The British Embassy in Spain is urging all British nationals resident in Spain to get a tarjeta de identidad de extranjero (TIE) as soon as possible

This follows new information from the Spanish Government that the old Green Certificate will not be recognised by the EU’s Entry Exit System.  

The EU have yet to announce a date for when the Entry Exit System (EES) will come into force, though it is believed to be later this year. Under this new border system, all non-EU short stay travellers will need to register their name, passport details, 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 EES is fully implemented.  

To be exempt from registering with the EES, British residents in the EU will need 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 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-Certificate holders attempting to enter Spain or any other country in the Schengen zone will not be able to use their Green Certificate 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. There will be an appeals process although it may require the Green-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.    

(News: Spain)

Keywords: British Embassy, Ambassador, Sir Alex Ellis, Green Certificate, Not Recognised, TIE

news,spain, british embassy, ambassador, sir alex ellis, green certificate, not recognised, tie

Reader’s comment: “We have our cards, but I’m still unclear how being in possession of one will allow residents to pass through an automatic, unmanned, biometric screening and gate. Does anybody have an official release to explain how the system will work for us?” – Trevor Mitchell

Reader’s comment: “I renewed mine because my old green one was falling to bits. The difference is though, that the green one didn’t have to be renewed, but the TIE only lasts ten years. When I moved here in 2003, the temporary residents card which lasted six months had a mugshot and your fingerprints, then they changed to the green card which for some baffling reason did not.” – Garcito