UK Nationals Told Green Certificate Not Recognised By Incoming EU Border Control
The British Embassy in Madrid has issued a warning to UK nationals resident in Spain that the “green certificate” that acted as proof of residence status in Spain will not be recognised by the new EU border Exit & Entry control system which is due to come into effect later in the year.
The embassy is urging all UK residents in Spain to exchange their old certificates for the Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE card) as soon as possible.
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 card 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.
The British Embassy and Spanish government is therefore urging those remaining Green Certificate holders to get a TIE as soon as possible.
Sir Alex Ellis, the British Ambassador to Spain 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.
Apply for TIE application: HERE
