Modelos

EX-20, EX-21, EX-22 & EX-23 Spain: Brexit Residence Forms

EX-20, EX-21, EX-22 and EX-23 are Spain’s specialist forms for people protected by the EU–UK Withdrawal Agreement after Brexit. They cover qualifying British citizens who established rights in Spain before the end of the Brexit transition period, eligible family members, protected UK frontier workers and the physical Article 50 TIE residence card.

The four forms have different purposes:

EX-20 — Withdrawal Agreement residence application for qualifying UK nationals.
EX-21 — Withdrawal Agreement residence application for qualifying non-EU family members of protected UK nationals.
EX-22 — Withdrawal Agreement permit for qualifying UK frontier workers.
EX-23 — application for the physical Article 50 TIE residence card for qualifying Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries.

These forms are not the normal immigration route for a British citizen moving to Spain for the first time today.

If you first established residence in Spain after 31 December 2020 and do not qualify through a protected Withdrawal Agreement family situation, you generally need to use Spain’s ordinary immigration system instead.

For the wider post-Brexit relocation process, read our Moving from the UK to Spain guide.

You can also compare these forms with the rest of Spain’s immigration Modelos in our Spain Immigration Forms: EX-00 to EX-32 guide.

EX-20 to EX-23 at a Glance

Form	Main Purpose	Typical Applicant
EX-20	Article 50 residence document	Protected UK national
EX-21	Article 50 residence for family members	Qualifying non-EU family member of protected UK national
EX-22	Frontier-worker permit	Protected UK national working in Spain but residing elsewhere
EX-23	Physical Withdrawal Agreement TIE	UK national or qualifying family member entitled to Article 50 documentation

The most important question is not simply whether you are British.

It is:

Were your residence, family or frontier-worker rights protected by the Withdrawal Agreement?

Why Do EX-20 to EX-23 Exist?

The United Kingdom left the European Union on:

31 January 2020

A transition period then continued until:

31 December 2020

During that transition period, EU free-movement rules continued to apply to UK nationals.

The Withdrawal Agreement was created to protect certain rights that had already been established before the end of that transition period.

As a result, two British citizens living in Spain today can have completely different immigration statuses.

British Citizen Who Moved Before Brexit

A British citizen who established qualifying residence in Spain before the end of 2020 and continued residing under the protected framework may be a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement.

British Citizen Who Moved After Brexit

A British citizen who moved to Spain for the first time in 2024, 2025 or 2026 is generally treated as a third-country national and must normally qualify under Spain’s immigration legislation.

The second person cannot use EX-20 simply because they hold a British passport.

Who Is Protected by the Withdrawal Agreement?

The Withdrawal Agreement can protect UK nationals who:

were residing in Spain in accordance with EU law before the end of 31 December 2020;
continued residing in Spain afterwards;
satisfy the relevant Withdrawal Agreement conditions.

It can also protect certain qualifying family members.

Family members can sometimes join the protected UK national after 2020 where the family relationship already existed before the end of the transition period and continues when the family member exercises the right to join.

Special rules also protect certain children born or adopted after the end of the transition period.

This means:

Arrival after 2020 does not automatically exclude every family member.

But it does generally exclude a British citizen who simply decided to move to Spain for the first time after Brexit and has no other Withdrawal Agreement basis.

Spain Uses a Declaratory Withdrawal Agreement System

Spain chose the Article 18(4) declaratory system under the Withdrawal Agreement.

This is important.

Under a declaratory system, qualifying rights arise from the Withdrawal Agreement when the legal conditions are met.

The residence card is evidence of those rights.

In other words:

Withdrawal Agreement eligibility → underlying right

Article 50 TIE → evidence of that right

This differs from countries that chose a constitutive system in which obtaining a new residence status through an application was itself necessary to acquire protected status.

However, having proper Spanish documentation is extremely important in practice.

What Is the Article 50 TIE?

The physical Withdrawal Agreement residence document issued in Spain is a:

Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero — TIE

The card identifies the holder as a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement.

The permit type refers to:

Artículo 50 TUE

and the card identifies that it was issued under the Withdrawal Agreement.

This TIE should not be confused with an ordinary TIE issued under Spain’s general immigration system.

Both are physical foreigner identity cards, but the underlying legal status is different.

For a broader explanation of Spanish residence cards, read our TIE Card Spain guide.

The Green Certificate and Brexit

Before Brexit, British citizens living in Spain commonly registered as EU citizens and received a green EU Registration Certificate.

This may be:

a small green paper certificate;
a green card-sized certificate;
a permanent EU registration certificate.

The certificate normally contains the holder’s:

name;
nationality;
NIE;
address or registration information;
date of registration.

After Brexit, qualifying British residents became protected by the Withdrawal Agreement rather than ordinary EU free movement.

Is the Old Green Certificate Still Relevant?

Yes.

