Brits Being Told To Get TIE Card Before October

Brits Being Told To Get TIE Card Before October. Expats in Spain are being told to exchange Residencia papers for the TIE card by October 2025.

Brits Being Told To Get TIE Card Before October

British expats in Spain who are still using the green residencia document are being told to get a TIE card before October this year. Those without a TIE card may face difficulties entering Spain when the EU’s Entry / Exit system comes into force in October.

According to the British Embassy in Madrid, under this new border system, all non-EU passengers crossing into Spain or other EU countries will need to register their name, passport details and biometric data unless they can present a valid uniform-format biometric residency card. For British residents in Spain, only a TIE will be accepted by Spanish and EU authorities. The green Residencia 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, Residencia certificate holders attempting to enter Spain or any other country in the Schengen zone may not have their residency rights recognised and may be wrongly accused of overstaying as a tourist in the EU. This could lead to them being denied entry and returned to the UK. Although there will be an appeals process, it may require the Green Certificate holder to return to the UK until it is resolved.

The green residencia documents will not be sufficient to guarantee entry to Spain after October 2025.

TIE Card Will Ensure Entry To Spain

His Majesty’s Ambassador Sir Alex Ellis said: “We have already seen an increase in Brits getting a TIE since our campaign began, which is fantastic news, and we’re grateful to the community groups, charities and British people who’ve helped spread the word. However, there remains a minority of British people still in possession of a Green Certificate so we want to reach them, explain why the TIE is so important and ensure they have one by October, in order to enjoy smooth travel into Spain and the Schengen area.”

How To Get A TIE Card

Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting your TIE card in Spain:

1. Book an Appointment:
You’ll need to book an appointment online via the Ministerio de Política Territorial y Memoria Democrática website.
Select the province where you live and choose the option “Policia-Recogida Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero”
You may need to use Microsoft Explorer or Firefox for the appointment booking, as other browsers may not work properly.

2. Required Documents:
Completed EX-23 Form: You can download this form from the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration website.
Receipt of Payment of the 790 Code 012 Fee: You’ll need to pay this fee (details can be found online).
Your Green Residency Certificate or Resolución de Concesión: This is the document proving your residency.
Passport and photocopy of the identification page.
Recent Photo: A recent photo (not more than a couple of months old) in the Spanish DNI size.
Certificate of Empadronamiento (Padrón): This proves your address.

3. Attend the Appointment:
Take all the required documents to the appointment at the police station.
You’ll have your fingerprints taken.
You’ll be given confirmation of your application and told to book another appointment to collect your TIE card in 5-6 weeks.

4. Collect Your TIE Card:
Once your card is ready, you’ll need to book another appointment to collect it.
You can collect your card at the same police station where you submitted your application.

Published: 20.05.2025

Written by Dave James.