Month: May 2024

“Get the TIE now” – the message from the British Embassy, ahead of the EU’s Entry Exit System coming into force  “Get the TIE now” – the message from the British Embassy, ahead of the EU’s Entry Exit System coming into force  

The British Embassy is urging all British people who live in Spain and are still in possession of a Green Certificate to apply for the TIE, or “Tarjeta de identidad de extranjero,” if they haven’t done so already.  

The biometric TIE, which came into force in 2021, proves that the holder is a Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary with the right to reside and work in Spain. Most British people living in Spain already have the TIE, having abandoned the formerly issued paper Green Certificate following Brexit.  

The British Embassy is asking those still using a Green Certificate to follow suit and get a TIE as soon as possible, ahead of the introduction of the EU’s new Entry Exit System (EES), expected in Autumn this year.  

His Majesty’s Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott said: 

“It’s really important that any British person who lives in Spain gets the TIE – not only because it is the most durable and dependable way to prove your rights in Spain, but also to avoid disruption at the border when the EU’s Entry Exit Scheme comes into force.  

We are working with the Spanish Government and the EU to prepare for the implementation of this new scheme and we have requested that more TIE appointments are made available. Please keep checking our Living In Guide and social media pages for more information.”  

The EES will require all non-EU short stay travellers to register via an automated system at the border. They will need to provide their name, passport details, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images) and the date and place of entry and exit upon entering Spain. This will replace the current passport stamping at the border. 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.  

To be exempt from registering with the EES, British residents in the EU will need to show a valid uniform-format biometric card, which in Spain is the TIE. The non-biometric Green Certificate, though a valid residency document in Spain, was issued prior to EU Exit and does not feature in the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement or in Annex 22 of the Schengen Border Guard Handbook. Therefore, it is expected that Green Certificate holders may lose out on the chance to be exempt from registering. As a result, they may encounter difficulties and delays at the border, especially when entering other EU countries where the Green Certificate may not be recognised. 

The process for securing a TIE appointment and the card itself is run by the Spanish Government. 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.  

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Suspected drug dealer being extradited from Spain after his arrestSuspected drug dealer being extradited from Spain after his arrest

Suspected drug dealer being extradited from Spain after his arrest

A suspected drug dealer who is believed to have fled to Spain in a desperate attempt to evade police has been arrested.

The fugitive, who was living in Tenerife, has been arrested after a warrant was authorised for his suspected involvement in a large drugs conspiracy involving cocaine and money laundering.

The international operation was led by the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) and supported by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Spanish Police who apprehended the 55-year-old man on Monday (May 20).

The suspect was arrested on behalf of the warrant and will remain in police custody while he awaits extradition back to the UK.


Following the arrest, Detective Chief Inspector Daryll Tomlinson, said: “This has been an outstanding display of partnership working between law enforcement agencies working in tandem to execute a warrant abroad and bring a suspect into police custody.

“I want to thank everyone involved in this operation and I hope it sends a clear message to anyone looking to evade police – we have every tool necessary at our disposal to pursue suspects, dismantle organised crime and protect victims.

“Work just like this will continue as part of Operation Sentinel – our united front to tackle all forms of Serious and Organised crime.”


NCA International Regional Manager Neil Keeping said: “We have National Crime Agency officers based across the globe working day in, day out on behalf of UK law enforcement.


“The NCA collaborated with the Spanish National Police to identify that the suspect was living in Tenerife and to ensure he was arrested. We’re also working with Spanish judicial authorities, the CPS and UK police to arrange his extradition back to the UK.


“This is just one of many cases in which the NCA, working with international partners and UK police, is making sure that people wanted in connection with allegations of serious crime have nowhere safe to hide.”

To report suspicious behaviour or activity linked to drug crime, visit your local police’s website, or alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.