Torrevieja Forum and Discussion Board

Just interested, what will people trying to get residential need for the new TIE card?
Will existing residents have to change their card?

No, not at the moment..

Brits in Spain

We understand that there are lots of rumours going around on social media about the new residency system for UK nationals and that as a result people are concerned. We want to confirm again that there is no obligation for those people who already hold the green residency certificate (below or A4 version) to exchange it for the TIE. Both documents will be valid in demonstrating your residency status and rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, even after the end of the Transition Period. We know how keen people are to understand the new system, but we would encourage you to wait for official information from the Spanish authorities before you consider paying for any additional services related to residency. We expect this official information in the next few days and we will share it as soon as we have it.

Torrevieja Translators.

Important Residencia Update for UK nationals in Spain

Today we have confirmed with the Alicante foreign office that UK Residencia certificates are no longer being processed as they are now implementing the new TIE system.

This means that one can no longer book in for UK special residency appointments until the new system kicks in, which should be in the next few weeks.

If you have an appointment currently booked, these are no longer valid unfortunately.

At this moment in time we are unable to make any appointments with the foreign office/ national police for both the old system and the new system, until these are implemented.

Don't panic however, this only means that there will be a small delay in getting appointments and when that delays ends, people will be obtaining the new TIE cards instead of the green Residencia.

Another thing we would like to make absolutely clear;

Those of you who already have a green Residencia certificate or card, do not have to do anything at this stage, your document remains valid and your right to reside in Spain is not affected. We will be keeping a close eye on any changes in this regard as it unfolds.

Many thanks

From now on whenever I travel I will be carrying my A4 Residencia Certificate with me. This is in case we have a further spike of Covd-19 and Spain shuts its borders again.

The only way that you will be allowed legally to re-enter the country is to produce your proof of Residencia, in what ever format, existing versions or the new TIE, together with your passport at Border Control.

Without that proof you will not be allowed in, nothing else will do.

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JamesB, you are missing the point here. The rules will EXACTLY be the same as the recent border shutdown.

Having Residencia gives you the same rights as a Spanish National. Under the recent closure of borders Spanish Nationals AND foreigners with proof of Residencia were all allowed to enter the country to return to their homes.

I know because I did it with my green A4 Residencia Certificate and my UK passport. I am sure that were others too.

The point that I was trying to make was that, in my opinion, it is now best to travel with whatever proof of Residencia that you have - just in case. I know that whenever I travel again I will be taking my proof of Residencia with me. Take it from me, it will be well worth it.

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You were allowed in if you had a residents card, that was the main criteria. You didn't have to be a Spanish National.

Its something I kept a close on because of returning to the UK. The info was supplied by the FCO on the GOV.UK site after being verified by the Spanish Government.

it was very clear that you had to have the residency card irrespective of your nationality, if you were not a Spanish citizen, returning to your main residence. It was the only thing that was going to get you past border control. That was an EU decision.

Thank you Lincoln45 for backing me up on this subject.

I knew that my information was correct because that is how I returned to my home in Spain on May13th. It took about 30 seconds for the guy on Border Control to check the name on my A4 Residencia Certificate against the name in my UK passport, scan my passport and hand them both back to me. Without proof of Residencia I would not have been allowed to fly because BA would not issue me with a boarding card until they had seen my certificate at check in. BA did not charge extra for issuing a boarding card at check in, unlike certain other airlines.

As I said in my previous posting, from now on I will always take my proof of Residencia with me, just in case. I would advise everyone else to do the same. You just never know when it might be needed.

JamesB - I hope that you have learnt something here. I know that this was not the original topic of this conversation. But I thought that I would pass on my experience for everyone´s information. Take it or leave it, it is up to you.