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Brits living in Spain have been issued a new warning by police to avoid the EU's new Entry Exit System (EES) queues or automatic gates when entering or leaving the country via its airports. According to a new internal email sent to inspectors, anyone holding a valid Spanish residence card should not be registered in the system.

Residents should therefore avoid the EES kiosks and automated passport gates and instead present themselves to an officer with both their passport and residence permit, the message continued. It warns that if a resident passes through the border as if they were a non-resident non-EU national, such as tourists, the EES may incorrectly count their days in Spain under the 90-day rule, which could lead to the residents being mistakenly flagged for exceeding the maximum authorised stay of three months.

This guidance, however, contradicts the official public advice previously issued by Spain's Interior Ministry, resulting in considerable confusion among expats.

According to The Olive Press, the guidance from the Interior Ministry said that all non-EU passport holders, including residents, would need to pass through EES registration points during the rollout phase, which began on October 12 across Europe and on October 20 at Malaga Airport. Barcelona followed a week later, with Alicante implementing the system on October 31.

The system will be fully operational at all external border points across air, land, and sea in Spain by April 2026.

The conflicting messages are the latest in a sea of issues that have plagued the launch of the new border system, including long queues, inconsistent instructions and repeated disputes between staff and passengers at Malaga Airport.

British residents have been given differing information depending on which official they speak to, with some being directed to EES kiosks while others have been turned away, the expat newspaper revealed. Airlines have also struggled to keep up with the changing rules, leading to further delays at the airport's arrivals and departures halls.

The Express has contacted Spain's Ministry of Interior for comment and clarification, who said: "UK nationals and their family members who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement are exempt from EEA registration if they hold a specific residence document, such as the TIE (Foreigner Identity Card)."

The new system has also caused chaos in the Canary Islands, with passengers at Tenerife South Airport left frustrated after facing long queues and heavy congestion. Video footage, filmed at around 11am last Friday (November 21), showed long lines of expectant passengers throughout large parts of the arrivals area.

Accompanying the video is a caption by the user, which reads: "Chaos at Tenerife South Airport today. Anyone travelling to the UK should prepare for passport-control queues!"