The British Consulate
has issued the following advice in order to combat rumours and misinformation
about the deadline for UK residents to register as residents in order to be
covered by the Withdrawal Agreement.
This is the correct information issued by the British Consulate in Madrid.
There is no change to the rights of UK nationals to live or move to Spain
during the transition period, which runs until 31 December. There are no
deadlines in February or March of this year. Anyone who is legally residing in
Spain by the end of this year will be covered by the Withdrawal Agreement.
The Spanish authorities are working with the European Commission to introduce a
specific Foreigners’ Identity Card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero or TIE)
for any UK national in Spain who has rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
This has not yet been introduced. But in the meantime we can confirm:
If you already have the green
registration certificate (whether that’s A4 or credit card-sized and whether it
says “permanente” or not), this will remain a valid residency document, even
after the transition period ends on 31 December.
If you are not yet registered as a
resident but obtain a residency appointment before the TIE is introduced, you
will be issued with a green certificate
Once the TIE is introduced, anyone who has a green certificate will have the
right to request it
Anyone who does not have a green
residence certificate by the time the card is introduced, but who applies to
register after that date and during the transition period, will be issued with
the new TIE.
The British Consulate will update as soon as there is more information on when
and how the new card will be introduced, and the process for applying. However,
there will be no deadline by which time those UK nationals already in
possession of a green certificate must have a TIE, so there is no need to
panic.
The British Consulate is aware that in some areas there is currently limited
appointment availability for those wishing to register. Keep checking the
booking system regularly as more appointments will be made available: https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/icp…/index.html
For further info sign up for updates to gov.uk/livinginspain and keep an eye on the Spanish government website at http://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/…/howtopr…/Paginas/citizens.aspx
