Are arrivals being asked for qualifying proofs?

So why is that the only EU border where the authorities are enforcing that restriction.

What are the EU doing about it?

Its an EU directive.
In reality, it is only the Spanish border officials who are complying.
Obviously the other entry points fully recognise that these requests would have a detrimental effect on British visitors who like to travel without a set plan in place. Eg: motorhomers.

Before praising the local Spanish authorities, it is clear to all here that it is a “punishment” for Gib being British. The new EU regulation gives them the cover to disguise it as simple rule folliwing.
 
I've got no idea what red id cards and blue ones are but when I see a thread about other countries picking on us I'm immediately a sceptic.
You've obviously never entered /left gib via spain? if you had you would know it was always aggravation even before brexit. Now they have even more reason. It is simple the spanish consider Gib to be spanish.
They're not 'picking' on us,
They are.
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory and not
Not according to the spanish & that is their problem.
So why is that the only EU border where the authorities are enforcing that restriction.

What are the EU doing about it?
As above they want gib back.
 
You've obviously never entered /left gib via spain? if you had you would know it was always aggravation even before brexit. Now they have even more reason. It is simple the spanish consider Gib to be spanish.

They are.

Not according to the spanish & that is their problem.

As above they want gib back.

Unfortunately, when it comes to Gibraltar Spanish politics is still mired in the 18th century.
They talk a good game on democracy but brazenly deny it to us, a people mainly made up of Mediterranean origin stock introduced nearly 350 years ago and now asking to be allowed the democracy that all readers on here enjoy without the slightest question.
 
Bob

Have I understood this correctly? You are a UK Citizen and UK immigration aked how long you were staying and for a Spanish residence card? Maybe that was because you were driving a Spanish registered vehicle and they wished to advise you about re-registration after 6 months, although that is a customs not Immigration matter.

I am also interested that the French lady would not accept your Spanish residence cards, is that correct? I can understand that she has instructions to stamp any non-French passport, even if that instruction is wrong. I assume you did give her your passports.

I wonder what happens if one insists on entry based only an EU residence card?

I suspect the training has not yet caught up with the law, especially in respect of UK Citizens resident in EU prior to Brexit, or ones like me who got residency under the Withdrawal Agreement and my ID states 'Art 50 TUE'.

Hopefully by the next time I exit and re-enter EU/Schengen the officers will have caught up with the rules.
I wonder what happens if one insists on entry based only an EU residence card?

Entry based on an EU residency card is not possible as far as I know (at least with a German one anyway), when I got my full biometric German residency card last June, I was advised that it was not a travel document on its own, it was an accompaniment to a full passport, it is just a proof of residence not citizenship.

I will be happy if I am wrong and others can travel in and out of the EU with one, but it doesn´t work with a German residency card, which is no big deal, I have been in and out of the EU a few times since, I just give the card with the passport.
 
Presumably the Gib border is no problem going either way for the holder of an EU residence card, or are they difficult about that if they can tell you are British?

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Presumably the Gib border is no problem going either way for the holder of an EU residence card, or are they difficult about that if they can tell you are British?

Fine for EU residents. Even with regards Gib, the Spaniards could not get away with refusing such entries, much as they would love to stop money being spent on the Rock.
 
A recently introduced Schengen rule requires 3rd country arrivals to prove where they will be staying, how long they intend to stay and then show that they have sufficient funds for their stay in the zone.
Many motorhomers will not have made concrete plans when they arrive and just tour and overnight wherever they end up and are authorised to do so, including of course unsupervised and unbookable aires.

Are these motorhomers being asked the above?

Santander or Bilbao are of special interest to me as I would like to compare enforcement there with the Gib/Spain border, where British passport holding expatriates (who do not yet qualify for full Gibraltar ID cards) are being turned away if they want to day-visit the local Spanish hinterland.

Personally I think its (yet) another specific anti-Gib maneuvre (which they can legally impose under the authority of the new rules) and I am interested in any consistencies at the other direct entry points.

Not sure how recent this is but we have been across to 'Europe' 6 times in the last 2 and a half year and never been asked . The only time I have been quizzed about where we were going was when we entered Croatia from Serbia.
 
Thanks again.
Sorry to be pedantic but did they ask to see the return ticket?

We never book a return as we don't know when we are coming back.
 
Thats exactly what they are asking….. and ONLY after you can prove that you hold a hotel (or equivalent) booking.

In effect, no Brits are being allowed in from Gib to spend a day in Spain either shopping or eating. Hence the real concerns of their own commerce.

Hmm.... My Niece lives in Spain and works in Gibraltar every day. She is British. I wonder how that works then? Presumably she has some proof of EU residency.
 
I wonder what happens if one insists on entry based only an EU residence card?

Entry based on an EU residency card is not possible as far as I know (at least with a German one anyway), when I got my full biometric German residency card last June, I was advised that it was not a travel document on its own, it was an accompaniment to a full passport, it is just a proof of residence not citizenship.

I will be happy if I am wrong and others can travel in and out of the EU with one, but it doesn´t work with a German residency card, which is no big deal, I have been in and out of the EU a few times since, I just give the card with the passport.
When travelling by road you can EXIT the EU with the residency card & you can ENTER the EU with it also.You only need to offer the UK passport at the UK control.
much as they would love to stop money being spent on the Rock.
& they have no interest in the 000's of spanish that actually work in Gib either

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Hmm.... My Niece lives in Spain and works in Gibraltar every day. She is British. I wonder how that works then? Presumably she has some proof of EU residency.

Employment contracts, House Deeds, rental agreements and confirmed hospital appointments accepted too.

(Above relates to Spain.)
 
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I wonder what happens if one insists on entry based only an EU residence card?

Entry based on an EU residency card is not possible as far as I know (at least with a German one anyway), when I got my full biometric German residency card last June, I was advised that it was not a travel document on its own, it was an accompaniment to a full passport, it is just a proof of residence not citizenship.

I will be happy if I am wrong and others can travel in and out of the EU with one, but it doesn´t work with a German residency card, which is no big deal, I have been in and out of the EU a few times since, I just give the card with the passport.
When I entered France from Italy, across the mountains, I gave only our French Residency cards but was asked for our Passports for the same reason; the Carte d‘Séjour is not a travel document.

Tried using it again leaving Gibraltar and was asked to produce passport, quick glance at picture and waved through.
 
Exactly. Nowhere else do they seem to be doing it.
This reinforces my belief that it is purely a Gib issue to mess the Brits living here about by our lovely neighbours.
Puzzled why think this will affect the Andalusian economy ?
Unless Gibraltar has a bigger population than I thought
 
A recently introduced Schengen rule requires 3rd country arrivals to prove where they will be staying, how long they intend to stay and then show that they have sufficient funds for their stay in the zone.
Many motorhomers will not have made concrete plans when they arrive and just tour and overnight wherever they end up and are authorised to do so, including of course unsupervised and unbookable aires.

Are these motorhomers being asked the above?

Santander or Bilbao are of special interest to me as I would like to compare enforcement there with the Gib/Spain border, where British passport holding expatriates (who do not yet qualify for full Gibraltar ID cards) are being turned away if they want to day-visit the local Spanish hinterland.

Personally I think its (yet) another specific anti-Gib maneuvre (which they can legally impose under the authority of the new rules) and I am interested in any consistencies at the other direct entry points.
My wife has a Russian passport and we’ve just got her a Schengen visa from Spanish consulate, entry point France. We showed we had the needed funds in the bank and explained we will stay in our camper van at as yet undecided locations. Got the visa without any questions. It’s not registered as a camper with DVLC, it’s a Transit panel van.

