Brexit to Spain
This guide sets out essential information for British citizens moving to or living in Spain
This information is provided as a guide only. You should get definitive information from the Spanish authorities. Read the general guidance on moving to and living in Spain from the Spanish government.
Entering Spain
Before you move to Spain you must apply for the appropriate visa. See the Spanish Consulates in London, Edinburgh or Manche
You must apply for your residence document – a ‘Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE’)- as soon as you arrive in Spain. Your children must also be registered with their own residency documents.
You will need a TIE to be exempt from registering with the EU Entry Exit System (EES).
You must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad
New Schengen entry requirements (EU Entry Exit System – EES)
From 12 October 2025, the European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) will begin. It will require third country nationals, including UK nationals, visiting the EU to create a digital record and provide their biometric data (fingerprints and facial image) at the border when they enter the EU’s Schengen Zone.
To be exempt from registering with the EU’s Entry Exit System (EES), British residents in the EU will be required to show a uniform-format biometric card which is listed as a residency document under the Withdrawal Agreement. For residents of Spain, that card is the Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE). View the EU’s frequently asked questions about the EES. During the initial 6 months of EES your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in the EU country or countries where you live or work.
On arrival, if you cannot prove that you are a resident in Spain, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the EU and may be required to register in EES.
Green certificates and the EU Entry / Exit Scheme (EES)
Green Certificates (‘Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión Europea’) will not be recognised for EES exemption. The Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE) is the only residency document listed in the EU Schengen Border Guard Handbook and is the only document which border officers will accept as legal proof of residency.
Green Certificate holders may be wrongly identified as overstaying in the Schengen area and, therefore, denied entry to Spain or other Schengen countries.
Contact the Spanish Government’s ‘Extranjeria’ offices for information on how to apply for the new TIE.
Registering as a first-time resident
You must apply for your residence document as soon as you arrive in Spain. Children must also be registered with their own residency documents.
UK nationals living in Spain must register on:
· the central register of foreign nationals (‘registro central de extranjeros’) where you will be issued a biometric ID card called a ‘Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero’ (TIE) and assigned a unique Foreigner Identity Number (‘NIE’ – Número de Identificación de Extranjero). Your NIE is essential for various legal and financial transactions, including buying property, opening a bank account, paying taxes, and more.
· the municipal register (‘padrón municipal’) at your local town hall. This is necessary to access local public services in the area where you live (i.e. schools, social services etc.).
Consulting an immigration lawyer or gestor can help with the residency process. See ‘Find a lawyer in Spain’.
Many bureaucratic processes in Spain have now been digitalised allowing you to consult records and submit applications online via a digital signature certificate such as Cl@ve.
See Further sources of support with residency. The Spanish government offers the following information on living in Spain:
· moving to Spain
· registering your residence
· different types of residence permit available to you (in Spanish)
Applying for a TIE
To begin the process, see guidance from the Spanish authorities on registering your residency.
You must submit your residence application to the immigration office (Oficina de Extranjeria) in the province where you live.
Schedule an appointment with the immigration office or National Police station through the electronic office of the Public Administration.
Check in advance of your appointment the list of documentation you need to present on the day.
Your fingerprints will be taken as part of the application process.
After your application is processed (this usually takes a few weeks), you will need to return to the Immigration Office or police station to collect your TIE card.
You must renew your TIE card if it is about to expire. See TIE Renewal.
Green certificate holders
If you have a green A4 certificate or credit card-sized piece of paper from Extranjeria or the Police called a ‘Green Certificate’ (‘Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión Europea’) you should exchange it for a ‘Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE)’. See Applying for a TIE.
Unlike the Green Certificate, the uniform-format biometric TIE is compatible with the new EES, simplifying travel in and out of the Schengen Zone (see New Schengen entry requirements section. It also facilitates your access to public services within Spain, and can help you access any support you need. Most British residents in Spain now hold a TIE.
