the first grant of temporary residence it is €16.08. | Tick the box for a first TIE, not the renewal one. Bring the bank receipt. |
| Grant decision | Printed copy of the favourable decision. | Bring it even if they say they have it on the system. |
| Padrón certificate | Only if requested. | Not needed by default. See the address section. |
| Appointment confirmation | The confirmation email or PDF. | Without it, some police stations will not let you in. |
If your passport has expired
It is the most common problem in this regularisation: many people applied with a valid passport and, between the wait and delays at some consulates, it expired along the way.
Instruction 7/2026 covers this case. If you have not been able to renew it, the Police can issue the card if you prove you have tried: proof of an appointment at your consulate, emails from the embassy, the receipt of your renewal application or any other evidence. It is assessed case by case, so do not turn up with a verbal explanation: bring paperwork.
If you have moved since you applied
By default the Police use the address you declared in your application, so you do not need to bring a new padrón certificate. They will only ask for one if you have moved, if they cannot check it electronically or if you object to them checking it; in that case a certificate or volante less than three months old is accepted. If you have moved, register at your new address as soon as possible and bring it to the appointment.
How to book the fingerprint appointment in Málaga
The appointment is booked on the Public Administrations e-portal, the same system used for every other immigration appointment. Choose the province of Málaga and the procedure «POLICÍA-TOMA DE HUELLAS (EXPEDICIÓN DE TARJETA) INICIAL, RENOVACIÓN, DUPLICADO Y LEY 14/2013». The system shows you the offices with slots available.
You do not have to go to Málaga city. In the province, these National Police stations, among others, handle fingerprinting:
| National Police station | Address |
|---|---|
| Málaga · Provincial station | Plaza de Manuel Azaña, 3 |
| Benalmádena | Calle Las Flores, 6 |
| Torremolinos | Calle Skal, 12 |
| Fuengirola | Avenida Condes de San Isidro, 98 |
| Marbella | Avenida Duque de Lerma |
| Estepona | Calle Valle Inclán, 1 |
| Vélez-Málaga | Calle Puerta del Mar, 4 (Torre del Mar) |
| Antequera and Ronda | Calle Ciudad de Oaxaca, s/n · Calle Río Tinto, 2 |
If there are no slots at yours, widen the search: booking in Torremolinos or Fuengirola while living in Benalmádena can be the difference between making the deadline or not. The tricks for finding a slot are the ones in our guide to immigration appointments in Málaga: go back to step one instead of refreshing, do not use a VPN and try when slots are released.
- A · On your own
- You go to the portal, pick the procedure and the office, and keep trying until a slot appears. You fill in the EX-17 and pay the fee yourself. It works if you have time to search every day and your passport is valid.
- B · Handled by us
- We search actively for the appointment, book it in your name, fill in the form, pay the fee and send you the confirmation with the exact list of what to bring. If your passport has expired, we prepare the evidence with you. €60, fee included.
Appointment day: what happens at the National Police station
The visit is short. You hand in the documents, they check your identity and your file, take your fingerprints and you sign. At the end you get a card application receipt. Guard it carefully: it proves you applied for the TIE on time and you will need it to collect the card.
Bring originals and a copy of each document, and check that the fee has been paid, not just generated.
How long the card takes and how to collect it
From fingerprinting, cards are currently taking 20 to 40 days in Málaga. It can vary by station and time of year, because it does not depend on you or on us, but on the Police's workload.
Collection is in person: you go with your passport and the receipt, and they take your fingerprint to hand it over. Some offices also require an appointment to collect («POLICÍA-RECOGIDA DE TARJETA DE IDENTIDAD DE EXTRANJERO (TIE)»); others do not. Ask on fingerprint day.
Can I work and travel while I wait for the card?
Work, yes. Your authorisation is granted from the decision, and you could already work from the moment your application was admitted, with the provisional authorisation. You do not have to wait for the card to keep working or to sign a new contract.
Travelling outside Spain is another matter. The receipt is not a travel document and does not let you back in. If you need to leave before you have the TIE, ask us before buying the ticket: your case needs assessing and, where appropriate, the corresponding authorisation has to be requested.
Your TIE is valid for one year: the next step starts now
It is what almost nobody has in mind on the day they collect the card: the regularisation authorisation is valid for one year and does not renew itself.
The Royal Decree provides that, in the two months before it expires, you can apply to switch to an ordinary authorisation for residence and work. If that route is not open to you, an extension is possible if you prove you are actively seeking work and registered with the public employment services, or with a favourable integration report. There are specific rules for serious illness or disability, and validity is different for minor children.
In practice, the switch is prepared months in advance. Keeping your contract, contributions and padrón in order during this year is what decides how easy the next step will be.
Mistakes that cost you the appointment or the deadline
- Not checking notifications. The month runs from the notification: the sooner you open it, the more room you have.
- Turning down an appointment because it is for the following month. Take it anyway: what counts is booking it within the deadline.
- Paying the fee with the wrong box ticked. It is the first-TIE one, not renewal or NIE.
- Bringing an old photo or one with a coloured background. It gets rejected at the counter.
- Turning up with an expired passport and no evidence. The exception exists, but it has to be documented.
- Losing the receipt. Without it, collecting the card gets complicated.
- Travelling before you have the TIE. The receipt does not let you back in.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to apply for the TIE after a favourable decision?
One month from the notification of the favourable decision, under Royal Decree 316/2026. Within that month you have to book the fingerprint appointment, even if the date you get is in the following month.
What documents do I need for the regularisation TIE?
The EX-17 form, your valid original passport (or registration card or travel document), a recent passport-size photo with a white background, the paid 790 code 012 fee, the grant decision and the appointment confirmation. The padrón certificate only if requested.
How much is the TIE fee?
For the first temporary residence card, the fee is €16.08 with form 790 code 012. It is paid before the appointment, ticking the first-TIE box rather than the renewal one, and on fingerprint day you must bring the bank receipt: a generated form that has not been paid is not accepted.
My passport expired while I was waiting. Can I still get the TIE?
Yes, as an exception. Instruction 7/2026 allows it to be issued if you prove you have tried to renew it: a consular appointment, emails from the embassy or the receipt of your renewal application.
Where do I give my fingerprints in Málaga?
At the National Police stations that handle fingerprinting: Málaga city, Benalmádena, Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Marbella, Estepona, Vélez-Málaga, Antequera and Ronda, among others. The appointment is province-wide, so you can choose any with a free slot.
What if the appointment is for the following month or the deadline passes?
If the date falls in the following month, take the appointment anyway: what matters is booking it within the deadline. If the month goes by, from what we are seeing it is not having consequences, but you should always try and keep dated screenshots of each search.
How long does the TIE take to be ready?
Currently 20 to 40 days from fingerprinting in Málaga. It can vary by police station and time of year, because it depends on the National Police workload. Collection is in person: you go with your passport and the receipt you were given on fingerprint day.
Can I travel outside Spain with the receipt?
We do not recommend it. The TIE application receipt is not a travel document and does not guarantee that you can re-enter Spain. If you need to leave before you have the card, check your case before buying the ticket to assess whether the corresponding authorisation should be requested.
Can they refuse the TIE if my authorisation has less than six months left?
Some National Police stations are not issuing it in that case, although the rules state that it must be issued, and there is a wide debate about it. If they do not issue it, your proof will be the favourable decision: always keep it.
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