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A recently introduced Schengen rule requires 3rd country arrivals to prove where they will be staying, how long they intend to stay and then show that they have sufficient funds for their stay in the zone.
Many motorhomers will not have made concrete plans when they arrive and just tour and overnight wherever they end up and are authorised to do so, including of course unsupervised and unbookable aires.

Are these motorhomers being asked the above?

Santander or Bilbao are of special interest to me as I would like to compare enforcement there with the Gib/Spain border, where British passport holding expatriates (who do not yet qualify for full Gibraltar ID cards) are being turned away if they want to day-visit the local Spanish hinterland.

Personally I think its (yet) another specific anti-Gib maneuvre (which they can legally impose under the authority of the new rules) and I am interested in any consistencies at the other direct entry points.
We came over on Monday Portsmouth/ Le Havre no questions asked about anything.
 
Blimey, what did you lot buy??!!

You name it, we currently get it from Spain.
Most of the infrastructure required for the ever expanding population comes from Spain. (There are significant projects always ongoing.)
Daily spend of local families in the surrounding area is not insignificant either.

(Not to mention the salaries of the circa 15000 registered Spanish workers, along with probably another 5-10,000 unregistered day to day casuals.)
 
Not seeing that figure anywhere. 30-34000 various sources .
Even if 38000 curious what negative effect there would be on Andalusia ?

IMG_0795.png


If no negative effect, then why are they bothering with a special agreement?
 
Sorry I'm just not understanding why there would be a (meaningful) negative effect on Andalusian economy because , allegedly, the Spanish are being awkward?

There are two camps in Spain at work:
1) The economists who know that it will be devastating to their local economy and workforce if no agreement is reached.
2) The usual crowd baying for a Spanish Gibraltar at any cost.

Number (2) is behind the current discrimination against British expats living in Gib.

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There are two camps in Spain at work:
1) The economists who know that it will be devastating to their local economy and workforce if no agreement is reached.
2) The usual crowd baying for a Spanish Gibraltar at any cost.

Number (2) is behind the current discrimination against British expats living in Gib.
I assume Gibraltar will continue to exist in some form or other . Almost definitely in it's current , rather odd , format . Certainly in my lifetime!
I would think the 8.5 million population of Andalusia will get by
 
I assume Gibraltar will continue to exist in some form or other . Almost definitely in it's current , rather odd , format . Certainly in my lifetime!
I would think the 8.5 million population of Andalusia will get by

Of course.
(Not too confident about the Campo area around Gib getting by unscathed however.)
 
Of course.
(Not too confident about the Campo area around Gib getting by unscathed however.)
Clearly I know very little about Gibraltar. Possibly quite unique outcrop of UK .
Not being political but voted against Brexit , which must make the situation more complicated
 
Clearly I know very little about Gibraltar. Possibly quite unique outcrop of UK .
Not being political but voted against Brexit , which must make the situation more complicated

Indeed it does for Gib where 96% unsurprisingly voted to remain.
Whilst a special agreement will allow easier access to and from Spain/Schengen, there will obviously be compromises which many on the Rock will not be happy with.
Interesting times ahead.

Ps: we are not an “outcrop” of the UK. We are an identity in our own right. Dependent on the UK for defence and foreign affairs but self-governing and financially self-sufficient.
Our annual presentation to the UN Committee on Decolonisation pleads our case that we ourselves demand to be removed from their list of colonies. Every year we call out their hypocrisy and inaction.
But I digress!!
 
Indeed it does for Gib where 96% unsurprisingly voted to remain.
Whilst a special agreement will allow easier access to and from Spain/Schengen, there will obviously be compromises which many on the Rock will not be happy with.
Interesting times ahead.

Ps: we are not an “outcrop” of the UK. We are an identity in our own right. Dependent on the UK for defence and foreign affairs but self-governing and financially self-sufficient.
Our annual presentation to the UN Committee on Decolonisation pleads our case that we ourselves demand to be removed from their list of colonies. Every year we call out their hypocrisy and inaction.
But I digress!!
Fair enough , didn't intend to be rude !

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