A pre-Brexit EU Registration Certificate can be extremely important evidence because it demonstrates that the British citizen had registered in Spain before the end of the transition period.

Spain’s declaratory system also means that having an old green certificate does not by itself mean the underlying Withdrawal Agreement rights disappeared.

However, exchanging it for an Article 50 TIE is strongly advisable.

Why the Article 50 TIE Is Particularly Important in 2026

The EU Entry/Exit System — EES — is now fully operational at external Schengen borders.

EES became fully operational on:

10 April 2026

It records entries and exits of many non-EU short-stay travellers electronically.

British Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries are not ordinary 90/180-day visitors when returning to the country where they hold protected residence rights.

Having the Article 50 TIE gives border authorities standardized evidence of that protected Spanish residence status.

Spanish migration guidance has therefore strongly encouraged Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries who still rely on old EU documentation to obtain the Article 50 TIE.

This has become even more important with the operation of EES.

What About ETIAS?

ETIAS is a separate European travel-authorization system for qualifying visa-exempt non-EU visitors.

It is not the same as EES.

As of 2026, ETIAS has not yet begun accepting applications and is expected to start later.

A properly documented Withdrawal Agreement resident should not be treated as an ordinary British tourist visiting Spain under the 90/180-day short-stay system.

The Article 50 TIE provides the clearest practical evidence of that distinction.

What Is EX-20?

EX-20 is the Withdrawal Agreement residence application for qualifying UK nationals.

Its official purpose is to request the residence document under Article 50 TEU for UK nationals protected by the Withdrawal Agreement.

It can cover both:

temporary residence;
permanent residence.

EX-20 is particularly relevant where the British national needs the Oficina de Extranjería to determine or recognize their Withdrawal Agreement residence situation before the physical TIE is issued.

EX-20 Is Not the Physical TIE Application

EX-20 and EX-23 perform different functions.

EX-20

Used where the immigration authority needs to determine the British national’s entitlement to the Withdrawal Agreement residence document.

EX-23

Used for the physical Article 50 TIE card.

A common sequence is:

EX-20 → Favorable decision → EX-23 → Fingerprints → Article 50 TIE

But some people who already had appropriate EU documentation can proceed directly to the police documentation stage using EX-23 without needing a new EX-20 determination first.

Temporary Residence Categories on EX-20

The current EX-20 recognizes several residence bases.

Employee

A protected British national may qualify as:

Trabajador por cuenta ajena

Evidence can include:

employment history;
Social Security records;
employment contracts;
employer certificates;
payroll documentation;
other records showing qualifying employment and residence.

Self-Employed Person

A British citizen who was genuinely self-employed in Spain can rely on:

Trabajador por cuenta propia

Evidence can include:

autónomo registration;
Social Security records;
tax records;
economic activity registrations;
invoices;
company or professional records.

Economically Inactive Resident

A British resident who was not working could still have exercised EU residence rights if they had:

sufficient financial resources;
appropriate healthcare coverage.

This category is particularly relevant to many retirees who were already living in Spain before Brexit.

Student

Students could also qualify where the EU-law requirements concerning:

enrollment;
sufficient resources;
healthcare coverage;

were satisfied.

British Family Member of Another Protected British National

EX-20 can also cover certain UK nationals who derive their protected residence position through another qualifying UK national.

The exact evidence depends on the family relationship.

How Do You Prove You Were Living in Spain Before the End of 2020?

A pre-Brexit green certificate is powerful evidence, but not everyone who genuinely lived in Spain before Brexit completed the same registrations.

Spain allows residence to be demonstrated through valid evidence.

Potential evidence can include:

historical padrón certificates;
employment records;
Social Security history;
Spanish tax records;
bank statements showing normal resident activity;
utility bills;
telephone bills;
rental contracts;
property records;
healthcare records;
education records;
Spanish contracts;
official appointments;
previous EU registration documentation;
other reliable evidence establishing actual residence.

The strongest approach is to create a clear chronology.

For example:

2019 padrón → 2019 Spanish bank activity → 2020 healthcare records → 2020 utility bills → continued evidence after 2020

This is much stronger than presenting one isolated document.

Does Owning Property Prove Withdrawal Agreement Residence?

Not automatically.

Buying or owning a home in Spain is different from actually residing in Spain.

A person might have owned a holiday property in Alicante or Málaga for many years while remaining permanently resident in the United Kingdom.

Property ownership can support a wider evidence file, but it should not automatically be treated as proof that EU residence rights were exercised before 31 December 2020.

Does Having an NIE Prove Residence?

No.

An NIE is an identification number.

It does not by itself establish residence.

Someone could have obtained an NIE because of:

property ownership;
inheritance;
tax;
business;
another Spanish transaction;

while continuing to live outside Spain.

For more information, read our NIE Number in Spain guide.

EX-20 and Permanent Residence

A Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary can acquire permanent residence after completing the qualifying residence period.

