Check in regularly for all the latest information for British citizens living in Spain or just visiting.

Home Office update re dual national passport holders

The Home Office, via the British Embassy in Madrid, has provided an update on outstanding queries regarding those holding both British and Spanish passports.

On burden of proof and respecting name alignment:

A HMPO passport examiner knowledge base contains information relevant to passport issuance, including on change of name, whether this is possible or not, or if there are any restrictions.

Where HMPO have confirmed information regarding a change of name, that information is recorded and will be checked by examiners once they identify a difference in names across documents.

If the event that the content in the knowledge base confirms the name cannot be aligned, then examiners will contact the customer to advise that an observation will be added to their new British passport. This observation will reference the name recorded in their other passport.

If you experience any problems with name alignment contact HM Passport Office advice line on +44 (0)300 222 0000 (from outside the UK).

On forms of evidence:

If there is no information in the knowledge base, or the customer is telling HMPO something different, then HMPO will ask the customer to provide official evidence that their name cannot be changed.

More information about Spanish naming convention

Please note that applicants need to submit a colour copy of their Spanish passport when applying for their British passport.

The Embassy has confirmed the Home Office UK passport names policy re dual nationals

• Dual national applicants are required to ensure any foreign passport or ID document held (whether valid or invalid) is in the same name as that given in the application for a British passport, or provide evidence to show that a change is not possible
• An exception can be applied in situations where a name change is not possible due to naming conventions or when a married woman is unable to take her spouse’s surname
• Specific guidance is available for passport examiners on different naming conventions and practices in Spain – alignment should not be requested in these circumstances
• Where an exception can be applied an observation will be added to the British passport to evidence the link and record any difference in names
• Both names will be recorded on the British passport – one as an official observation – so dual nationals should not encounter difficulties when proving their right to travel to the UK
• Carriers can contact a support hub to obtain advice on the status of individuals the HO holds records for

You will find the “Change of name guidance for official documents” policy here

New UK rules of entry for dual nationals

New UK government rules require all British citizens – including those that hold dual citizenship – to show a valid British passport or a ‘certificate of entitlement’ when travelling to the UK.

Statement from the British Embassy: “As indicated by the Spanish Foreign Affairs Ministry, dual British-Spanish citizens can travel on their Spanish passport but will have to carry their British (or Irish) passport with them or have a certificate of entitlement linked to their Spanish passport.”

Useful links:

• Renew your UK passport here  
• Apply for a certificate of entitlement here
• Further information for dual British citizens here 
• For children born in Spain, check qualification for British citizenship/need a British passport to travel here
• Find out more on how ETA enforcement affects dual British-Spanish citizens here
• Read recommendations made to the Home Office by ILPA, the 3 Million & British in Europe here

The European Entry System

On 12 October 2025, the EU introduced the new border checks system, which will be  phased in over the next six-months. In Spain, the first test checks were carried out in Madrid Barajas on 12 October and the system went live in Malaga airport on October 20.

Once the system is fully up and running, there will be no more manual stamping, but until April next year, your passport may still be stamped.

• Visitors – Your fingerprints and photo may be taken at the EU border. This might take a few minutes, so be prepared to wait at busy times.
• TIE holders – If you’re a UK national living in Spain with a TIE, you do not need to register in the EES.
• Green certificate holders – Apply for a TIE as soon as possible. Otherwise, you might be treated as a tourist when entering the EU and asked to register in the EES.

For more information:

Entering Spain as a resident

All about the EES

Spain’s EES implementation plan

Please note that the British Embassy in Spain is aware of the difficulties in getting appointments in many regions to swap green certificates for the TIE or renew temporary TIEs, and is talking to the Spanish Government.

Bremain in Spain will continue to monitor the situation and keep you updated as the EES system rolls out to new airports and ports. 

ENTRY/EXIT SYSTEM (EES) Implementation date confirmed

The date for implementation of Europe’s EES for non-EU travellers, including British tourists, has been confirmed as 12 October this year.

