NIE and TIE: how do they relate?
The NIE is the reference; the TIE is the plastic a non-EU resident carries, printed with that reference, the permit type and its validity.
Queries
Queries from other passports, British included
The TIE and its fingerprints, permits, Brexit and the NIE from abroad: short answers for everyone else.
I came in on a visa. What comes next?
Book the huellas appointment for your TIE at the station of your comarca, bringing the EX-17, your passport, a photo and the paid 790-012.
Who rules on a residence permit in Tarragona?
Residence authorisations go to the Delegación’s Oficina de Extranjería, Avenida Estanislau Figueras 59, and some profiles to a national unit instead. The card is then issued by the police.
Can a non-resident obtain a NIE?
Yes, on the EX-15 at a police station or through a Spanish consulate in your country, given an economic, professional or social reason.
British, settled here before 2021: what is my document?
A TIE issued under the Withdrawal Agreement, or a green certificate you may exchange for one.
Would buying a flat bring residence?
It would not. The golden visa was abolished in 2025, and owning property gives no right to live in Spain.
How is my card renewed?
The Oficina de Extranjería decides the renewal of the permit; once it is renewed, you book fresh fingerprints at the police station for the new card.
What does the UTIC do?
This municipal service, the Unitat Tècnica d’Immigració i Ciutadania, welcomes newcomers registered in Tarragona and writes the municipal reports used for arraigo social, adequate housing for family reunification and integration effort at renewal.