The normal benchmark is:

5 years of continuous legal residence

Periods before and after the end of the Brexit transition period can count toward those five years.

For example:

Residence began in June 2019

The fact that Brexit occurred during the five-year period does not restart the residence clock.

Can Permanent Residence Be Acquired Before Five Years?

Certain specialized EU-law situations can allow earlier acquisition of permanent residence.

The EX-20 form includes specific categories involving circumstances connected with matters such as:

retirement;
early retirement;
permanent incapacity;
occupational accident or disease;
qualifying cross-border employment.

These are specialist exceptions.

For most beneficiaries, the relevant benchmark remains five years of qualifying continuous residence.

How Long Is a Temporary Article 50 TIE Valid?

A temporary Withdrawal Agreement residence card is normally issued with a validity of:

5 years

This does not mean that the holder must wait for the card to expire before establishing permanent residence.

Once the person completes five years of qualifying legal residence, they can potentially request documentation reflecting permanent residence.

How Long Is a Permanent Article 50 TIE Valid?

The physical permanent Withdrawal Agreement TIE is normally valid for:

10 years

The 10-year period concerns the physical document.

The underlying permanent residence right should not be confused with the expiry date printed on the plastic card.

Can You Upgrade to Permanent Residence Before the Temporary Card Expires?

Yes.

If you have a temporary Article 50 TIE but reach the required five years of qualifying residence before the card’s expiration date, you can request documentation reflecting permanent residence.

You do not necessarily have to wait until the temporary card expires.

What Is EX-21?

EX-21 is the Withdrawal Agreement residence application for qualifying family members of protected UK nationals who are themselves nationals of third countries.

For example:

Protected British citizen + Canadian spouse

The British citizen may fall under EX-20.

The Canadian spouse may fall under EX-21.

EX-21 exists because the Withdrawal Agreement protects not only qualifying UK nationals but also specified family relationships.

Who Can Potentially Use EX-21?

Qualifying categories can include:

spouse;
registered partner;
qualifying durable partner;
direct descendant;
dependent direct descendant where applicable;
dependent ascendant;
certain other qualifying family members;
certain children born or adopted after the transition period;
certain people retaining rights following changes in family circumstances.

Eligibility depends on the Withdrawal Agreement.

It is not enough simply to be related to a British citizen.

Did the Family Relationship Need to Exist Before Brexit?

For many family-member categories, the family relationship must have existed before the end of the transition period and continue when the family member comes to Spain.

For example, a qualifying spouse who was already married to the protected British citizen before the end of 2020 can potentially join that person later under the Withdrawal Agreement.

This is very different from saying:

“Any person who marries a British Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary at any future date automatically becomes protected.”

That is not the general rule.

Children Born After 2020

The Withdrawal Agreement contains special protection for certain children born or legally adopted after the end of the transition period.

Eligibility depends on the parents’ circumstances.

Examples can include situations where:

both parents are Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries;
one parent is a protected UK national and the other is Spanish;
the protected UK parent has sole or joint custody under the applicable conditions.

Future children should therefore not be treated in the same way as a completely new spouse or partner relationship formed after the transition period.

Spouse Under EX-21

A qualifying non-EU spouse can need documentation including:

passport;
marriage certificate;
evidence of the UK national’s protected status;
evidence showing when the family relationship was established;
Spanish residence evidence where relevant.

Foreign civil-status documents may need:

apostille;
legalization;
sworn translation;

depending on the issuing country and applicable rules.

Registered Partner Under EX-21

A registered partner can potentially qualify where the relationship falls within the Withdrawal Agreement.

Evidence can include:

official partnership registration;
identity documentation;
proof of the date the partnership was established;
documentation of the British beneficiary.

Durable Partner Under EX-21

Certain durable partners can also fall within the protected framework.

These cases are evidence-heavy.

Useful documentation can include:

historical cohabitation;
shared addresses;
joint financial obligations;
common children;
joint property or rental documentation;
other evidence demonstrating a genuine durable relationship.

The key issue is not simply whether the couple is together today.

The timing and nature of the relationship in relation to Brexit can be decisive.

Children and Descendants Under EX-21

Qualifying descendants can include children under the relevant age threshold and older dependent descendants in qualifying circumstances.

Evidence can include:

birth certificates;
passports;
custody documents;
dependency documentation;
evidence concerning the protected UK national.

Dependent Parents

A qualifying dependent ascendant may also fall within the Withdrawal Agreement.

Dependency must normally be genuine.

Useful evidence can include:

regular financial support;
bank transfers;
housing payments;
medical support;
pension information;
income evidence;
other proof that the family member relies materially on the protected person.

EX-21 After Death, Divorce or Departure

The Withdrawal Agreement contains protections allowing certain family members to retain residence rights after major changes in family circumstances.

