Question
When leaving Spain to visit Europe is your UK passport supposed to be stamped if you have Spanish residency? Mine was stamped when leaving in August.
Answers
These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
“They shouldn’t stamp it, but some do, some just forget. As others say, hand your TIE first, then the passport, haven’t had mine stamped since started doing that.”
“This seems to be a bit of a conundrum. When we went back to UK my passport got stamped my husbands never. We both handed our residentcia cards in with our passport. Coming back again both handed passport and card my husband no stamp. The guy at passport control asked me if I wanted mine stamped said I didn’t know. The guy who my husband went to looked and told him to stamp it. I think as someone said in this thread that it is to see how much time you spend outside Spain as they check this when you need to renew your residencia.”
“Mine has been stamped every time and I have had had residency for. 35 years. It doesn’t matter being stamped we as residents are not on the 90 days rule.”
“I travel to France (Bordeaux) from Malaga and there is passport control upon arrival at BOD and leaving BOD but my passport is never stamped and I have never shown my TIE. I wonder when they scan the passport it shows that I am a Spanish resident? Have no idea what it shows when scanned….. would love to know!!”
“I have heard that the passports “smart” passports get scanned with or without TIE so the computer knows your travel. When they make a computer program it will show any misdemeanours then some will be in hot water !”
“My wife has travelled to UK and back twice this year, pass port not stamped they were only interested in her TIE.”
“We showed our tie and passport and they didn’t stamp ours.”
“Its a blooming nightmare – been to UK several times over the last 2 years – passport NEVER gets stamped”
“If you are a Spanish resident … then if travelling between the UK & Spain, your passport should NOT be stamped, but if it is … its no big problem but maybe keep a copy of your flight tickets just in case it`s ever queried.”
“Just checked on the Citizens Advice Bureau page and it says there that passports should not be stamped for uk citizens resident in Spain. Soooo confusing – hopefully the new system when it comes on line will help not hinder – but I doubt it!”
“I travel a lot to UK and back, I always show my TIE and my passport doesn’t get stamped.”
“If your a Spanish resident … then if travelling between the UK & Spain, your passport should NOT be stamped, but if it is … its no big problem but maybe keep a copy of your flight tickets just in case it`s ever queried.”
“If you are a temporary resident, then they will need to ensure that you fulfil your Residencia requirements, I. E. Not be out of the country longer than you are allowed.”
“Appears that way as they stamped my Australian passport”
“As a Spanish resident, you DO indeed need to show your passport when travelling elsewhere in the EU/Schengen zone & it should be stamped both when leaving Spain & on your return to Spain.
Outside of Spain, you are fully liable to all 3rd country restrictions within the EU/Schengen (that is … 90 days in any 180 day rolling period).
There is a problem though as when in the EU/Schengen area, there are no borders between member countries (so no stamping available) … but on your return to Spain you must ensure your passport is stamped, simply to stop the 90/180 day clock.
ALSO …. the TIE card is only a Spanish identity card and is not actually valid outside of Spain, so a passport is essential at all times.”
“Where in Europe? If you are travelling inside the Schengen zone there is no passport control. If travelling outside Schengen you don’t need a stamp if you show your TIE.”
“they don’t seem to know what to do when I went back to the UK I gave them my passport and TIE he handed back the passport without looking at it and checked my TIE on returning they didn’t check either just waved me through”
