ARCHIVED - Travellers from Spain to UK warned to carry residency documentation for return trip

After a year of transition, Brexit is about to happen for real and the reality of the implications for British nationals wishing to travel in Europe has suddenly started to hit home.

Last week the British media gave widespread coverage to the unexpected dilemma caused by coronavirus which could mean that British nationals wishing to enter Spain after January 1st may be refused admission. (Click to read the full article; Is it true that UK nationals may be prevented from travelling to Europe after Brexit?)

As explained last week, measures were put in place during the first wave of the virus within the EU to prevent movement between EU nations and other countries in which there were high Covid infection rates. Apart from EU countries and those which lie within the Schengen zone, travellers from only 8 other countries are permitted to enter the EU currently.

Once the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, its nationals will no longer be automatically entitled to enter the EU and will only be admitted if coronavirus case numbers come down to a level considered safe or if the EU makes a concession and includes the UK on the list of countries permitted to enter the EU.

Although theoretically, individual countries can make exceptions to this by creating “safe travel corridors” between themselves and the UK, those planning journeys for the early part of next year should be aware that this restriction may prevent them from entering Europe other than for essential journeys or for work reasons.

Only residents returning to their habitual place of residence will be permitted to enter Spain and the British Consulate in Spain has today issued a warning to all of those who live in Spain or have applied for residency before the December 31st deadline, that they should carry their documentation proving this with them if they are travelling out of the country during the festive season and will return to Spain after 1st January 2021.

The British Consulate says: ”As some of you will be travelling to the UK for Christmas, we wanted to advise anyone who is travelling to prepare for your return to Spain by carrying your residency documents (the green certificate or the new TIE card) with you, which accredit your residency in Spain.

If you live in Spain, but do not yet have these documents, we advise you to travel with any documentation demonstrating that you are a resident, for example: the positive outcome of your residency application, the demonstration that you have applied for residency or any other documentation with you that shows that you are a resident in Spain such as a work contract, tenancy agreement or padron certificate.”

Don´t forget that all travellers to Spain must provide a PCR/TMA/LAMP test taken 72 hours before arrival in Spain to prove that they are not Covid positive and must complete a passenger arrivals form prior to arrival. Click for information