Depending on the case, relevant events can include:

death of the protected UK national;
divorce;
annulment;
termination of a registered partnership;
departure of the UK national from Spain;
child custody;
completion of a child’s education;
other protected situations.

These are not automatic in every case.

The precise retained-right conditions must be satisfied.

Permanent Residence Under EX-21

Qualifying family members can also acquire permanent residence.

The standard benchmark is:

5 years of qualifying continuous legal residence

Periods of legal residence before and after Brexit can count.

The resulting permanent Article 50 residence document is normally issued for:

10 years

What Is EX-22?

EX-22 is the specialist Withdrawal Agreement permit for qualifying UK frontier workers.

It is fundamentally different from EX-20.

A frontier worker works in Spain but does not reside in Spain in the same way as a Spanish resident.

The protected person must have been carrying out qualifying frontier work in Spain before the end of the transition period and continue to fall within the Withdrawal Agreement framework.

EX-22 Is Not a Spanish Residence Permit

This distinction is essential.

EX-22 documents protected frontier-worker rights.

It does not turn the worker into a Spanish resident merely because they work in Spain.

A simplified comparison is:

Lives in Spain + protected Withdrawal Agreement residence → EX-20

Lives outside Spain + protected qualifying work in Spain → EX-22

If the person actually relocates their habitual residence to Spain, their immigration position should be reviewed rather than assuming EX-22 remains the correct route.

Employee Frontier Worker

EX-22 covers qualifying frontier workers carrying out employment:

por cuenta ajena

The current form asks for information relating to:

employer;
work activity;
occupation;
workplace;
province;
other employment information.

The applicant must establish that the frontier-worker activity falls within Withdrawal Agreement protection.

Self-Employed Frontier Worker

EX-22 also covers qualifying frontier workers working:

por cuenta propia

Evidence can involve:

professional activity;
business records;
tax information;
contracts;
invoices;
other proof of continued economic activity in Spain.

What Can Be Requested With EX-22?

The current EX-22 includes options covering:

initial permit;
renewal;
modification;
termination or deregistration.

Modifications can relate to matters such as:

personal data;
employment or professional data;
address;
passport or identity document;
other relevant circumstances.

EX-22 is therefore not simply a one-time historical Brexit form.

It continues to serve the administrative documentation of protected frontier-worker status.

EX-22 Is Not the Same as Spain’s Ordinary Frontier-Worker Permit

Spain also has a general immigration regime for certain frontier workers under its current Immigration Regulation.

That is legally separate from the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.

EX-22 specifically relates to protected UK frontier workers under:

Article 50 TEU / Withdrawal Agreement

A British person starting new frontier work in Spain after Brexit cannot assume EX-22 applies simply because they live outside Spain.

What Is EX-23?

EX-23 is the form used for the physical Article 50 Withdrawal Agreement residence card.

It is the card-stage form.

The current EX-23 provides options for:

initial card;
renewal;
duplicate due to loss;
duplicate due to theft;
duplicate due to deterioration;
change of data.

It also identifies different situations based on the applicant’s previous documentation.

EX-23 for a British Citizen With a Green Certificate

A British Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary who already held an EU Registration Certificate can generally use the simplified police-documentation route.

The typical process is:

Existing green EU certificate → EX-23 → Police appointment → Fingerprints → Article 50 TIE

In this situation, a new EX-20 Extranjería determination is not normally required merely to exchange the old EU registration document.

EX-23 for a British Citizen Without a Green Certificate

Where the protected UK national does not have the previous EU Registration Certificate, the process can involve two stages:

EX-20 → Oficina de Extranjería decision → EX-23 → Policía Nacional → TIE

The EX-20 stage establishes the applicant’s protected residence entitlement.

After a favorable decision, the physical card is requested through EX-23.

EX-23 for a Non-EU Family Member With an Old EU Family Card

Some non-EU relatives of British citizens already held a:

Tarjeta de Residencia de Familiar de Ciudadano de la Unión

before the new Withdrawal Agreement TIE system.

Those qualifying family members can generally exchange the old EU-family card for the Article 50 TIE through the relevant police procedure using EX-23.

The older EU-family document remains important evidence of the historical protected status.

For background on the EU family-card system, see our EX-19 EU Family Residence Card guide.

EX-23 for a Family Member Without a Previous EU Family Card

Where the qualifying non-EU family member did not already have the appropriate EU-family residence card, the normal process can involve:

EX-21 → Favorable decision → EX-23 → Fingerprints → Article 50 TIE

The first stage is the residence entitlement.

The second stage produces the physical card.

Documents Commonly Needed for EX-23

The precise package depends on the situation, but the card stage commonly requires:

EX-23;
passport;
previous green certificate or old EU-family card where applicable;
favorable EX-20 or EX-21 decision where required;
recent passport-style photograph;
proof of payment of the applicable police documentation fee;
other documents relevant to renewal, duplicate or change of data.

The physical card procedure takes place through Policía Nacional.

