Duplicate NIE/TIE after loss or theft: the step-by-step guide 🪪
Quick answer: First things first: your NIE number is never lost — it's assigned for life. What you replace is the physical card (TIE). The process: ① police report (loss or theft), ② extranjería appointment at the Public Administrations e-office (procedure «Policía – Toma de huellas / expedición de tarjeta»), ③ fee form 790 code 012 paid at a bank or online, ④ form EX-17 + photo + passport on the day, and ⑤ collection of the new card in 30–45 days. The duplicate cannot be completed fully online: fingerprinting is in person.
Losing the wallet with your TIE inside triggers the same panic every time: have I lost «my NIE»? Can I work, get paid, drive? Breathe: your NIE number is yours for life and only the physical card needs replacing. The procedure has a maze-like reputation because of extranjería appointments, but in the right order it resolves in a single visit — here's the walkthrough.
The full process (checklist table) ✅
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1. Police report | Policía Nacional station or online (loss) — the receipt is requested at the appointment |
| 2. Appointment | sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es → Extranjería → your province → «Policía – expedición de tarjeta» |
| 3. Fee | Form 790 code 012 (≈€12): generated online, paid at a bank or by card |
| 4. Form | EX-17 (TIE application), ticking «duplicate for loss/theft» |
| 5. On the day | Passport, police report, paid fee, EX-17, 1 ID photo, and padrón where asked |
| 6. Collection | With the receipt, when the station notifies you: usually 30–45 days |
⚠️ Extranjería appointments in Madrid and Barcelona vanish fast: try first thing in the morning on several consecutive days. Never pay appointment resellers — it's an illegal market and slots are released free daily.
Can I drive and do paperwork meanwhile? 🚗
Your NIE number remains valid for everything (contracts, taxes, the DGT): prove it with your NIE certificate or the application receipt plus your passport. For driving, what identifies you is your driving licence + passport — a lost TIE doesn't invalidate your licence.
At the DGT the NIE is your key: it links your foreign-driver file, any licence exchange and your points. Update your address with the DGT if you move — notifications go to the registered one.
Tricks that save a second appointment 💡
Bring everything printed (EX-17 in duplicate, fee receipt, police report): many stations won't print for you. The photo: white background, recent, ID size — same as for a DNI. If your TIE was expired as well as lost, the correct procedure may be a renewal rather than a duplicate: ask when booking and avoid a rejected file at the counter.
Mistakes that turn one procedure into three 🌀
- Booking the wrong appointment: you need «Policía – toma de huellas / expedición de tarjeta», not «NIE assignment» or «EU certificates».
- Arriving with the fee unpaid: the 790/012 is paid before the appointment, not after.
- Invalid photo: white background, recent, no sunglasses — the classic avoidable rejection.
- TIE expired as well as lost: then the correct procedure may be renewal; requesting a duplicate sends you back to square one.
- Buying appointments from resellers: illegal, expensive, and it feeds exactly the scarcity you're suffering.
Conclusion 🏁
Losing the TIE is a 30–45-day nuisance, not a crisis: your NIE lives on, your driver file is intact and your licence stays valid next to your passport. Follow the order — report, appointment, fee, EX-17 — and use the wait for what matters: if you don't hold the Spanish licence yet, the exam can be taken in English and TraficoTest's questions exist in both languages.
Frequently asked questions ❓
I lost my NIE — do I lose my number?
No: the NIE number is for life. The duplicate replaces the physical TIE card only.
Can the NIE duplicate be requested online?
Not entirely: the report, fee and form can be prepared online, but issuing the card requires an in-person appointment with fingerprinting.
Which fee is paid for a TIE duplicate?
Form 790 code 012, around €12, generated online and paid at a bank or by card.
How long does the new card take?
Usually 30 to 45 days from the appointment; collect it at the same station with your receipt.
Can I drive while waiting for the new TIE?
Yes: your driving licence remains valid; identify yourself with your passport and, if asked, the procedure receipt.