TIE card duplicates
Being left without your card is very worrying. We help you apply for the duplicate and explain what to do in the meantime.
What it involves
A duplicate TIE (tarjeta de identidad de extranjero, the foreigner's identity card) is the procedure for getting a new card when yours has been lost, stolen or damaged. It may also be needed when some of the details shown on it change. It does not change your permit: it only gives you back the physical document.
Is this your case?
- Your wallet has been stolen with the card inside.
- You have lost your TIE and need it to work, travel or go to the bank.
- Your card is broken, faded or the chip can't be read.
- You have changed address or other details and don't know whether you need a new card.
How we help
We tell you whether you first need to report it to the police, prepare the duplicate application and help you get the fingerprint appointment. If you have a trip coming up, we assess whether you also need a return authorisation. And if your card is about to expire, we check whether it is better to renew it directly. We can help you in Spanish, Arabic, Tamazight, French and English, at our offices in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Málaga and Barcelona or online, wherever you are in Spain.
If you have to leave Spain before you have the new card, see return authorisations; and if your permit expires soon, we help you with renewals.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between applying for a duplicate and renewing the TIE?
- A duplicate replaces a lost, stolen or damaged card without changing your permit. A renewal extends your permit when it expires. If both happen at once, we look at it together to do the right procedure.
- What do I do if my residence card has been stolen?
- Report it to the police and keep the copy: you will be asked for it for the duplicate, and it serves as proof in the meantime. Then we apply for the new card.
- Can I keep working while I wait for the duplicate?
- Yes, because what you have lost is the card, not your permit, which is still valid. Even so, carry the police report and the receipt with you in case you are asked for them.
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Tell us about your case.
A first conversation — confidential and without obligation — to understand whether we can help, and how.
We speak Spanish, Arabic, Tamazight (Berber), French and English.