What Fee Is Used for EX-23?

The Article 50 TIE uses:

Modelo 790 Código 012

under the corresponding police-documentation category.

Do not rely on an old fixed euro amount from a previous article because official fees can change.

Use the current fee generated for the procedure.

The Extranjería stage associated with recognition of the Withdrawal Agreement residence document is separate from the police card fee.

Is EX-23 Personal?

Yes.

The physical TIE stage requires personal attendance because it involves biometric documentation.

The applicant normally attends the designated Policía Nacional unit for:

identity verification;
fingerprints;
photograph/document verification;
issuance processing.

Collection of the finished card is also normally personal.

Can EX-20 and EX-21 Be Filed Electronically?

Yes.

Where the Extranjería stage is required, applications under EX-20 and EX-21 can be submitted through Spain’s electronic immigration system where the applicable electronic identification requirements are met.

They can also be presented through the competent immigration office under the applicable filing rules.

A properly accredited representative can handle the Extranjería stage in qualifying circumstances.

The later EX-23 biometric card stage remains personal.

Our Digital Certificate in Spain guide explains the electronic identification infrastructure commonly used for Spanish administration.

How Long Can EX-20 or EX-21 Take?

Where the case requires a decision from the Oficina de Extranjería, the official resolution period is generally:

3 months

After a favorable decision, the applicant should complete the physical card stage within the applicable period.

Spanish Brexit guidance generally requires the TIE issuance application to be made within:

1 month after notification of the favorable decision

where an Extranjería decision was required.

What Happens While an EX-21 Application Is Pending?

A qualifying family applicant receives proof that the application has been submitted.

That receipt can serve as evidence of the person’s regular situation while the residence-document procedure is pending.

Keep all submission receipts and official notifications.

How Long Does the Article 50 TIE Last?

The basic distinction is:

Residence Status	Physical TIE Validity
Temporary Withdrawal Agreement residence	5 years
Permanent Withdrawal Agreement residence	10 years

A person who reaches permanent-residence eligibility can request the permanent document before the temporary physical card expires.

When Should an Article 50 TIE Be Renewed?

Spanish Withdrawal Agreement guidance provides a renewal window of:

30 days before the card expires

or:

within 90 days after its expiration

You should not deliberately wait until after expiry.

Beginning before the card expires reduces avoidable documentation and travel problems.

What Happens When a Temporary Article 50 TIE Expires?

By the time a normal five-year temporary Withdrawal Agreement TIE reaches its expiry, the holder may have completed the qualifying period for permanent residence.

Where the permanent-residence requirements are satisfied, the new card is normally issued as a:

permanent Article 50 TIE valid for 10 years

Permanent status should be distinguished from simple replacement of the plastic card.

What Happens When a Permanent Article 50 TIE Expires?

The physical permanent card is renewed for another:

10 years

Failure to replace an expired physical permanent card does not by itself automatically erase the underlying permanent Withdrawal Agreement residence right.

Nevertheless, maintaining valid documentation is extremely important for:

travel;
identification;
border procedures;
employment administration;
banking;
other official processes.

What If the Article 50 TIE Is Lost or Stolen?

EX-23 contains a duplicate option.

The normal process can involve:

reporting the loss or theft;
keeping the police report;
booking the correct police documentation procedure;
completing EX-23;
paying the applicable Modelo 790 Código 012 fee;
providing the required photograph and passport;
requesting the duplicate card.

Do not apply for a completely new immigration status simply because the physical TIE was lost.

What If Your Address or Personal Data Changes?

EX-20, EX-21 and EX-22 contain administrative options for specified changes, while EX-23 also provides for replacement where card data must change.

Relevant changes can include:

passport;
identity information;
address;
family situation;
employment information for frontier workers;
other data affecting the document.

Keeping Spanish immigration records accurate can prevent problems when renewing or replacing the card.

Can Withdrawal Agreement Beneficiaries Work in Spain?

Yes.

Qualifying Withdrawal Agreement residence rights protect the ability to reside and work under the Agreement.

An Article 50 resident does not need to convert to a normal Spanish employee work permit simply because they:

change employer;
begin employment;
stop studying and start working;
become self-employed.

The underlying Withdrawal Agreement status is not an employer-sponsored immigration permit.

Does a British Student Need to Change Status After Starting Work?

Not simply because they stop studying and begin employment.

A person who is genuinely protected by the Withdrawal Agreement has acquired rights under that legal framework.

The Article 50 documentation enables residence and work.

Changing from student activity to employment does not automatically mean the person must abandon Withdrawal Agreement status and obtain a normal Spanish work authorization.

Can an Article 50 Resident Move Permanently to Another EU Country?

Not automatically.

Withdrawal Agreement rights are connected with the host country in which the protected rights were established.

A British citizen protected in Spain does not automatically receive a general post-Brexit right to move permanently to France, Germany, Italy or another EU country under the same Spanish residence document.

