-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 P5HI8mHPWMvRM9a4aHdVAwMpoazc+mSwZLj3B6j6sSR9bh1RptSAnUiktfPjP/kn
 7QM6C3cbZ0xbysUgyc4vAA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001225889-07-000006.txt : 20070809
<SEC-HEADER>0001225889-07-000006.hdr.sgml : 20070809
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070809123706
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001225889-07-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070807
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070809
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070809

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000897861
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				850366665
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NM
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7900 JEFFERSON NE
		CITY:			ALBUQUERQUE
		STATE:			NM
		ZIP:			87109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5052417500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7900 JEFFERSON NE
		CITY:			ALBUQUERQUE
		STATE:			NM
		ZIP:			87190

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STANFORD MICHAEL R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000937386

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12487
		FILM NUMBER:		071038859

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 LOMAS AVE NW
		CITY:			ALBUQUERQUE
		STATE:			NM
		ZIP:			87102
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-08-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000897861</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>fsnm</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000937386</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STANFORD MICHAEL R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7900 JEFFERSON, NE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ALBUQUERQUE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NM</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>87109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.02</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-08-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>55925</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.02</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-08-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>55925</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>360925</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Vesting of these options is contingent upon meeting certain performance goals as of December 31, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael R. Stanford</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-08-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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