British expats in Spain are rushing to get their residency permits before it's too late: Have you got yours? - CSN

Brits in Malaga and Alicante urgently need to obtain residency cards before the digital border deadline

Louise Brown May 20, 2025 BREAKING NEWS, HEADLINES, Travel Leave a comment

BRITISH residents of Malaga and Alicante provinces are being warned to swap their paper Green Certificates with the biometric TIE cards before October, or they risk being denied entry into Spain after holiday.

The British Embassy in Spain has launched a targeted campaign after official data from the Spanish Ministry for Inclusion revealed that these two provinces – home to the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca – have the highest numbers of Brits still using the outdated green residency documents.

The Schengen Borders Code will not recognise the Green Certificate at the borders when the EU’s Entry Exit System is implemented this fall.

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“We are delighted to report that the number of Brits who have received a TIE has increased since we launched our campaign,” said British Ambassador in Spain, Sir Alex Ellis.

“However, a minority of British individuals still possess a Green Certificate. So, we want to reach out to them and explain why TIEs are so important, as well as ensure that they receive one by October.”

The stark warning comes as border authorities confirmed that once the new system is implemented, anyone without a valid biometric residency card could be wrongly classified as tourists who have overstayed their 90-day limit – potentially leading to them being denied entry and returned to the UK.

The Embassy has increased its outreach efforts in the last year. It works with British support organizations such as Age Concern, Royal British Legion (RBL), MABS Cancer Support (MABS Cancer Support), Samaritans and various HELP group.

The British government is also working with the Spanish authorities to improve appointment availability at these airports, where thousands of British citizens pass through each year.

Under the new border system, all non-EU passengers entering Spain or other EU countries will need to register biometric data unless they can present a valid biometric residency card – which for British residents in Spain means only the TIE will be accepted.

If you are having trouble getting an appointment, contact the nearest Foreigners Office.

Visit the UK Government’s Living in Spain Guide for more information about how to exchange your Green Certificate into a TIE. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain.