Spanish immigration forms: EX-15, EX-17, EX-18, EX-19 and 790 fees

Spanish immigration forms: why you need the right form for each procedure

Immigration forms in Spain change depending on the procedure: each application has its own form. Submitting the correct form, properly filled in and with its fee paid, speeds up the review at the office and saves you from being sent back for another appointment. That is why, in our section of Spanish immigration forms, we link each form to the Ministry’s editable PDF and to a guide covering the most common mistakes.

How to know which form you need

It depends on the stage of your application:

• You don’t have an NIE yet: form EX-15.
• Your residence or stay has been granted and you still need the physical card: form EX-17.
• You are an EU citizen and will live in Spain for more than three months: form EX-18.
• You are a family member of an EU citizen: form EX-19.

Below you will find the card for each form with its full guide and the fee that applies.

Spanish immigration forms: how to fill them in without mistakes

Most rejections at the appointment are not about the procedure itself but about a mistake on the form. Follow these steps with any of the Spanish immigration forms on this page:

1. Always download the latest version from the link on each card. EX forms are updated and an old version can cause problems.
2. Fill it in on a computer and in capital letters. The PDF is editable, so nobody has to decipher your handwriting.
3. Copy your details exactly as they appear in your passport: first name, surnames, date of birth and document number.
4. Tick only the box for your procedure. Each form covers several cases; if you tick the wrong one, it may be returned to you.
5. Print it, sign it and date it before the appointment.
6. Pay the fee before you go and bring the receipt along with the form.

Most common mistakes when submitting an EX form

• Writing your name or surnames differently from your passport.
• Forgetting to sign or signing only one of the copies.
• Using the form for another procedure (for example, EX-15 when you actually need EX-17).
• Going to the appointment without having paid the fee or without the receipt.
• Submitting an old version of the form downloaded from another website.

What usually goes with the form

• Valid original passport and a copy.
• A copy of the form as well as the original: many procedures require it in duplicate.
• Proof of payment of the corresponding 790 fee.
• A passport-size photo, if the procedure is for the TIE.
• The documents specific to your case, which we detail in each form’s guide and in the TIE documents by stage.

Spanish immigration forms: what each EX form is for

Before downloading anything, it helps to know what each form is for. This summary of Spanish immigration forms helps you identify yours in under a minute; each form’s card has the full guide.

How to pay the 790 fee for your Spanish immigration forms

Almost every Spanish immigration form comes with a fee. The form and the fee are two different documents: the first explains what you are applying for and the second proves you have paid for the procedure.

1. Choose the right fee. The 790 code 012 fee covers fingerprinting, the TIE, the NIE and certificates. The 790 code 052 fee covers the processing of residence and work authorisations.
2. Fill in the form online from the link on its card, ticking the exact item for your procedure.
3. Pay it before the appointment, at a partner bank or online.
4. Keep the stamped receipt or proof of payment and bring it with the form.

The amount is updated every year, so always check it on the form before paying. You’ll find the details in the 790-012 fee guide and the 790-052 fee guide.

What happens after you submit the form

Submitting the form is not the end of the process. Depending on the form, the usual path is:

• Authorisations (EX-00, EX-01…): the immigration office reviews your file and notifies you of the decision. You can track its status on the electronic headquarters (sede electrónica).
• Card (EX-17, EX-19): after fingerprinting you receive a receipt with your lote (batch) number. When the card reaches your police station, you can check today’s lotes NIE to see whether you can collect it.
• NIE and certificates (EX-15, EX-18): they are usually issued at the appointment itself, or you are told when to collect them.

If your procedure ends with a TIE card, also review the TIE documents required at each stage.

Quick glossary of Spanish immigration forms

These are the terms you will come across most often when filling in EX forms:

NIE

Número de Identidad de Extranjero (Foreigner Identity Number). It is personal and never changes, even when you renew your card.

TIE

Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (Foreigner Identity Card): the physical document with your photo and fingerprints that proves your status in Spain.

EX form (modelo EX)

Each of the numbered immigration application forms (EX-00, EX-01, EX-15, EX-17…).

790 fee (tasa 790)

The form you use to pay for the procedure. Its code (012, 052…) depends on what you are applying for.

Central Register of Foreign Nationals

The register in which, among others, EU citizens living in Spain are recorded (form EX-18).

Receipt (resguardo)

The proof you are given when you submit the application or have your fingerprints taken. Keep it: you will need it to collect the card.

❓ Frequently asked questions: Spanish immigration forms

Always check each form’s guide before submitting your Spanish immigration forms at the office.