UK Citizens in Spain After Brexit: TIE, Family and Border Rules
Brits who moved to Spain before 2021 have protected residence, but the paperwork matters at the border. Newcomers follow the non-EU rules.
UK nationals who lived legally in Spain before 1 January 2021 keep their residence rights under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, and the document that proves it is a TIE (foreigner’s identity card) issued under that agreement. The old green EU registration certificate does not exempt you from EU border registration. UK citizens arriving since 2021 apply like any other non-EU national.
Who is covered by the Withdrawal Agreement?
You are covered if you were legally resident in Spain before 1 January 2021 and have continued to live here since. The UK government’s Living in Spain guide also covers family members who meet the agreement’s conditions. Covered residents keep rights to live, work and access social security in Spain broadly on the terms they had before Brexit.
If you were living in Spain before 2021 but never registered, the UK guide says you should register as a resident and get a TIE now. You must prove that you were already living here before the end of 2020, for example with rental contracts, property deeds, an employment contract or a child’s school registration.
Should you swap the green certificate for a TIE?
Yes. As of November 2026, the UK government says the TIE is the only residence document listed in the Withdrawal Agreement, and both the Spanish authorities and the British Embassy strongly recommend exchanging the green certificate. The swap is done at a police station that handles foreigners’ documents, by appointment.
The Spanish government’s guide for UK nationals lists what to bring:
- form EX-23, the application for the Withdrawal Agreement residence document
- your valid passport, and the green certificate you are replacing
- one photo meeting the Spanish ID card rules
- proof of payment of the fee on form 790 code 012, with the box for EU registration certificates or family member cards ticked
| Your situation | Where you apply | Card validity |
|---|---|---|
| Green certificate, under five years in Spain | Police, by appointment | 5 years |
| Green certificate, five years or more in Spain | Police, by appointment | 10 years (permanent residence) |
| Resident before 2021 with no certificate | Immigration office (in person or online), then police for the card | 5 or 10 years, depending on time in Spain |
The Spanish guide notes that if you are close to five years of residence, you can wait and swap straight to the 10-year card. The fingerprint appointment works the same way as for other foreigners; our TIE appointment guide for Barcelona explains how to book it.
What are the rights of family members?
Family members are also protected if the relationship existed before the end of 2020 and still exists when they come to live in Spain. That includes a spouse, a registered partner, children and other direct descendants, and dependent parents of you or your spouse or partner.
- Already in Spain with an EU family member card: they swap it for the Withdrawal Agreement document at the police.
- Joining you now: family members who are not UK or EU nationals apply as family of a British national covered by the agreement.
- Children born after 2020: they are covered, with conditions on custody and the parents’ nationality.
- New partners: a spouse or partner you met after 2020 is not covered by the agreement. They have to use the ordinary routes, such as family reunification for non-EU residents.
How do UK newcomers move to Spain now?
Since 1 January 2021, UK citizens who did not live in Spain before are treated as non-EU nationals. A visitor without residence follows the Schengen short-stay rule of 90 days in any 180. To stay longer, you need a Spanish residence permit, such as one for employment, self-employment, study, non-working residence or family reasons, usually requested through a Spanish consulate before moving.
The green EU registration certificate (EX-18) described in our EU registration certificate guide is not available to newcomers from the UK. Spain stopped issuing it to UK nationals once the TIE system for Brexit residents started.
How does the EES border system treat UK residents?
The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) records non-EU travelers at Schengen borders. According to the UK government guidance, updated in July 2026:
- UK nationals resident in Spain who hold a TIE do not need to register with EES.
- Holders of a green certificate will need to register, and the green certificate cannot be used to prove the exemption.
- When traveling in the Schengen area, carry both your passport and your TIE. If a border officer asks for your passport, show your residence document too, or your passport may be stamped.
A stamp does not cancel your rights, but an incorrect stamp can cause questions later about your days in the Schengen area. The TIE avoids that problem.
What about driving and healthcare?
A UK or Gibraltar licence can be used for six months after you become resident. After that you must exchange it, which needs a check code from the DVLA or DVA; our guide to driving in Spain on a foreign licence covers the steps. If the NHS pays for your healthcare in Spain through an S1 form, tell the NHS Overseas Healthcare Team if you leave Spain.
Bottom line
If you still hold only the green certificate, book the police appointment before your next trip outside Spain. Keep evidence of when you started living here, such as old padrón certificates and contracts, because you may need it for the card, for a renewal or for a family member’s application years from now.
FAQ
Is my green certificate still valid?
It still shows that you registered before Brexit, but the UK government says the TIE is the only residence document listed in the Withdrawal Agreement. The green certificate also cannot be used to prove that you are exempt from EES registration.
Do I need to renew my Withdrawal Agreement TIE?
Yes, the card must be renewed when it expires. Apply under the Withdrawal Agreement route again rather than as a new non-EU applicant, and check the form with the police office when you book.
Can my new spouse join me under the Withdrawal Agreement?
Not if the relationship started after 2020. The agreement protects existing family relationships and children born or adopted later, so a new spouse has to use the ordinary immigration rules.
When do I qualify for the 10-year card?
After five years of legal residence in Spain. If you are close to that point, the Spanish guide suggests waiting and applying directly for the permanent document.