British residents in Spain in possession of the Green Certificate will not be able to use the document as proof of legal residency status at Spanish or other Schengen borders and they will not be recognised for EES exemption. The ‘Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero’ (TIE) is the only residency document listed in the EU Schengen Border Guard Handbook and, therefore, the only document which border offices will accept as legal proof of residency.
Green Certificate holders may be wrongly identified as overstaying in the Schengen area and, therefore, denied entry to Spain or other Schengen countries. To ensure you are exempt from registering with EES checks, you will need to show a TIE.
While the green certificate will not be recognised for travel and EES exemption when EES is introduced in October, it does continue to be a valid proof of residency, and therefore, entitlement to public services within Spain.
If you have difficulty using your green A4 certificate or credit card-sized piece of paper within Spain, you can refer to this Letter confirming the continued recognition of the certificate of registration (green residency certificate) for UK residents in Spain (PDF, 216 KB, 2 pages). This document sets out the most relevant official Spanish government websites that confirm the validity of the Green Certificate.
For further information in English on exchanging your green certificate see the Spanish government’s residency Q&A for UK nationals and their families living in Spain.
If you have lived in Spain for some time but not previously registered as resident
If you have been living in Spain for some time and have not yet registered as a resident, you should take action now. It is a legal requirement for all foreign nationals residing in Spain to register as residents. See Applying for a TIE.
Obtaining a ‘Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE)’ ensures you are prepared for the future as this document is key to accessing vital services in later life. It also means that you won’t face travel disruptions when the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) comes into effect on 12 October 2025.
If you were living in Spain prior to 1st January 2021 and can demonstrate you were living in Spain legally despite not having previously registered, you and your family members may have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement. You will be asked to submit evidence to prove that you complied with the residency criteria at the time (e.g. you were registered on the municipal registry ‘padron municipal’ and had comprehensive healthcare insurance).
If your application is successful, you will be issued with a biometric residence card called a ‘Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE).’ This card has ‘Articulo 50 TUE’ printed on it which shows that you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
If your application is rejected, you may be able to appeal. See Appeal process for further information.
For further information in English on registering as resident see the Spanish government’s residency Q&A for UK nationals and their families living in Spain.
Appeal process
If your application for residency or request to register under the Withdrawal Agreement is refused, read the refusal letter carefully. It will set out the decision, the reasons for it, and how to appeal. You have 1 month to appeal from the date of the refusal letter.
The appeal process usually has 2 steps:
1. administrative appeal, where a different administrative authority reviews the decision
2. court appeal
The outcome of an appeal is final. If you want to appeal, we strongly recommend you seek independent, specialised legal advice. The British Embassy cannot get involved in individual immigration applications and we cannot provide legal advice.
You can:
· seek legal advice using the Spanish Bar Association website (Spanish with English translation) or the ‘Find a lawyer in Spain’ directory
· read about access to legal aid in Spain
· get help and advice, or make a complaint about how your registration request has been processed, free of charge, using the European Commission’s specialist assistance service
If you do not meet Spanish residency requirements
If you do not want to appeal, or do not meet the criteria to reside in Spain under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, you can consider other options:
· contact the local immigration services (servicio de atención al inmigrante) provided by your local town hall or regional government
· read the Spanish government information on general immigration routes and criteria (in Spanish). This includes information on how to apply for residence status under exceptional circumstances, such as if you are a victim of domestic violence, or if you can prove strong family, work or social links to Spain
· contact organisations that specialise in migration issues, such as ACCEM (in Spanish) or Migrar.org (in Spanish) run by the Red Cross
· read information on returning to the UK
If you already have a TIE
If you already have a TIE, it is your responsibility to ensure that your details (i.e. address) are up to date and you must renew your TIE card if it is about to expire. See TIE renewal.
You must also ensure that you are correctly registered on the municipal register (‘padron municipal’).
If your TIE was issued under the Withdrawal Agreement see TIE holders with rights under the Withdrawal Agreement for further information.
TIE renewal
You should apply to renew your TIE 30 days before the document expires, or within 90 days of its expiry date.
If you need to travel outside Spain during the renewal process, apply for a Autorización de Regreso to allow re-entry to Spain after travel outside the country.