The aim of the system is to digitise border crossings so that all non-EU citizens can be more closely monitored. This will help identify suspected criminals and allow policing of the 90 days stay in 180 days.

The system – which will require facial biometrics and fingerprints – will be phased in over a 6-month period and will be fully operational from 10/4/26.

Bremain attended a meeting with representatives of the Embassy and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to discuss forthcoming changes affecting travel between the UK and the EU.

ENTRY/EXIT SYSTEM

The introduction of the EES will require UK-based British citizens, as 3rd country nationals, to create a digital record, submit fingerprints and have a photo taken for facial recognition purposes when travelling to the EU.

Implementation of the EES is scheduled for October 2025 and a launch date should be confirmed very soon. The system will be rolled out over a 6-month period.

UK nationals resident in Spain who are in possession of the TIE will be exempt (see below).

More information here

ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORISATION (ETA)

When travelling to the UK, EU citizens need to apply for an ETA.

Any UK national who has not renounced their British citizenship, will be recognised as British by the UK authorities. Therefore, those currently without a British passport are encouraged to re-apply for one as soon as possible, to avoid the necessity of applying for an ETA.

More information here

TIE (Foreigner Identity Card)

The number 1 priority for all British residents in Spain, who are still in possession of the old green residencia document/card, is to switch to the TIE. Only those that can prove their residency with the TIE will be exempt from the forthcoming EES system – something both the Spanish and British authorities agree on.

More information here and on our TIE webpage

Update from Embassy 14 May

In October 2024 (date still tbc), the EU is introducing a new scheme for non-EU citizens (including British Nationals) entering an EU country for a short stay. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will require non-EU tourists to provide their name, passport details & biometric data (fingerprints and facial images) & will replace the current stamping of passports at the border. Details will also need to be provided regarding the date and place of entry and exit.

Details will be kept on file for 3 years meaning that, for example, any British citizen making repeat visits to Spain during that 3-year period would not need to go through the same registration process each time.

Exemptions for British residents in Spain: Residents will need to show their TIE biometric card in order to be exempt from EES registration. Therefore, the British Embassy & Bremain in Spain strongly recommend that all British residents in Spain apply for a TIE before the EES comes into force, including those currently using the Green Certificate.

Useful links

EU Entry/Exit System (EES)

UK Parliament House of Commons Library – EU Entry/Exit System & EU Travel Authorisation System

British Embassy Facebook Page – Brits in Spain

Update from Embassy 23 November

Bremain attended a webinar with the Embassy today to discuss the pressing issues of Driving Licence exchange and local voting rights in Spain.

Driving licence exchange – the discussions have progressed & the next steps are legal checks & political processes. While the timeline is out of the Embassy’s control, further information will be forthcoming as soon as it is available.

For the latest information of the conclusion of the two outstanding issues, watch the video from the Ambassador here

Local elections Spain – the Municipal elections will take place on 28 May 2024. UK nationals are eligible to vote as long as they are registered on the Padron and have been resident in Spain for 3 years.

It is advisable to check beforehand that you are on the Padron, with the correct address, ahead of the date window for registration on the electoral roll – 1/12/22 – 15/1/23. For more information visit the Living in Spain website here

Update from Embassy 11 June

Following the ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) regarding EU citizenship and voting/standing in local elections, the Embassy would like to confirm the rules with regards to Spain.

The ECJ ruled that with Brexit, we lost our EU citizenship rights and the right to vote and stand in local elections under EU law. However, this does not affect UK nationals’ right to vote and stand in local elections in Spain. This is because a bilateral agreement exists between Spain and the UK which allows UK nationals who have lived in in Spain for more than 3 years to vote and stand in local elections.

More information on voting rights in Spain (and the treaty, signed in January 2019) is available in the Embassy’s Living in Spain guide.

Update from Embassy 23 February

The latest update from the Embassy includes information on a variety of subjects, including an extension for the use of UK driving licences in Spain.

For all the latest information, click on the relevant PDF below for all the latest details and useful links.

