Immigration Office (Extranjería): appointments, procedures and offices

Appointments are booked on the public administrations' electronic office. Who must book depends on the authorisation: the employer for first work and residence permits, the sponsor for family reunification, a parent or guardian for minors or persons lacking legal capacity, and the foreign national or their representative in other cases.

Not every foreigners' office uses the appointment system: if yours is not listed, contact it directly. This information is a guide; always confirm details on the official site.

Common procedures

Immigration appointment (cita previa)

Used to submit authorisation applications at foreigners' offices or Policía Nacional premises.

Check the status of your file

The electronic office offers a service to check the processing status of immigration files.

Pay immigration fees

Accessed from the Immigration category of the electronic office, through the fees category.

Electronic filing (MERCURIO)

Lets you file immigration authorisation applications electronically and add documents to files already open.

Queries to foreigners' offices

A form to send specific questions to a foreigners' office.

Policía Nacional premises

The Policía Nacional electronic office has a province-by-province finder for offices that process matters for foreign nationals.

How to book an appointment

Check who must book according to your authorisation: the employer, the sponsor, a parent or guardian, or the foreign national or their representative.

Review the site's technical requirements (device and browser) and open Cita Previa de Extranjería.

Find your foreigners' office or police premises in the list and book the appointment.

Keep your receipt: its number lets you check or cancel the appointment. If the email does not arrive, use “consultar cita” or ask for it to be resent.

If the system says no appointments are available, all slots are taken right now: try again later.

To cancel, log in with the same details you booked with, verify your identity, choose “anular cita” and enter the receipt number.

Usual documents

The details you book with (you will need the same ones to cancel)

The receipt number from your appointment confirmation

The documents for your specific authorisation: the appointment page does not list them, so ask your foreigners' office

For a minor's procedure, a parent, guardian or legal representative applies; the minor does not need to attend

Frequently asked questions

Who has to book the appointment?

It depends on the authorisation. The employer for first work and residence permits; the sponsor for family reunification; a parent or guardian for minors or persons lacking capacity; otherwise the foreign national or their representative.

What if no appointments are available?

The message “No hay citas disponibles en este momento” means all slots are taken. Try again later. Availability varies by office; for non-technical questions you can call 060 or contact the office.

How do I cancel an appointment?

Log in to the Cita Previa application with the same details you used to book. After verifying your identity, choose “anular cita” and enter your receipt number.

Can I change my phone or email on the appointment?

Not in the online application. To change those details you must contact the office where you booked the appointment.

My office is not in the list. What do I do?

Not every foreigners' office uses the appointment system. Contact the office directly; the electronic office links to the list of offices with their contact details.

Who do I call with questions or technical problems?

060 is the main phone line for any question about immigration appointments, including technical ones. For technical faults there is also a help form on the electronic office, choosing the Cita Previa type.