Questions

Asked on a British or other non-EU passport

Since Brexit, British passports follow the non-EU rules, with their own path for those who were already resident. Here are the questions we hear from British and other non-EU readers in Benidorm.

The sculpted white concrete waves of the Paseo de Poniente promenade curving over a timber boardwalk on Playa de Poniente, with palm trees, apartment towers and hills beyond under a cloudy sky
Photo: Brett Hodnett, CC BY-SA 2.0, resized

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Does a British passport count as EU or non-EU here?

Non-EU, since Brexit. People who were living here before the end of 2020 are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement and hold a TIE that says so.

I still have a green certificate from before Brexit. What should I do?

Exchange it for the TIE. That means a fingerprint appointment, the toma de huellas, at a police office that issues cards.

I want to retire to Benidorm from the UK, the US or Canada. What is the first step?

An application for non-lucrative residence, made at the Spanish consulate for the area where you live. The TIE card follows once you arrive with the visa.

When do I book the fingerprints for my TIE?

Soon after you arrive with your visa. The deadline is short and runs from the day you enter Spain.

Can the non-EU husband or wife of a European live in Benidorm?

Yes, with the family-member card requested on form EX-19, unless your spouse is Spanish: relatives of Spaniards now have a residence authorisation of their own. The Oficina de Extranjería in Altea lists the EX-19 card among its procedures.

My card expired during its renewal and I have to travel. Can I?

Ask for an autorización de regreso, a return authorisation, before you go. The Altea office of the Subdelegación lists it.

Which floor are you heading for?

Tell us your passport, your plans and your dates. We reply by email with the route that fits and what it involves.

Tell us your situation