For long-term relocation to another country, the immigration rules of that destination must be examined.

The Spanish Article 50 TIE is not equivalent to EU citizenship.

Travel With an Article 50 TIE

Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries should travel with:

valid passport;
valid Article 50 TIE.

The TIE helps establish that the traveller is returning as a protected resident rather than entering Spain merely as a British short-stay visitor.

This is particularly important now that EES is fully operational.

Is the 90/180-Day Schengen Rule Applied to Your Residence in Spain?

A Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary’s lawful residence in Spain is not a tourist stay under the ordinary Schengen 90/180-day rule.

The Article 50 TIE demonstrates that distinction.

However, travel to other Schengen countries remains subject to the applicable rules for travel outside the host state.

Spanish protected residence does not create unlimited residence rights throughout the Schengen Area.

How Do Absences Affect Temporary Withdrawal Agreement Residence?

Before permanent residence is acquired, continuity matters.

As a general framework, continuity is not normally broken by:

temporary absences totaling no more than six months per residence year;
longer absence for compulsory military service;
one absence of up to 12 consecutive months for an important reason.

Important reasons can include circumstances such as:

pregnancy and childbirth;
serious illness;
study;
vocational training;
work posting abroad.

Longer or repeated absences require careful analysis because they can affect the accumulation of residence toward permanent status.

How Long Can a Permanent Withdrawal Agreement Resident Stay Outside Spain?

Withdrawal Agreement permanent residence is particularly valuable because it has a more protective absence rule than ordinary EU permanent-residence documentation historically had.

Once permanent residence under the Withdrawal Agreement has been acquired, the right can generally be lost only after an absence from Spain exceeding:

5 consecutive years

This five-year rule is extremely important for British Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries.

Do not confuse it with other Spanish or EU residence regimes that can have different absence limits.

Does a Short Return to Spain Affect the Five-Year Permanent-Residence Absence Period?

Physical presence in Spain can be relevant when determining whether there has been an absence exceeding five consecutive years.

However, residence rights should never be managed through artificial border movements designed solely to create paperwork.

People spending very long periods abroad should review their actual residence position before relying on isolated visits.

What If You Never Obtained a Green Certificate or Article 50 TIE?

A British citizen who genuinely established qualifying residence in Spain before the end of 2020 but never obtained the proper documentation should not assume that the opportunity automatically disappeared simply because several years have passed.

Spain’s Article 18(4) system is declaratory.

However, proving the historical situation becomes increasingly important.

The applicant may need to demonstrate:

residence before the end of 2020;
qualifying EU-law residence conditions;
continuity after the transition period;
current eligibility.

Apply as soon as possible rather than allowing the evidential problem to become more difficult.

Is There a Late Application Problem?

Spain does not operate the same constitutive deadline system used by some other countries.

Nevertheless, different deadlines can apply to family members who begin exercising a right to join a protected beneficiary after the transition period.

For qualifying family members arriving later, the normal application period is generally:

3 months from arrival in Spain

Applications can still be considered after that period under the applicable framework, although failure to comply with the administrative deadline can have consequences.

What If You Moved to Spain After 1 January 2021?

If you are British and first moved to Spain after 1 January 2021, you are generally treated as a non-EU national unless you have another basis for Withdrawal Agreement protection.

You may instead need a route such as:

Non-Lucrative residence;
Digital Nomad residence;
employee residence and work authorization;
self-employed residence;
family residence;
study authorization;
highly qualified professional residence;
entrepreneur residence;
another appropriate Spanish immigration category.

Start with our Moving from the UK to Spain guide rather than using EX-20 merely because you are British.

EX-20 vs EX-18

EX-18 is the form used for EU citizen residence registration.

Before Brexit, British citizens were EU citizens and could use the EU registration system.

Today:

Current EU/EEA/Swiss citizen → EX-18

Protected British Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary → Brexit Article 50 framework

New British arrival after Brexit → ordinary Spanish immigration framework

For the current EU procedure, see our EX-18 EU Citizen Registration guide.

EX-21 vs EX-19

EX-19 is used for qualifying non-EU family members of current EU, EEA or Swiss citizens.

EX-21 is different.

It exists for qualifying third-country family members protected through a British Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary.

EX-19	EX-21
Current EU free-movement family regime	Brexit Withdrawal Agreement family regime
Family member of qualifying EU/EEA/Swiss citizen	Family member of protected UK national
EU-family residence card	Article 50 Withdrawal Agreement documentation

EX-23 vs EX-17

Both forms can relate to physical foreigner cards, but the legal regimes differ.

EX-17

General TIE application used in many ordinary Spanish immigration categories.

EX-23

Special physical TIE application for Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries.

A protected British resident should not automatically use EX-17 simply because both procedures involve a TIE.

