Spanish · Cita previa
You phone to book an appointment at a government office: what to say in Spanish
You phone to book an appointment at a public office.
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How it's done. Almost every public office in Spain needs an appointment (cita previa): through the office's website (sede electrónica), by phone or app; without one they rarely see you.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Información, buenos días.Een-for-muh-SYOHN, boo-EH-nos DEE-uhs.
Information, good morning.
They might also say:
Atención al ciudadano, dígame.
Uh-tayn-SYOHN ahl syoo-duh-DAH-noh, DEE-guh-meh.
Citizen service, go ahead.
YOU REPLY
Buenos días, quisiera pedir cita previa para un trámite de extranjería.
Boo-EH-nos DEE-uhs, kee-SYEH-ruh peh-DEER SEE-tuh PREH-byuh PAH-ruh oon TRAH-mee-teh deh eks-trahn-kheh-REE-uh.
Good morning, I'd like to book an appointment for an immigration procedure.
THEY SAY
Tiene que pedirla por internet, en la sede electrónica.TYEH-neh keh peh-DEER-luh por een-tehr-NET, en lah SEH-deh eh-lek-TROH-nee-kuh.
You have to book it online, on the electronic site.
They might also say:
Se pide por internet, en la sede electrónica.
Seh PEE-deh por een-tehr-NET, en lah SEH-deh eh-lek-TROH-nee-kuh.
It is booked online, on the electronic site.
2
YOU REPLY
¿Y si no tengo ordenador?
Ee see noh TAYN-goh or-deh-nuh-DOR?
And if I don't have a computer?
THEY SAY
Puede hacerlo desde el móvil o en un locutorio.Poo-EH-deh uh-SEHR-loh DEZ-deh el MOH-beel oh en oon loh-koo-TOH-ryoh.
You can do it from your mobile or at an internet shop.
3
YOU FINISH
Entendido. Muchas gracias.
Ayn-tayn-DEE-doh. MOO-chuhs GRAH-syuhs.
Understood. Thank you very much.
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “Spanish for life in Spain”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Información
Een-for-muh-SYOHN
noun
information
buenos
boo-EH-nos
adjective
good (masc. plural)
días
DEE-uhs
noun
days
quisiera
kee-SYEH-ruh
verb
I would like
pedir
peh-DEER
verb
to ask for, to order
cita
SEE-tuh
noun
appointment
29 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?
Poo-EH-deh reh-peh-TEER-loh, por fuh-BOR?
Can you repeat that, please?
¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor?
Poo-EH-deh uh-BLAHR mahs des-PAH-syoh, por fuh-BOR?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Todavía no hablo bien español.
Toh-duh-BEE-uh noh AH-bloh byayn es-puh-NYOL.
I don't speak Spanish well yet.
¿Puede escribírmelo, por favor?
Poo-EH-deh es-kree-BEER-meh-loh, por fuh-BOR?
Can you write it down for me, please?
Similar situations
You explain that there are no free appointmentsCita previa · A2 in the app
→You arrive for your appointment and show the confirmationCita previa · A2 in the app
→You arrive later than your appointment time and ask to be seenCita previa · A2 in the app
→You look for which office to go toCita previa · A2 in the app
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