Administrative Procedures
Booking official appointments (Cita Previa)
How Spain's appointment-booking system works, and why you'll need it for almost every administrative procedure.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-15
This guide is not yet verified by Tuchati's editorial review — treat it as a helpful starting point, not a final legal answer.
Overview
Cita previa (prior appointment) is the standard way to access most Spanish government offices — police stations for immigration matters, the Tax Agency, Social Security, and town halls generally don't accept walk-ins for anything beyond the simplest queries. Understanding the system saves real frustration.
Requirements
- Applies to almost any in-person visit to a Spanish public administration office
- Each body (police/immigration, Tax Agency, Social Security, town hall) runs its own separate booking system — there's no single unified portal covering all of them
Step-by-step process
- Identify which specific office and procedure you need an appointment for, since booking systems are separate for each body
- Access the relevant booking portal — most are online, though some offices also allow phone booking
- Select the nearest office with availability; in large cities this sometimes means checking several branches
- Book the earliest available slot, and note any documents the booking system specifies you should bring
- Attend on time — many offices are strict about this and will not see you if you arrive after your slot
Required documents
- Varies by procedure — check the specific appointment type's document list on the booking portal itself
Common mistakes
- Assuming one appointment system covers every government body — each (Extranjería, Agencia Tributaria, Seguridad Social, ayuntamientos) has its own
- Waiting until the last minute to book, when appointment slots in busy provinces can be scarce for weeks
- Not double-checking which physical office your appointment is at, especially in larger cities with multiple branches
Practical tips
- Appointment slots are commonly released at specific times (for example, early morning) — checking regularly, or right when a new batch is expected, improves your chances in high-demand areas
- If your nearest office has no availability, some booking systems let you choose a different branch in the same province with sooner slots
How Tuchati can help
If appointments are fully booked in your area or you're not sure which office and system you need, a Tuchati One Request can find you a route through it.