Common EX-20 to EX-23 Mistakes

Assuming Every British Citizen Can Use EX-20

EX-20 is based on Withdrawal Agreement protection, not nationality alone.

Ignoring the 31 December 2020 Cutoff

This is the central historical date for ordinary British residence protection.

Thinking Property Ownership Proves Residence

Owning a Spanish home is not the same as residing in Spain under EU law.

Thinking an NIE Proves Residence

It does not.

Assuming the Green Certificate and Article 50 TIE Are Identical

They are different documents from different legal periods.

Keeping Only the Green Certificate Indefinitely Without Considering the TIE

The Article 50 TIE provides much clearer modern evidence of protected status, especially for border travel under EES.

Using EX-20 When EX-23 Is Enough

A British beneficiary with an appropriate pre-Brexit EU Registration Certificate may be able to go directly to the police documentation stage.

Using EX-23 When EX-20 Is Required First

A British beneficiary without the necessary previous registration may need an Extranjería decision before the physical card can be issued.

Using EX-20 for a Non-EU Spouse

The qualifying third-country family member normally uses EX-21.

Using EX-21 for the British Citizen

The protected UK national normally uses EX-20.

Confusing EX-22 With Residence

EX-22 concerns frontier-worker status, not ordinary residence in Spain.

Using EX-22 for New Post-Brexit Frontier Work

The applicant must actually fall within Withdrawal Agreement protection.

Assuming a Five-Year Card Means Permanent Residence

A temporary Article 50 TIE can be valid for five years without the holder having held permanent status from the first day.

Waiting for the Temporary Card to Expire Before Checking Permanent Residence

You can potentially document permanent residence once the qualifying five-year period has been reached.

Applying Ordinary Two-Year Absence Rules to Withdrawal Agreement Permanent Residence

The Withdrawal Agreement has its own rule: permanent residence can generally be lost after an absence exceeding five consecutive years.

Treating the Article 50 TIE as an EU Passport

It protects residence rights in Spain under the Withdrawal Agreement. It does not restore British EU citizenship.

British Withdrawal Agreement Residence Checklist

Before choosing a Brexit form, establish:

whether you are a UK national or a third-country family member;
whether qualifying Spanish residence began before the end of 2020;
whether residence continued afterwards;
whether you already hold an old green EU Registration Certificate;
whether you already hold an old EU-family residence card;
whether you already have an Article 50 TIE;
whether you have reached five years of qualifying residence;
whether permanent residence may already have been acquired;
whether your family relationship existed within the required Withdrawal Agreement timeframe;
whether you are actually a frontier worker rather than a Spanish resident;
whether EX-20, EX-21, EX-22 or EX-23 is the correct form;
whether historical evidence of residence is complete;
whether your passport is valid;
whether your Spanish address and personal information are current;
whether the physical card fee has been prepared where EX-23 is required.

Which Brexit Form Do I Need?

A simple decision path is:

You Are British and Protected by the Withdrawal Agreement

If the immigration authority needs to recognize your protected residence:

EX-20

If you already had the appropriate EU Registration Certificate and only need the Article 50 physical card:

EX-23

You Are a Non-EU Family Member of a Protected British Citizen

If your Withdrawal Agreement family residence must first be recognized:

EX-21

After approval:

EX-23

If you already hold the qualifying old EU-family residence documentation, you may be able to proceed directly to the Article 50 TIE stage:

EX-23

You Are a Protected British Frontier Worker

Use:

EX-22

You Are a British Citizen Who First Moved to Spain After Brexit

Normally:

None of EX-20 to EX-23

Instead, identify the appropriate post-Brexit Spanish visa or residence route.

Frequently Asked Questions About EX-20, EX-21, EX-22 and EX-23

What is EX-20?

EX-20 is the Withdrawal Agreement residence application for qualifying UK nationals protected in Spain.

What is EX-21?

EX-21 is the Withdrawal Agreement residence application for qualifying third-country family members of protected UK nationals.

What is EX-22?

EX-22 is the specialist Withdrawal Agreement permit for qualifying UK frontier workers who work in Spain but do not reside here as ordinary Spanish residents.

What is EX-23?

EX-23 is the application for the physical Article 50 Withdrawal Agreement TIE.

Can every British citizen use EX-20?

No.

The person must fall within the Withdrawal Agreement.

What is the most important Brexit residence date?

The normal transition-period cutoff is:

31 December 2020

What if I moved to Spain in 2022?

A British citizen who first established residence in Spain in 2022 generally needs Spain’s normal post-Brexit immigration system rather than EX-20.

What if I lived in Spain before 2021 but never registered?

You may still potentially have Withdrawal Agreement rights if you can establish that you satisfied the protected conditions.

Historical evidence becomes critical.

Do I need a green certificate to prove I lived in Spain before Brexit?

Not necessarily.

Spain can consider other valid evidence.

Does property ownership prove residence?

No.

Does an NIE prove residence?

No.

