Spain's Tasa 790-012 Fee Form: Why the Generator Fails and How to Pay
You have your TIE fingerprint appointment, or you need an NIE, and the fee form errors out every single time. It is not your computer. Here is how to get it done, step by step.
What the 790-012 fee is (and what it is not)
Modelo 790 is the generic fee form of the Spanish central administration. Código 012 is the National Police version, and it is the one you pay for:
- Issuing or renewing the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero), the fingerprint appointment after you arrive on your visa.
- Assigning an NIE.
- Stay extensions (for example, student stays).
- The EU family member card.
Do not confuse it with código 052. That one is the Immigration Office (Oficina de Extranjería) fee: initial residence and work authorisations and their renewals. Paying the wrong code does not cover your procedure, and the money is not transferred from one to the other.
Why the generator errors
There is no "blank" 790-012. The form is always generated online and comes out with a unique justificante number and a barcode; without that number, the bank will not take it. So when the generator fails, there is no shortcut of "download the PDF and fill it in by hand". You need a generator that works.
And here is the detail almost nobody knows: there are two official generators for the same fee. When one fails, the other usually works.
| Generator | Where | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| National Police electronic office | sede.policia.gob.es → Tasas → Modelo 790 código 012 | The usual one. Try it first. |
| Ministry of Territorial Policy electronic office | sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es → Tasas → Modelo 790 código 012 | When the Police one errors. The PDF it produces is equally valid. |
The failures we see most, from most to least common: the browser blocks the pop-up where the PDF opens (and the site returns a generic error), an ad blocker or extension interferes with the form, characters the system does not digest (accents, ñ, hyphens in the NIE), two boxes ticked at once, or the service itself is down for hours (it happens, especially Monday mornings and at month end).
The checklist that fixes it in most cases
- Clean Chrome or Firefox, no ad blocker or extensions (or a guest window). Safari and mobile browsers cause more trouble.
- Pop-ups allowed for the sede domain. The PDF opens in a new tab; if it is blocked, it looks like the form failed.
- Name and address without accents or ñ, exactly as they appear in your passport in basic Latin characters. Your NIE (if you already have one) without hyphens or spaces.
- Only one box ticked: the one that matches your procedure exactly (for example, "TIE documenting the first grant of a temporary residence authorisation"). If you hesitate between two, ask in the chat or check your appointment letter: it usually states the concept.
- Do not type the amount: the form calculates it when you tick the box. Figures circulating on forums are usually from previous years.
- If it still fails, switch generator (table above). If both fail at the same time, the service is down: wait a few hours or try first thing the next morning.
How to pay once it is generated
The generator gives you the form in three copies (for the Administration, for you, and for the bank). You have two ways to pay:
- At the counter of a collaborating bank (most large Spanish banks). Bring the printed form, pay in cash or from an account, and they hand back the stamped copy. This is the safest route if your card is foreign.
- Electronic payment with a Spanish bank card or account through the official gateway. Keep the receipt with the NRC code: that is your proof of payment. Some foreign cards are rejected; if so, do not retry blindly (you could be charged twice): go to the counter.
At the fingerprint appointment you bring the stamped Administration copy or the electronic payment receipt. Without it, they will not take your fingerprints and you lose the slot, which in Madrid and Barcelona can take weeks to come round again.
Mistakes that cost a second appointment
- Paying código 052 when your procedure was 012 (or the other way round).
- Ticking the renewal box when it is your first TIE.
- Paying the fee in someone else's name (each applicant pays their own, children included).
- Losing the justificante number: write it down or photograph the form before you go to the bank.
Is the TIE the last step of a move you are still preparing?
Free guided questionnaire: 5 minutes, no signup. You will see your realistic visa route, your consulate, your numbers and your biggest blocker, and the full sequence through to the card.
Xpat Spain is a self-help document preparation and information service — not a law firm or a gestoría. Fee amounts, boxes and the behaviour of the electronic offices change frequently: this guide was verified in August 2026 — always confirm on the official National Police and Ministry of Territorial Policy sites before paying.