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Passport Stamped on Arrival in Spain?

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 6:20pm
62 replies5660 views16 members subscribed
Lari

Posts: 46

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Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 14 May 2020

Can anyone please advise with COMPLETE certainty that UK passports are now being stamped on entry thus recording the start of the maximum 90 day stay.

Thanks.

Kelvin1960

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:01pm

Kelvin1960

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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:01pm

Since Christmas, only Brits with Residencia/TIE (plus PCR test & QR number) have been officially allowed back into Spain from the UK, and Residencia/TIE holders do not need to have their passports stamped.

So your question cannot be answered with certainty.

Lari

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:16pm

Lari

Original Poster

Posts: 46

33 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 14 May 2020

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:16pm

Kelvin1960 wrote on Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:01pm:

Since Christmas, only Brits with Residencia/TIE (plus PCR test & QR number) have been officially allowed back into Spain from the UK, and Residencia/TIE holders do not need to have their passports stamped.

So your question cannot be answered with certainty.

Thanks for the reply.

If that is the official line I presume the documentation has to be produced at entry?

It appears that persons currently "resident" cannot become officially resident without producing an entry stamp for the Policia Nacionale.

The stamping issue for UK passport holders will no doubt be resolved with the arrival of holidaymakers.

Peterholiday

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:18pm

Posts: 23

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Joined: 12 Mar 2020

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:18pm

It doesn't matter if your passport is stamped.

I'm not sure why people are getting hung up on the whole "wet stamp" thing at border control. I worked for many years as IT support this included working airside at border control. I can tell you with 100% certainty that when your passport is scanned at the desk, (at least in the UK, so I assume most countries will be the same) they can tell when you left or entered the country, not just for that visit, but historically for quite a considerable time. 

As far as I'm concerned Spain have been dealing with visitors coming in from outside the Shengen area for quite some time, England has just been added to the list that's all, they will already be geared up to deal any overstayers. It's not a new thing, there is no adjustment period, no waiting for them to put procedures in place. If Spain wants to enforce the new (to us) rules they will be able to do it straight away. 

The question should be, will Spain enforce the rules? My gut feeling is that they will. After all whether we like it or not these are the rules now, so they should be enforced.

Portet

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:18pm

Portet

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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:18pm

Lari wrote on Fri Mar 26, 2021 6:20pm:

Can anyone please advise with COMPLETE certainty that UK passports are now being stamped on entry thus recording the start of the maximum 90 day stay.

Thanks.

Whether they are or not, I expect entry and exit is, or will shortly be, logged electronically.

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Kelvin1960

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:46pm

Kelvin1960

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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:46pm

Lari wrote on Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:16pm:

Thanks for the reply.

If that is the official line I presume the documentation has to be produced at entry?

It appears that persons currently "resident" cannot become officially resident without producing an entry stamp for the Policia Nacionale.

The stamping issue for UK passport holders will no doubt be resolved with the arrival of holidaymakers.

I came in through Alicante airport on 28/12/20.

I had to produce my passport and TIE at passport control.

My QR was scanned and authenticated online at a "temporary" checkpoint just after passport control.

My PCR was scrutinised at the same checkpoint, although as there are many providers of PCR tests, an online authentication wasn't possible (at that time).

If you have been through Alicante departures lately, you will have seen that all UK flights are dispatched from a segregated area, with an extra layer of passport e-security. The extra security (an extra set of e-gates) was installed in 2019. ROI flights are also dispatched from this area (due to the UK/ROI common travel area).  

If the "wet stamp" is used on entry, it will probably be for the benefit of police officers who do not have access to the e-passport security facilities out on the street.   

When visiting the USA, Brits currently obtain an online visa via the ESTA system. The visa can be printed out and carried at all times ... for scrutiny at border controls (although border officers have it onscreen), by police officers, etc. The ESTA has an end-date, beyond which the carrier is illegal. The EU plans to have a similar system in 2022, called ETIAS. So the ETIAS visa can be carried as personal ID.

Lari

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 9:39pm

Lari

Original Poster

Posts: 46

33 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 14 May 2020

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 9:39pm

Thanks for all your replies.

The facts are that a UK National who has been living here "under the radar" and is now applying for Residencia is being told by the Policia Nationale that they cannot apply without the entry stamp in their passport.  Immigration scans would no doubt turn up the fact that the last entry would exceed the now current 90 day rule IF IT EXISTED hence an entry date stamp now required to allow the application to go forward. 

We have never been in the Shengen area and for as long as I can remember at Alicante Airport prior to Covid-19 restrictions, it was a cursory glance of the passport and a wave through.  Certainly no scanning up to 2014 when I last travelled through.

Thanks again.

Martyn1986

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 9:57pm

Martyn1986

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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 9:57pm

Peterholiday wrote on Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:18pm:

It doesn't matter if your passport is stamped.

I'm not sure why people are getting hung up on the whole "wet stamp" thing at border control. I worked for many years as IT support this included working airside at border control. I can tell you with 100% certainty that when your passport is scanned at the desk, (at least in the UK, so I assume ...

...most countries will be the same) they can tell when you left or entered the country, not just for that visit, but historically for quite a considerable time. 

As far as I'm concerned Spain have been dealing with visitors coming in from outside the Shengen area for quite some time, England has just been added to the list that's all, they will already be geared up to deal any overstayers. It's not a new thing, there is no adjustment period, no waiting for them to put procedures in place. If Spain wants to enforce the new (to us) rules they will be able to do it straight away. 

The question should be, will Spain enforce the rules? My gut feeling is that they will. After all whether we like it or not these are the rules now, so they should be enforced.

Just curious i know its not what the poster asked but your comment got me woundering. When you leave the the UK and they scan your passport, if you cross borders and fly home from sonewhere different will that register? Or does it just say you left on whatever date and returned on such & such date? 

Peterholiday

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 10:11pm

Posts: 23

36 helpful points

Joined: 12 Mar 2020

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 10:11pm

Lari wrote on Fri Mar 26, 2021 9:39pm:

Thanks for all your replies.

The facts are that a UK National who has been living here "under the radar" and is now applying for Residencia is being told by the Policia Nationale that they cannot apply without the entry stamp in their passport.  Immigration scans would no doubt turn up the fact that the last entry would...

... exceed the now current 90 day rule IF IT EXISTED hence an entry date stamp now required to allow the application to go forward. 

We have never been in the Shengen area and for as long as I can remember at Alicante Airport prior to Covid-19 restrictions, it was a cursory glance of the passport and a wave through.  Certainly no scanning up to 2014 when I last travelled through.

Thanks again.

It was a cursory glance but your passport and flight were already in the system when you left the UK, big brother knew you were here :)

My understanding is that all you needed was proof you were living here, deeds, rental agreement and a bank statement showing outgoings, shopping etc. But as we know there are different interpretations of the rules, depending on who you see on the day.

Peterholiday

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 10:12pm

Posts: 23

36 helpful points

Joined: 12 Mar 2020

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 10:12pm

Martyn1986 wrote on Fri Mar 26, 2021 9:57pm:

Just curious i know its not what the poster asked but your comment got me woundering. When you leave the the UK and they scan your passport, if you cross borders and fly home from sonewhere different will that register? Or does it just say you left on whatever date and returned on such & such...

... date? 

It will just say that you arrived on what date, but when you fill out your passenger form when booking flights there is a reason they ask for your passport number, it's all checkable. They were working on systems to link passports systems reliably across participating countries when I left, so I imagine by now it's all in place.

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