TIE appointment availability
We are aware that some British nationals in Spain are having difficulty booking appointments to obtain or renew their Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE).
We continue to raise this issue with Spanish authorities and have asked them to improve appointment availability.
What you can do:
· check the appointment system regularly
· try accessing the appointment system using a Digital ID (i.e. Cl@ve. See Further sources of support with residency
· consider using a gestor or immigration lawyer. See our list of English-speaking lawyers in Spain
Complaints about TIE appointments
If you are experiencing difficulties securing an appointment to apply for or collect a TIE, you can submit a complaint to the central government representative (Delegacion de gobierno) in the province where you live either by post or online if you have a digital ID (i.e. Cl@ve. See list of links to each regions online complaints process.
Should you continue to have difficulties, you can also present a complaint online in Spanish or English to the National Public Ombudsman (Defensor del Pueblo). See their FAQs for further information in English about the complaints process.
TIE holders with rights under the Withdrawal Agreement
If you have been issued a ‘Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE)’ with ‘Articulo 50 TUE’ printed on it, this shows that you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
The rights of British nationals protected under the Withdrawal Agreement are not dependent on holding a valid TIE card. The card serves as evidence of those rights, but its expiry does not mean the loss of residency status.
You must renew your TIE card if it is about to expire. See TIE Renewal. When EES is launched in October, if you travel on an expired TIE you may be registered in EES or face other travel difficulties.
If you do go ahead and travel without a valid TIE, you should carry as much evidence of your residence in Spain as possible and be prepared to explain your situation to Border Officials.
Family members of TIE holders with rights under the Withdrawal Agreement
If you have been issued a ‘Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE).’ with ‘Articulo 50 TUE’ printed on it, this shows that you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement and your close family members are able to join you and settle in Spain at any time in the future. Read more information on who this applies to in the Living in Europe guidance. They should apply online before moving to Spain (in Spanish) or through a third party in Spain, such as a lawyer. Alternatively, they can apply within 3 months of arrival to Spain.
Depending on their nationality, some non-EU family members may need a visa before travel. The Spanish authorities should issue Withdrawal Agreement family reunion visas free of charge.
You may be asked to provide a foreign marriage recognition certificate in support of your spouse’s application if all of the following are true:
· you are British and registered as resident in Spain
· you got married in a country other than Spain or the UK
· your spouse is applying to register as resident in Spain
Read the Spanish government’s guidance for ‘UK nationals and their family members residing in Spain’. This explains how you and your close family members can apply for the TIE and how to renew your TIE before it expires.
Registering on the municipal register ‘Padron Municipal’
If you live in Spain, you must register on the municipal register ‘padrón municipal’ —a local register of residents maintained by your town hall. This is separate from registering as a resident in Spain (Registro Central de Extranjeros).
Padron registration is key to accessing public services such as healthcare and social services, enrolling children in school, registering a vehicle and much more.
You must register at your usual address, even if you rent or live with others. You can only be registered at one address.
The registration process varies by region and some town halls may charge a small fee.
You may need to:
· book an appointment online (cita previa) or apply online
· complete a registration form (solicitud de alta), available from your town hall or its website
· check with your town hall which documents you should take to your appointment
You will be issued with a ‘certificado de empadronamiento’, a padron certificate.
It is your responsibility to keep your padrón registration up to date. If you move house, even if it is within the same town, you must request a ‘cambio de domicilio’ and register your new address. If you move to a new town, you must register at your new address; de-registration is automatic. If you decide to leave Spain, you should request a ‘baja por residencia’ at your town hall.
The padron certificate is a standard documentary requirement for many administrative processes in Spain. You will often be asked to present a padron certificate issued with the last 3 months. You can request a duplicate certificate in person at your town hall, online (if available), by post or download it instantly using a digital ID (e.g. certificado digital or Cl@ve.
