The month after approval
The notice usually gives you one month to apply for the card. That is for applying, not for finding a slot. The real time to an appointment can be days or weeks depending on the province.
On the day
Arrive about fifteen minutes early. It takes five to fifteen minutes and you leave with a receipt. Arriving late means losing the appointment: there is no waiting list.
How long the card takes
Three to six weeks. Then comes the collection appointment, with its own calendar. From start to card in hand often takes two months or more.
Can I travel with the receipt?
It isn’t a travel document. If you need to leave Spain while the card is being made, apply for a return authorisation (autorización de regreso), which has its own line on fee 790 012.
General information, not legal advice. For questions about your own case, check the decision you were sent or ask a professional.