The UK Embassy in Spain is insisting Brits alternate their inexperienced certificates for TIE playing cards to keep away from journey points, this time specializing in these in Alicante and Málaga as they make up the majority of these holding onto their previous residency paperwork.
The British Embassy in Spain is asking on British residents particularly inside the Málaga and Alicante provinces to alternate their paper inexperienced Certificates for a TIE (‘tarjeta de identidad de extranjero’) urgently.
This focused push follows the publication of knowledge from the Spanish Ministry for Inclusion, Social Safety and Migrations which states that Inexperienced Certificates possession is most prevalent inside these two provinces the place massive variety of UK nationals reside.
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It’s anticipated that these people will face appreciable difficulties when the EU’s Entry Exit System comes into power in October this yr. Underneath this new border system, all non-EU passengers crossing into Spain or different EU international locations might want to register their identify, passport particulars and biometric information except they’ll current a sound uniform-format biometric residency card.
READ ALSO: UK Embassy insists Brits in Spain get TIEs or risk being ‘treated as overstayers’
For Britons residing in Spain, solely a TIE can be accepted by Spanish and EU authorities. The Inexperienced Certificates won’t be recognised as a result of it doesn’t meet the necessities to function in Annex 22 of the Schengen Borders Code.
Consequently, inexperienced certificates holders making an attempt to enter Spain or another nation within the Schengen zone could not have their residency rights recognised and could also be wrongly accused of overstaying as a vacationer within the EU. This might result in them being denied entry and returned to the UK. Though there can be an appeals course of, it could require the Inexperienced Certificates holder to return to the UK till it’s resolved.
READ MORE: How Brits in Spain can exchange their green residency document for a TIE
With a whole bunch of hundreds of British nationals – residents and vacationers – passing via Alicante and Málaga airports annually, it’s significantly crucial that anybody with a Inexperienced Certificates in these provinces exchanges it to a TIE as quickly as doable, as the vast majority of residents have already executed so.
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His Majesty’s Ambassador Sir Alex Ellis stated: “We’ve got already seen a rise in Brits getting a TIE since our marketing campaign started, which is unbelievable information, and we’re grateful to the group teams, charities and British individuals who’ve helped unfold the phrase.
READ MORE: How many Brits live legally in Spain and how many are ‘under the radar’?
Nevertheless, there stays a minority of British folks nonetheless in possession of a Inexperienced Certificates so we wish to attain them, clarify why the TIE is so vital and guarantee they’ve one by October, in an effort to get pleasure from clean journey into Spain and the Schengen space.”
READ ALSO: Spain’s green residency certificate will not be recognised by the EU’s EES system
The British Embassy in Spain has been working a marketing campaign to encourage take up of the TIE since Could final yr and, most just lately, has stepped up exercise within the Alicante and Málaga provinces.
This has included outreach occasions and engagements with charities and British teams similar to, Age Concern, the Royal British Legion, MABS Most cancers Help, Samaritans, Assist at Dwelling, varied HELP teams and others.
The Embassy has additionally labored with native townhalls and media retailers to unfold messages on EES and the TIE and is working with the Spanish Authorities to extend appointment availability in key areas.
This text has been equipped by the UK Embassy in Madrid, with some minor edits by The Native Spain.
