The British Embassy in Spain is urging any British nationals living in Spain, including the Canary Islands, to get a Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE) as soon as possible if they don’t already have one, following new information from the Spanish Government that the old green card or certificate will not be recognised by the EU’s new Entry Exit System as proof of residency.
The EU have yet to confirm a date for when the Entry Exit System (EES) will come into force, though it is believed to be introduced later this year with a grace period whilst all systems are implemented.
Under this new border control system, all non-EU short-stay travellers will need to register their name, passport details, and biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images) upon entering Spain or any other EU country.
These details will be held on file for three years, meaning Britons making repeat visits to Spain within a three-year period will not have to go through the same registration process each time or have their passport stamped once the EES is fully operational.
To be exempt from registering with the EES, British residents in the EU (not just Spain) will be required to show a valid uniform-format biometric card. For British residents in Spain, only a TIE will be accepted by Spanish and EU authorities. The Green Card or Certificate will not be recognised because it does not meet the requirements to feature in Annex 22 of the Schengen Borders Code.
As a result, Green Card or Certificate holders attempting to enter Spain or any other country in the Schengen zone will not be able to use it as valid proof of residency and may be wrongly accused of overstaying in the EU. This could lead to them being denied entry and returned to the UK in the same way as non-residents. There will be an appeals process although it may require the Green Card or Certificate holder to return to the UK until it is resolved.
His Majesty’s Ambassador to Spain, Sir Alex Ellis said:
“We want British residents in Spain to be able to travel smoothly into this country. That’s why it’s really important that anyone with a Green Certificate gets a TIE. It can take a few months, so start the process now to ensure smooth travel once the EES comes into force later this year.”
The process for securing a TIE appointment is run by the Spanish Government and appointments are readily available in key areas to facilitate uptake. More information on how to apply, including links to Spanish Government websites where the applications are made, can be found on the ‘Living in Spain’ guide on gov.uk.