Is the green certificate still relevant?

Yes.

It can be important evidence of pre-Brexit residence and registration.

Should I exchange my green certificate for an Article 50 TIE?

It is strongly advisable.

The Article 50 TIE provides standardized evidence of Withdrawal Agreement residence and is particularly important for travel now that EES is fully operational.

Is EES operating now?

Yes.

The Entry/Exit System became fully operational on 10 April 2026.

Is ETIAS operating now?

Not yet.

ETIAS is a separate future travel-authorization system.

Does a protected British resident need a normal Spanish work permit?

No.

Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries have protected residence and work rights under the Agreement.

Can I change employer?

Yes, subject to ordinary employment law. Withdrawal Agreement residence is not tied to one sponsoring employer.

Can I become self-employed?

A protected Withdrawal Agreement resident can exercise work rights without replacing their Article 50 status with an ordinary self-employed immigration authorization merely because the type of economic activity changes.

Does a British student lose Withdrawal Agreement status when studies finish?

Not simply because the person changes from studying to employment.

How long is a temporary Article 50 TIE valid?

Normally five years.

How long is a permanent Article 50 TIE valid?

Normally ten years.

When do I acquire permanent residence?

Normally after five years of qualifying continuous legal residence.

Does pre-Brexit residence count toward the five years?

Yes.

Qualifying periods before and after the end of the transition period can count.

Can I request permanent documentation before my temporary TIE expires?

Yes, once the qualifying permanent-residence conditions are satisfied.

How long can a permanent Withdrawal Agreement resident stay outside Spain?

Permanent residence under the Withdrawal Agreement can generally be lost after an absence exceeding five consecutive years.

Which form renews the Article 50 physical card?

EX-23.

When should the Article 50 TIE be renewed?

The normal window is 30 days before expiry or within 90 days afterwards.

Which fee is used for EX-23?

Modelo 790 Código 012 under the corresponding documentation category.

Do EX-20 and EX-21 require a separate Extranjería fee?

The recognition stage itself is separate from the police card fee. The physical Article 50 TIE carries the applicable documentation fee.

Can EX-20 or EX-21 be submitted online?

Yes, where the Extranjería determination stage is required and the applicant or representative has the necessary electronic access.

Can my lawyer attend the fingerprint appointment for me?

No.

The physical TIE stage is personal because biometric data are collected.

Can a representative submit EX-20 or EX-21?

A properly accredited representative can act at the Extranjería application stage in qualifying circumstances.

How long does an Extranjería Brexit residence decision take?

The official decision period is generally three months.

What happens after EX-20 or EX-21 is approved?

The applicant normally completes the physical Article 50 TIE procedure through EX-23 and Policía Nacional.

Can a non-EU spouse who joins the British beneficiary after 2020 qualify?

Potentially, where the family relationship falls within the protected Withdrawal Agreement rules, including the relevant timing requirements.

Does marrying a protected British citizen in 2026 automatically give Withdrawal Agreement rights?

No.

A completely new family relationship created after the transition period is not automatically protected under the same rules.

What about a child born after Brexit?

Special Withdrawal Agreement provisions protect certain children born or adopted after the transition period where the parental conditions are satisfied.

Is EX-22 a normal work permit?

No.

It is a specialist Withdrawal Agreement frontier-worker document.

Can I use EX-22 if I live permanently in Spain?

EX-22 is designed for protected frontier workers rather than ordinary residents. If Spain is actually your residence, your status should be assessed under the appropriate residence framework.

Can an Article 50 TIE let me move permanently to France?

Not automatically.

The Spanish Withdrawal Agreement residence right is connected with Spain.

Is the Article 50 TIE the same as Spanish citizenship?

No.

It is a residence document proving protected rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Need Help With Brexit Residence in Spain?

The correct Brexit procedure depends heavily on what happened before and around 31 December 2020.

The basic structure is:

British resident before Brexit → Withdrawal Agreement eligibility → EX-20 if recognition is required → EX-23 → Article 50 TIE

For qualifying family members:

Protected UK national → qualifying family relationship → EX-21 if recognition is required → EX-23 → Article 50 TIE

For qualifying frontier workers:

Protected pre-Brexit frontier activity → EX-22

If you already hold a pre-Brexit green certificate or qualifying old EU-family card:

Existing EU documentation → EX-23 → Article 50 TIE

If you first moved to Spain after Brexit:

Post-Brexit immigration route → appropriate visa/residence application → ordinary Spanish residence documentation

For a complete overview of moving from Britain today, read our Moving from the UK to Spain guide.

For information about physical residence cards, see our TIE Card Spain guide.

You can compare EX-20 to EX-23 with every other Spanish immigration form in our Spain Immigration Forms guide.

For assistance identifying whether the Withdrawal Agreement or Spain’s current immigration system applies to your situation, see our Immigration Services in Spain or contact Newcomer.es.