Brexit - Citizens' rights

ATENCIÓN: WITH THE ENTRY/EXIT SYSTEM IN OPERATION, THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE WITHDRAWAL AGREEMENT WILL BE OBLIGED TO OBTAIN A TIE (FOREIGNER IDENTITY CARD) TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE NEW CONTROLS ESTABLISHED BY THIS SYSTEM

New requirements for border crossing after entry into operation of Entry/Exit System

With the coming into operation of the new EU external border crossing computer systems (Entry/Exit System; EES, expected in November 2024, and European Travel Information and Authorisation System; ETIAS in the first half of 2025) the Alien Identity Card (“TIE art.50 TUE”) will be the only document that allows the beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement to be exempt from the accounting of their time of stay in the EES and from the request for travel authorisation through the ETIAS.The registration certificate or family card of a European Union citizen will therefore not be enough to avoid these controls.

The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Unionon will affect Spanish citizens who have residency, employment or family ties with the United Kingdom, as well as those United Kingdom nationals who reside in our country, Spain being the country of residence of the largest community of United Kingdom nationals.

The negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom on an agreement to regulate its withdrawal led to the text of the Withdrawal Agreement, which was accepted by the European Council on 25 November 2018 (although revised in October 2019) and which, after being rejected on several occasions, was finally approved by the British Parliament on 20 December 2019 (you can check the main milestones of the negotiations on the Commission website).

The Withdrawal Agreement, which entered into force on 1 February 2020, means that the United Kingdom is no longer part of the Community institutions, although, for a transitional period that will last until 31 December 2020, all European Union law will still apply to it.

In addition, and as far as citizens’ rights are concerned, the Withdrawal Agreement from 1 January 2021 offers the broadest possible guarantees for all those persons within the scope of its personal application.

In line with the Government of Spain, the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration and the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy provide citizens with additional information on residency rights and social security.