BRITONS – IT’S TIME FOR THE TIE
Residents given option of exchanging certificate for biometric card
BRITISH residents can now obtain the new biometric residence card which is being issued by the Spanish government – known as the TIE.
It is available via appointment from the foreigners’ office in Calle Ebanistería, Alicante.
According to a press release from the ministry for the interior, ‘this residency document will explicitly state that the holder benefits from the Withdrawal Agreement’ – and keeps ‘the rights of residency, free circulation and social security’.
The British Embassy noted that Spain is one of the first EU countries to bring in the new post-Brexit residency document for British nationals.
Ambassador Hugh Elliott welcomed its introduction.
He noted: “I want to assure you that all British nationals, who are legally resident in Spain by the end of this year, will have their rights protected, including the right to live and work here, and lifelong access to healthcare for UK state pensioners, including those who claim a pension in the future.”
BRITISH residents can now apply for the new biometric residence card which is being issued by the Spanish government.
Full details on the procedure to obtain the foreigners’ identity card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero, or TIE) were published in the government’s official state bulletin (BOE) at the weekend. They noted that the procedure could be carried out from Monday (July 6) at National Police foreigners’ offices all over the country.
Appointments are now available at Alicante city’s Calle Ebanistería headquarters.
The Spanish government is following guidelines issued by the European Commission which state that EU member countries should issue UK nationals living in the EU who are covered by the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, with simple and uniform documentation that meets high security standards. According to a press release from the ministry for the interior, the documentation will differentiate between those Britons who moved to live in an EU country before December 31, 2020 and those who arrive afterwards.
“The former will maintain the rights of residency, free circulation and social security which are recognised in the Withdrawal Agreement,” notes the press release. It adds: “This residency document will explicitly state that the holder benefits from the Withdrawal Agreement and will be valid for five or 10 years – depending on how long the citizen has been living in Spain.”
They note that ‘family members’ of the resident can also apply for the residency document under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement.
How to obtain the TIE
To apply for the TIE, Britons have to secure an appointment via the government website https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es
On the home page they must go to ‘procedimientos’ and choose ‘extranjería’, then click on ‘cita previa’ (appointment).
At the bottom of the ‘cita previa’ page they should click on ‘acceder al procedimiento’.
The option to select a province (provincias disponibles) will appear and they should select ‘Alicante’ then hit the ‘aceptar’ option (if they live in Alicante province).
Then under ‘trámites disponibles’ they click on the ‘Policía-Exp tarjeta asociada al acuerdo de retirada ciudadanos británicos y sus familiares’ option. This will take them to the page which sets out the paperwork they need to obtain the TIE. They have to print off and fill in the four-page EX-23 form.
They are told that they need to take a valid passport to the appointment and a photocopy of it, their green residence certificate if they have one – and a municipal register (padrón) certificate from the last three months if they have changed their address (original and a copy) from the one on the green certificate. They also need a recent photograph which measures 32x26 millimetres on a white background (although a passport-sized photo was accepted from a Costa Blanca News reporter during the procedure). It is also necessary to pay a €12 charge via the Modelo 790 012. They should click on the link to print off this form and then take it to their bank to make the payment, which will be certified with a stamp.
Once they have noted the requirements, they hit ‘entrar’ to go to the next page where they enter their NIE number and name to move forward to the next section.
Press ‘solicitar cita’ to access options for an appointment in the chosen province.
Once they have a date and time, they must take all the paperwork, passport, etc to the appointment.
During the interview the National Police will take digital fingerprints from the applicant.
When the process is completed the applicant is told that the card will be ready to collect in approximately three weeks from the foreigners’ office in Calle Campo de Mirra in Alicante city. It has to be done in less than 45 days because the ‘receipt’ they have been given is only valid for that period. They have to hand in their old residence certificate and show their passport on this visit.
Embassy comment
British Ambassador Hugh Elliott noted that ‘whether you already have the green residency certificate – A4 or credit cardsized version – or in the future the TIE, they are equally valid in demonstrating your residence status and your rights as a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement’.
“Whilst you may choose to exchange your current certificate for a TIE at some point in the future, there is no requirement to do so,” he said.
“The green residency document gives you the same rights as the new TIE card. So please be assured on that point.
“There is one group of people who must take action. If you live here, but don’t already have a green residency certificate, you must apply for the new TIE as soon as possible.”