• Driving Licence PDF
• Access to regional employment services PDF
• Residence registration PDF
• Voting rights and registration on the electoral roll PDF

Update from Embassy 22 December

As the year comes to a close, the Embassy have provided an update on the issues that are still concerning UK nationals living in Spain.

RESIDENCY

Following a negative outcome on a residency application, some UK nationals have received an instruction to leave Spain within 15 days. While discussions between the relevant authorities are ongoing, the Embassy have put together some information for those finding themselves in this position. Open the Residency PDF for further details.

DRIVING LICENCES

Ambassador Hugh Elliott has recorded a video message for UK Licence holders living in Spain, which has been posted on the Brits in Spain Facebook channel. Negotiations are “progressing” but have yet to reach a conclusion. An extension to the current grace period has been asked for, and is expected to be granted, before the end of the year. Open the Driving Licence PDF for further details.

PASSPORT STAMPING

UK travellers are still experiencing inconsistencies at the border, with some Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries being stamped despite presenting evidence of their residence status, and some visitors being stamped only on entry and not on exit.

For the second group – the travellers who are concerned that they received an entry but not an exit stamp –  the Embassy have recently updated their travel advice page with information in line with the Schengen Borders Code. This information currently sits under the subheading ‘visas’ on the page. We advise UK travellers to carry evidence of when and where they last entered and exited the Schengen Area when travelling in the future as you can ask a border guard to add this information into your passport. Acceptable forms of evidence can include boarding passes and tickets.

TAXATION OF OCCUPATIONAL OR PRIVATE UK PENSIONS

In response to issues raised in this regard by Bremain in Spain, the Embassy have put together some information. Open the Pensions PDF for further information.

Update from Embassy 13 November

The Embassy are often contacted for assistance in areas they are unable to assist with. To clarify where they can help, and to point people in the right direction where they can’t, a guide has been produced to explain the services they provide. Click here to open the guide

For visas for those wishing to move to Spain, please contact the Spanish consulate in the UK

To contact the Embassy in Madrid by phone or online, or for more information click here

Update from Embassy 27 October

DRIVING LICENCE EXTENSION

The Spanish government has today announced that valid UK licences will continue to be recognised for driving in Spain until 31 December 2021.

Negotiations are ongoing, and the Embassy will continue to provide information as and when any developments happen.

Independent of those ongoing negotiations, UK Nationals who successfully registered their intent to exchange their licence before 30 December 2020, will be able to exchange it for a Spanish one without having to take a practical test up until the end of this year. The Embassy understands that some people who tried to register their intent have subsequently found out that they were unsuccessful in doing so. If this is your situation and you are unclear as to why, you should contact the DGT directly to discuss further. https://www.dgt.es/es/contacto.shtml

If you moved to Spain after 1 January 2021, your UK licence is valid for six months from the date of your TIE or until 31 December, whichever is later.

Update from Embassy 12 October

UK national stakeholder event with FCDO Minister for Europe and the Americas

On Thursday 30 September, Wendy Morton, FCDO Minister for Europe and the Americas, met with 14 representatives from ten organisations that work closely with the UK community in Spain, as part of her visit to Madrid.

The meeting was an opportunity for the Minister to hear of the main concerns and issues affecting UK nationals in Spain, following the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, ahead of her meetings with the Spanish government later that day. The issues raised included: registration/residency applications, visa processing, the stamping of passports, immigrations status, moving back to the UK and many more.

Update from Embassy 27 September

Earlier this year, the Embassy carried out a series of Healthcare focus groups throughout the EU. Some of the most popular questions and concerns were about NHS access and S1 registration, with participants wanting more detailed information.

As a result, the Embassy have produced the following series of infographics. Click on the relevant PDF for more information:

Registering your S1 with the INSS

The INSS has recently updated its online portal.  The process has been revised, and there’s a specific link for S1 form holders who wish to register online.  There is a dedicated page on gov.uk which outlines the process for registering your S1 online, and which has been updated to reflect changes made.

