Trips home and to Gibraltar, Ceuta, Melilla, the UK and Ireland

Key rules

• Passport and TIE: Carry a valid passport and a valid TIE on every trip covered here.
• Expired TIE: A receipt alone may not be accepted at the border, so carry the grant resolution as well.
• UK and Ireland: Spanish residence does not exempt you from UK or Irish visa rules.
• Ceuta and Melilla: Trips from the mainland are domestic, but airlines and ferries may still check your passport and TIE.

Going home and coming back

Your valid passport and valid TIE let you re-enter Spain without a visa, even if you come from a country outside Schengen. The TIE takes the place of a visa for short stays in the Schengen area.

If your TIE has expired, is being renewed or has not been issued yet, carry your passport, the resolution granting your permit and the application receipt. A receipt on its own may not be enough at the border, because officers decide case by case. If your permit has expired or you never collected your TIE, you may need a visa to come back. Some airlines also check your documents before boarding a flight to Spain, so ask yours before you fly.

Gibraltar

You need your passport and your TIE to cross at La Línea. Some nationalities also need a visa for Gibraltar. A political deal to remove the land border checks has been reached, with Schengen checks moving to Gibraltar's port and airport. Before you go, ask the Spanish Ministry of Interior or the Gibraltar government what applies on the day.

Ceuta and Melilla

Ceuta and Melilla are part of Spain, so going from the mainland by ferry or plane is a domestic trip. Take your passport and valid TIE, because airlines and ferry operators may check them. You do not need a visa if your TIE is valid.

If you plan to go through Morocco, the Moroccan visa rules for your nationality apply. The land border is a Schengen external border with entry and exit checks. Moroccan crossings have been restricted and change often, so check before you travel.

The UK

Living in Spain does not exempt you from UK entry rules. Depending on your nationality, you will need one of these:

• a UK visitor visa
• an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which most visa-exempt nationalities need for visits
• an ETA together with a short-stay visa
• a visa regardless
• a transit visa, for a few nationalities

EU, Irish and British citizens do not need an ETA. Check the UK government website for your nationality before you book.

Ireland

Ireland is outside Schengen and has its own visa list. If your nationality is on it, you need an Irish visa even though you live in Spain. Your Spanish residence does not replace it. If you need a visa for the UK, a valid UK visa may let you visit Ireland under the British-Irish Visa Scheme.

If your nationality is visa-exempt, you can enter without a visa, but you still go through immigration checks. Officers may ask for proof of your status and funds, and a Spanish TIE does not guarantee entry.

The documents list and checklist below cover what to carry, and the FAQ answers common questions.

Documents you need

• Valid passport, needed for every trip in this article.

• Valid residence card (TIE), which lets you return to Spain from a non-Schengen home country without a visa and travel to Ceuta and Melilla.

• If your TIE has expired, is being renewed or has not been issued: the resolution granting your permit and the application receipt, carried with your passport.

• Passport and TIE for the Gibraltar border crossing. Some nationalities also need a visa for Gibraltar.

• An Irish visa, if your nationality is on Ireland's visa list. Spanish residence does not replace it.

Checklist

• Check that your passport and TIE are both valid on the day you plan to return to Spain.

• Ask your airline whether it checks documents before boarding on a flight back to Spain.

• Check the entry rules for Gibraltar with the Spanish Ministry of Interior or the Gibraltar government before you cross at La Línea.

• Pack your passport and TIE for Ceuta or Melilla, as airlines and ferry operators may check them.

• Check on the UK government website whether you need a visitor visa or an ETA before you book a trip to the UK.

• Check the Irish Immigration Service visa list for your nationality, and get a visa if it is listed.

• Bring proof of your status and funds for Ireland, because Irish immigration may ask for them.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to come back to Spain from my home country?

No, you do not need a visa to come back to Spain if you hold a valid passport and a valid residence card (TIE), even from a non-Schengen country. If your card has expired or is still being renewed, carry your passport, the resolution granting your permit and the application receipt. A receipt alone may not be enough at the border.

Does a Spanish TIE let me enter Ireland without a visa?

No, a Spanish TIE does not exempt you from Irish visa rules, because Ireland is outside Schengen and has its own visa list. If your nationality needs an Irish visa, get one before you go. Some visa-required nationals with a valid UK visa can visit Ireland under the British-Irish Visa Scheme.

Do I need an ETA to visit the UK as a resident of Spain?

Yes, if you are a non-EU national from a visa-exempt country such as the US, Canada or Australia, you need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for UK visits. Other nationalities need a visitor visa instead.