British expats residing in Spain will be faced with an essential new requirement as the European Union prepares to roll out its latest travel system later this year. UK nationals in anticipation of a shake-up from EU’s impending Entry/Exit System (EES) slated for October 2025, now face additional documentation demands, the Foreign Office has announced.
UK residents in Spain are warned they must secure a specific biometric card to sidestep potential troubles come the EES launch. “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,” UK officials have advised.
Spain-anchored Britons will need to procure the TIE card – Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero – to substantiate their right to Spanish residency. This crucial piece of identification not only validates your legal status in Spain if you’re staying beyond six months but also holds personal information such as names, validity period and the NIE, a unique Foreigner Identity Number pivotal for all administrative procedures in the nation.
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The NIE consists of 7 numbers and 2 letters. You can apply for this number from your current country of residence by submitting an application at the Spanish Consulate, or you can apply simultaneously as you apply for the TIE card in Spain.
Foreign nationals who have resided in Spain for less than 5 years will receive a temporary TIE. This residency proof is valid for 5 years, reports Birmingham Live.
After 5 years of legal residence, foreign nationals can apply for a permanent TIE in Spain, even if the original residency card has not expired.
If you’ve been living in Spain for more than 5 years, you’ll be issued with a permanent TIE that’s valid for 10 years.
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/travel-tourism/uk-nationals-spain-must-carry-31409424