Please note that, at present, the page is only in Spanish and it has an additional series of instructions to ensure you confirm your identity.

Update from Embassy 25 June

Starting today, the Embassy Health Team are offering one-to-one calls with UK nationals on the last Friday of every month, continuing throughout the summer.

Update from Embassy 23 June

CHANGES TO DEADLINE RE DRIVING LICENCE EXCHANGE

On Tuesday 22 June, the Spanish Consejo de Ministros agreed an extension to several measures in their end-of-transition period Royal Decree.  One was on the recognition of UK driving licences in Spain.  The announcement in English can be found here.

The deadline for the exchange of driving licences, for those who were resident in Spain prior to the end of the transition period, has been extended. For full details of the changes, read our PDF here

 You can also find further details re driving licences, for those who did not register details/intent before the 31/12/20 deadline, in the PDF.

Update from Embassy 27 May

On Thursday 27th May, Bremain in Spain Chair, Sue Wilson and Vice Chair, Lisa Ryan Burton attended an update meeting with British Embassy staff to discuss:

• Driving Licence Exchange
• Travel – including the much discussed ‘carta de invitación´
• Residency
• Votes for life – government press release

To read all about those discussions and get the latest information, click on the PDF here.

Update from Embassy 21 May

In response to members’ concerns about entry requirements to Spain – especially in relation to visitors to our homes – the Embassy have provided the following update and helpful links.

Following recent discussions with the Spanish authorities, the relevant Embassy webpages have been updated, and further clarification will be available in due course.

The following websites are recommended by the Embassy as the best sources of information:

• Spain Travel Advice (We recommend subscribing for email alerts as this is updated regularly)
• Visiting the EU page on gov.uk
• Foreign travel advice (see Regular entry requirements)
• Ministry of Interior – for more information on the ‘carta de invitación’
• Ministry of Interior – for more general information on entering Spain as a non-EU national

There is further information direct from the Embassy in the PDF

On Tuesday 20 April, our Chair, Bremain in Spain Chair, Sue Wilson took part in a meeting with representatives of the FCDO (Citizens’ Rights department) and British Embassy staff from Madrid and Paris. The meeting was also attended by representatives of citizens’ rights groups from 7 EU countries.

The meeting involved discussions around the misrepresentation in the media of recent coverage of events regarding UK nationals, most especially in Spain. Other topics included communications, information and support being provided for Brits abroad, followed by a question and answer session.

To read more about the meeting, open the PDF

There has been some confusion over the rules for visiting other Schengen countries when legally resident in Spain. We asked the Embassy to clarify how long you are entitled to visit, and whether the rules are different for those with temporary residency to those with permanent residency.

In response to recent concerns our members raised over access to Spain’s vaccination programme, we approached the Embassy directly and received this response:

“The Spanish Government’s Vaccination Strategy sets out that all people living in Spain will be eligible for the vaccine, regardless of nationality or residency status.  The Vaccination Strategy is updated regularly to include new priority groups as the number of doses available gradually increases.  You might be interested to see this question and answer from the Spanish government’s FAQ website, which highlights that all people in the priority groups, irrespective of their nationality or type of sickness insurance cover, are being vaccinated.

Those UK nationals who are already registered in the public health system should be contacted by their regional health authority to arrange an appointment.  The Spanish authorities are asking insurance companies to coordinate with regional health services in order to provide vaccines to their customers.  The Spanish authorities are also considering how to contact people who are not registered on the public system nor with a private insurer.  Ultimately, our advice to UK nationals living in Spain remains that they contact their local health centre and/or insurer for more information.”

The Embassy will provide further updates as and when further information is available, and the issue will be followed closely by the Embassy communications team.

• Continuation of S1 scheme
• Sending medication via courier from the UK to Spain
• S1 registration issues

There has been plenty of information available recently regarding applications for Spanish residency. To date, that information has related to those that arrived in Spain before the end of the Brexit transition period.

What are the requirements for those moving to Spain from 1 January 21?

