How to swap your "Green Residency" Certificate for the New TIE Photo ID Card
Friday, February 12, 2021 @ 3:31 PM
Last July, Spain introduced the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad Extranjero) for foreign residents, a biometric credit card-sized photo ID that replaces the previously issued green EU residency A4 certificate or the small green residency card.
However, it's important to remember that for UK citizens who have already been registered as residents in Spain and are in possession of either of the green residency documents, the TIE card is of course optional.
That’s because both of these ‘residencia’ documents - whether temporary (less than 5 years of residence) or permanent (more than 5 years) - already guarantee British residents rights in Spain under the Withdrawal Agreement. That said, it is certainly an advantage to get one. Up until now those with only the green A4 sheet had no way of proving their identity legally without carrying their passport - a Spanish driving license, although in most cases suffices, it is not a legal form of identification. So basically, we now have a legal ID card available meaning we can leave our passports at home once and for all. So what's not to like about it?
How do UK citizens who are already registered in Spain apply for a TIE and thus swap their Green A4 certificate for a photo ID card?
I have put together this document to show the steps you need to go through. It is shown with Valencia as an example, as I am based here, but it will work for any city in Spain. The procedure is the same. Just click on the link and download the document.
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