Latest press release from British Embassy Madrid:-'The Green Certificate will not be recognised by the EU's Entry Exit System  

The British Embassy in Spain is urging all British nationals resident in Spain to get a tarjeta de identidad de extranjero (TIE) as soon as possible, following new information from the Spanish Government that the old Green Certificate will not be recognised by the EU’s Entry Exit System.

The EU have yet to announce a date for when the Entry Exit System (EES) will come into force, though it is believed to be later this year. 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 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.  

His Majesty’s Ambassador to Spain, Sir Alex Ellis 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. More information on how to apply, including links to Spanish Government websites where the applications are made, can be found on the ‘Living in Spain’ guide on gov.uk.   

Useful Links  

• Living in Guide: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-i...-and-residency   

• EU Guidance: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en   

• Spanish TIE application: https://www.interior.gob.es/opencms/...e-extranjeria/ 

•  Spanish information on being denied entry: https://www.interior.gob.es/opencms/...y-condiciones/

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I'm surprised that British residents don't realise that a NIE is not an ID as it doesn't carry photo ID.

SOME

Lots of us do and its not just us Brits, my French neighbour recons that his NIE means he doesn't need to become a legal resident....
Not that he would anyway, why change the habit of the last 15 years.

Again residents are being told to obtain their TIE card

https://www.spainenglish.com/2025/05...te-and-malaga/

Just as the first tranche of WA temporary TIE holders will be getting ready to apply for renewals with an already chronically overworked system, great timing guys!

Yes exactly what I thought. I have just been looking into the renewal for my wife as her TIE end date is in July. They say you can't renew it until 30 days before the end dates but then I've read that some police stations won renew it until it's expired? We will just apply as near the 30 days as we can and see what happens. I am expecting getting appointments to be difficult as there will be loads applying for renewal so this will add even more. Never mind just try best one can.

Yep, we are due to renew ours in November and the solicitor we used in 2020 is already collecting names to start the process. She reckons its going to be a mess.
Im expecting the same sort of issues as last time, whereby we put the paperwork in and wait three or more months for the appointment and then wait another couple before we can pick up the card.
Friends of ours have recently renewed their NLV and they are still waiting for an appointment to renew the TIE, which has now run out.

Im not planning to leave the country from September onwards as I dont know what the border guards would do to a lapsed TIE.

The actual process looks very straightforward I fear getting appointments will be the issue but we will go to wherever we can get it done. Mine is due for renewal next February as I had green card and exchanged it after initial rush.nWe will see what happens planning on doing it ourselves but that will depend on whether I can get the appointment . If we come unstuck we will try a gestor, we aren't planning to leave Spain this year

After the hassle people we knew in 2020 had trying to get things done themselves Ive told those who are still here to give the job to a proffessional.
Last time the solicitor paid one of their people to sit in the office overnight with all the computers on and to keep refreshing the page that gives the appointments. I think she made ours at about 2am.
I might be retired but Im not that desperate to sit up all night hoping to sort the appointment. I did enough night shifts when I was working thanks.
And for the money its well worth it.

I did it easy enough last time but if no joy then I will try going to somewhere. When my wife arrived in Spain full time the TIE had just come in and my intention was to go to people that got me the green card. Problem was no one knew the system and just said come back when we know the system! With Brexit approaching I just went online and phone managed to get my wife the appointment with immigration for first part in Málaga that went fairly easy really. Then we got an appointment at main comisary in Málaga and again as we had all correct documents it went fine. I will see how it goes for the renewal

Different parts of the country experienced major differences. Malaga from what I was told were accepting a lot less paperwork for the TIE and residency that Alicante.
I can only go by what we encountered and there is now way I will bother to do it myself.
But if you can do it easily then there is no need for the extra cost.
But thats the problem here, each community seems to do the same job differently.

If I can do something myself I will , I'm a Yorkshireman it's built into us . TO be fair I just followed the official guidance I found on line produced the paperwork required and it worked. For renewal it's even easier and less required but problem could be getting appointment I will have to see fingers crossed we will be able to get an appointment without involving a gestor but time will tell

Unfortunately as the new Foreigners Act became live this week everyone will be wanting appointments for all the new requirements. Don't forget that undocumented migrants who have been living and working in Spain can from today start legalising their residency so all of these people will be looking for appointments. Apparently the union for staff are planning strikes so that will compound things. Government have announced a recruitment drive but that involves entry exams and training - so literally months away!!!

i wont know appointment situation until i try and as cant apply until 30 days before expiry of current card that will be mid June. If its an issue then i will have to try a gestor. We do have 3 police offices within relatively easy travelling distance so that may help. But must wait and see you can apply 30 days before expiry and 90 days after so hopefully will mange it in that time frame

Not sure if the cita for this works in similar fashion, but for the ayuntamiento we also had trouble finding a slot so we changed strategies and decided to look for last-minute cancellations throughout the morning. Sure enough, something eventually showed up and we snagged it immediately. The only downside was that we had to grab our stuff and head out straight away!