Further sources of support with residency
· Cl@ve is Spain’s secure digital ID system that allows you to access public services online. You can download ‘padron’ certificates, employment records and tax returns as well as booking appointments with public administration offices. Having a digital ID can also be helpful when trying to book an appointment at the Police Foreigners Office (Oficina de Extranjeria)
· consulting an immigration lawyer or specialist can help with the residency process. See our ‘Find a lawyer in Spain’ directory
· residency for UK nationals living in Spain before 1 January 2021
· EU’s frequently asked questions about the new Schengen entry requirements (EES.
Passports and travel
You can apply for or renew your British passport from Spain. The British Embassy does not issue passports.
Check the Spain travel advice for passport validity requirements.
Always carry your passport when travelling within the Schengen area. If you have citizenship of an EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country, in addition to your British citizenship, you should enter and leave Spain using your EU or EFTA passport.
On 12 October 2025, the EU plans to introduce a new digital Entry/Exit System (EES). To be exempt from registering with the EU’s Entry Exit System (EES), British residents in the EU will be required to show a uniform-format biometric card which is listed as a residency document under the Withdrawal Agreement. For residents of Spain, that card is the ‘Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE). View the EU’s frequently asked questions about the EES.
It will require third country nationals, including UK nationals, visiting the EU to create a digital record and provide their biometric data (fingerprints and facial image) at the border when they enter the EU’s Schengen Zone. Green Certificates will not be recognised and Green Certificate holders may be wrongly identified as overstaying in the Schengen area and, therefore, denied entry to Spain or other Schengen countries. Contact the Spanish Government’s ‘Extranjeria’ offices for information on how to apply for the new TIE.
If you stay in Spain with a Spanish residence permit or long-stay visa, this time does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit for the Schengen area.
If you visit other Schengen area countries outside Spain, make sure you do not exceed the visa-free 90 days in any 180-day period. You are responsible for counting how long you stay under the Schengen visa waiver, and you must comply with its conditions.
Different rules apply if you are travelling to other EU and Schengen countries as a resident of Spain. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.
If you were living in Spain before 1 January 2021
When you travel, carry your ‘Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE)’ or frontier worker permit issued under the Withdrawal Agreement, in addition to your valid passport.
You must proactively show your TIE if you are asked to show your passport at border control.
To be exempt from registering with the EU’s Entry Exit System (EES) which is expected to launch on 12 October 2025, British residents in the EU will be required to show a uniform-format biometric card which is listed as a residency document under the Withdrawal Agreement. For residents of Spain, that card is the TIE. View the EU’s frequently asked questions about the EES
It will require third country nationals, including UK nationals, visiting the EU to create a digital record and provide their biometric data (fingerprints and facial image) at the border when they enter the EU’s Schengen Zone. Green Certificates will not be recognised and Green Certificate holders may be wrongly identified as overstaying in the Schengen area and, therefore, denied entry to Spain or other Schengen countries. Contact the Spanish Government’s ‘Extranjeria’ offices for information on how to apply for the new TIE.
If you cannot prove that you are a resident in Spain, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the EU. Your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in the country or countries where you live or work. If a passport is stamped, the stamp is considered null and void when you can show evidence of lawful residence.
If you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, you can enter and exit Spain with a valid passport. You do not need any additional validity on the passport beyond the dates on which you are traveling.
Children traveling from Spain
Children (under 18 years old) resident in Spain, who travel out of Spain without a person who has parental responsibility, may need a certified authorization by that person. This is required in addition to a valid travel document.
The regulation does not apply to foreign children resident in Spain who are subject to the law of their country of nationality, or to non-resident foreign children visiting Spain.
The Spanish immigration authorities are aware that there is no similar standard regulation in the UK and, therefore, British consulates do not provide travel authorization documents.
British children do not need written permission to travel unless they are subject to a court order which states that written permission is required from those holding parental responsibility. If the child is subject to such a court order, or to ensure that an unaccompanied child will be able to leave Spain without delay, you must obtain a certified authorization from a public notary in Spain.
If you have parental responsibility for Spanish children in Spain, you can obtain a certified authorisation at a notary, a national police station (in Spanish) or the Guardia Civil (in Spanish).