UK nationals moving to Spain post Brexit (and who are not joining close family members under WA family reunification rules) will need to meet the same requirements as other third country nationals.

In most cases, this will require starting the process via the Spanish consulate in the UK, before traveling to Spain.  The requirements will differ depending on the visa/residence permit the person is applying for (e.g. a residence and work permit, a non-lucrative visa, etc).

UK nationals requiring further information about visas/residence permits should consult with the competent authorities for Spain:

For the Spanish Consulate in the UK visa FAQ page, click here

For the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration page, click here

The Embassy has produced an essential guide explaining your citizens’ rights as covered by the Withdrawal Agreement. The guide contains information of the following topics, as well as many useful links:

• Living & working
• Healthcare
• Driving
• Education
• Voting
• Travel
• Pensions

You can view/download the guide HERE or click on the image below. Hard copies are available from the Embassy directly.

 On Wednesday 27 January, our Bremain Chair, Sue Wilson & Vice Chair, Lisa Burton attended a meeting with British Ambassador, Hugh Elliott & his Embassy team.

The Ambassador & his team spoke to a number of issues – many of which are being compounded by both Brexit & Covid. Prior to the meeting, our members raised a number of important concerns with us.

 Thank you for bringing these important issues to Bremain’s attention, and to the Embassy for their knowledge, support and efforts on behalf of all Brits in Spain.

• A bilingual, informative note on the documentation that UK nationals can use to evidence their residence status and that they are a beneficiary of the WA. Notwithstanding the Spanish government’s clear recommendation for UK nationals to get the TIE, this confirms the validity of the green certificate, even if it is older than 5 years and doesn’t say ‘permanente’.

The Embassy and officials at the Spanish Migration ministry hope that UK nationals will be able to print off or point to this second document should they have any problems in exercising their rights or accessing services in Spain.

The English version of the ministry website and the Embassy’s own Living in Spain guide should be updated with this information shortly.

Bremain held its first webinar in conjunction with Lorna Geddie from the Embassy. The 63 Bremain members attending raised questions on a wide range of topics, including travel, visa requirements, pensions, banking, residency, healthcare/EHIC, swallows rights, driving licences & dual citizenship.

Many thanks to Lorna for her valuable input & to all those that took part.
In response to all the issues raised, Lorna has kindly put together a PDF especially for Bremain in Spain members. (Last update: January 2021)

“My thanks to Sue, Matt and Lisa for organising the webinar, and very especially to Lorna who was clear, knowledgeable and very generous with her time” – Richard Lander

”Thanks very much for organising an excellent meeting & to all involved” – Mel Slater

“A wide range of topics were covered. Very interesting, informative & inclusive” – Sue Scarrott

”Thank you to everyone at Team Bremain for making this happen” – Jacqueline Davison

To apply for your new UK EHIC via the new portal, click HERE

• those who qualify for an S1 form on the basis of another benefit, such as a UK State Pension
• those receiving benefits from an existing S1

To read the Embassy update on exportable benefits in full, click on the PDF HERE

The healthcare team have also responded to your queries regarding EHIC cards. You can read their update PDF HERE (Updated 9/11/2020)

If you have any further questions, you can contact the dedicated health team by email at: healthcare.spain@fcdo.gov.uk

The SCCR met on 8 October for the 3rd time – the agenda included social security coordination, registration and support for the most vulnerable. You can read the joint statement from the UK and EU, issued following the meeting here

For details open or download the PDF HERE or select image above.

The Embassy welcome direct contact from members of the public, with general or more specific, personal enquiries. Please use this LINK to make direct contact as it will generate an online form & provide a reference number.

You can also contact the consulate in your area – a list of consulates can be found here

You will receive a direct response in due course.

The Embassy provide regular updates, including live Q & A sessions, on their Facebook page here

The Embassy website has a wealth of information on a variety of topics, including details of how things will change after the end of Brexit transition period here

You can also follow them on Twitter: @BritsliveSpain