Articles and Guides
Complete guides about NIE, TIE, visas and other cita previa extranjería procedures in Spain. Practical advice and real experiences.
How to Set Up Electricity in Spain in 2026
Complete step-by-step guide for expats on how to set up electricity in Spain in 2026. Learn about regulated vs free market, required documents, potencia contratada, and the best electricity providers.
TIE in Spain: What It Is and Why You Need It
The biometric key to legal life and work in Spain. Updated for 2026.
What is Cita Previa in Spain and Why It Matters
Comprehensive guide to Spain’s appointment system: which institutions use it, when it's required, common problems, and practical advice. Updated for 2026.
NIE in Spain: What It Is and Why You Need It
Learn what the NIE is, why you need it in Spain and how EU and non-EU citizens can get the foreigner ID number in 2026 for buying property, banking or work.
How to get an immigration appointment in Spain quickly
The service notifies you when an immigration appointment becomes available but you still need to book it yourself and do it very fast because free slots disappear within minutes or even seconds.
Temporary Residency in Spain
A complete guide to Spanish temporary residence permits for third-country nationals.
What is cita previa extranjería?
Cita previa extranjería is the official appointment system the Spanish government runs for immigration and police procedures. Every NIE, TIE, fingerprint, and residence renewal in Spain is booked through the same shared portal, and slots are released throughout the day rather than on a fixed schedule. The guides on this page walk through the procedures, the documentation requirements, and the realities of finding a slot.
Why appointments are hard to find
Demand for cita previa appointments has consistently outstripped supply for years, especially in the larger provinces. Slots that appear are often booked within seconds, and the official site does not queue requests — whoever submits the form first takes the slot. The articles in this section explain what works and what does not, drawn from how the system actually behaves rather than what the official documentation describes.
The guides also cover the documentation Extranjería and Policía Nacional offices expect, the modelo 790 receipts you may need to bring, and how to pick the right province or office for the procedure you need. Knowing this in advance saves rebookings when paperwork is rejected or you arrive at the wrong type of office.
How Cita Ping helps
Cita Ping monitors the official cita previa site continuously and sends an instant alert when a slot opens for the procedure, province, and office you chose. You set the monitor up once and we keep checking on your behalf around the clock — the guides on this page explain how to configure a monitor that matches your specific situation.
Alerts go out by email and Telegram. Telegram is faster — most people receive it within seconds — and email is a reliable backup. Both channels link straight to the official site, so you can finish the booking yourself the moment a slot is available.
What to do when you get an alert
When the alert arrives, open the official cita previa link straight away and complete the booking yourself — Cita Ping never books on your behalf, only the official site can. Have your passport number, NIE, and contact details ready in advance so the form fills in seconds rather than minutes. If the slot is gone before you finish, leave the monitor running; another alert will arrive when the next slot surfaces.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Cita Ping book appointments for me?
- No. Cita Ping only sends alerts when a slot becomes available — you complete the booking yourself on the official cita previa extranjería website. We are an independent service and do not interact with the booking system on your behalf.
- How fast are the alerts?
- Telegram alerts typically arrive within a few seconds of a slot appearing on the official site. Email is slightly slower because mail servers introduce small delays, but it is still fast enough for most procedures. We recommend enabling both channels.
- Why do appointments disappear so fast?
- Demand far exceeds supply, especially in larger provinces. The official system does not queue requests — whoever fills out the form first gets the slot. This is why instant alerts are essential: by the time you manually refresh the page, the slot is usually already taken.
- Is Cita Ping an official government service?
- No. Cita Ping is an independent third-party service. We are not affiliated with the Spanish government, the Ministry of Inclusion, the National Police, or any official immigration body. We help you find appointments faster, but the booking always happens on the official site.
- Can I monitor multiple offices or procedures at once?
- Yes. You can set up several monitors for different procedure and office combinations, which increases the chance of catching a slot. Each monitor runs independently and sends its own alerts.