SPAIN is ordering police in a Lanzarote airport to stamp Brits’ passports on both entry and departure.
The move comes as officials discovered that stamping has hardly been carried out since the UK became a third country.
Third countries don’t enjoy the EU’s right to free movement – and we became one on new year’s day 2021.
From this date, all UK passports should have been stamped upon leaving countries like Spain, as this was when the transition period for leaving the EU expired.
Anonymous sources revealed that border control staff in César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport were “subtly and verbally” told not to stamp UK passports, according to Gazette Life.
This was so that Brits could roam more freely or “make the passage of British tourists easier”.
But this was quickly reversed, with a crackdown ordering officials to stamp all third country passports, so they adhere to Schengen regulations.
Nationals from other third countries like those in Africa or Asia have reported no issues with their passport stamping upon departure.
The unnamed source also revealed that police lack the resources to stamp every tourist returning home.
They said it was particularly bad on Thursdays, when lots of flights leave for the UK.
Cops worry that short staffing could see tourists leave Spain without a departure stamp.
But if they only have an entry stamp, it would be hard to prove their length of stay in the EU to officials.
This becomes an issue if they’re deemed to fall foul of the 90 day rule which forces third country nationals, including UK citizens, to spend at most 90 days of a 180 day period in an EU territory.
The source also said that thousands Brits have moaned about the lack of exist stamp, worrying they’ll get caught for overstaying in the EU.
The Foreign Office has advised all Brits make sure their passports are being stamped upon exit.
However, passport stamping may soon cease to exist if the EU’s Entry Exit Scheme (EES) is introduced.
The Schengen-wide policy is hoping to be put into effect in November.
It would mean third country nationals get their passports scanned electronically, a more efficient way of tackling overstayers.
Brits would even have to have their faces scanned and fingerprints checked the first time they enter the Schengen region.
But the data will have to be renewed every three years.
