Inside Spain: What the UK Embassy says about Brits' residency card renewal

"It’s happening to those with temporary cards issued under the Withdrawal Agreement (WA) when they attempt to renew in the 30 days prior to the card's expiry, as the law allows for according to the Spanish Immigration Ministry's own Brexit manual'. However, Spanish police are telling most of these WA TIE holders to wait until their temporary cards expire before applying for a permanent card."

"Not ideal in a country where citas previas (migration appointments) are as elusive as the Iberian lynx. Many fear falling into a sort of illegal' status if they can't secure an appointment on the trouble-ridden cita system in the three months after expiry."

"We got in touch with the UK Embassy, who told us that This is the responsibility of the Spanish authorities but that The British Embassy in Madrid is raising this issue with the Spanish government to support British nationals to renew their residency cards. Will it change anything? Let's hope so."

"If it's any consolation, our colleagues at The Local Italy have told us that Britons in Italy are also being turned away when trying to renew their Italian residency cards before their expiration date. In France, the website foreigners use to process their residency applications is reportedly very buggy, so much so that a French court has given the government six months to fix it."

Brits attempting to renew Spanish residency cards (TIEs) before expiry are often turned away, especially those holding temporary cards issued under the Withdrawal Agreement. Spanish law allows renewal within the 30 days before expiry, but Spanish police commonly instruct holders to wait until the temporary card expires before applying for a permanent card. This creates problems because migration appointments (citas previas) are difficult to obtain. Some fear becoming irregular if they cannot secure an appointment within three months after expiry. The UK Embassy states the issue is the responsibility of Spanish authorities and that it is raising the problem with the Spanish government to support British nationals. Similar renewal difficulties are reported in Italy, France, and other countries including Germany, Sweden, and Norway.

Read at www.thelocal.es