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British Residents in Ibiza Face Lengthy Airport Queues Despite Residency Status

Ibiza / 14 April 2026

British residents living in Ibiza are raising concerns over long delays at passport control, despite holding valid Spanish residency documents, with some reporting waiting times of over an hour at the island’s airport.

The issue has prompted formal complaints from the British Association of Sant Antoni, which is calling for urgent action ahead of the busy summer tourist season.

Residents Treated as Non-EU Travellers

Under current procedures, passengers travelling on British passports are automatically directed into non-EU queues, even if they hold a valid TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) confirming residency in Spain.

This leads to:

Additional manual document checks
Delays to avoid incorrect passport stamping
Confusion over residency status

Residents say the process leaves them feeling treated as tourists rather than locals.

Martin Makepeace, representing the Sant Antoni association, said delays are becoming increasingly common:

“There have been cases of waits of more than an hour. It cannot be right that residents are treated the same as short-term visitors.”

Call for Urgent Fix Before Summer

The association has written to Vicent Marí, urging the island council to press airport operator Aena to introduce solutions already in place at other Spanish airports.

They warn that without changes, the situation could worsen significantly during peak travel months, when passenger numbers rise sharply.

Other Airports Already Taking Action

Airports such as Alicante Airport and Palma de Mallorca Airport have implemented systems to streamline processing for non-EU residents, reducing waiting times and administrative delays.

Campaigners argue that similar measures should now be adopted in Ibiza to ensure consistency across Spain’s airport network.

Wider Issue Across Spain

The problem is not limited to Ibiza. Reports of delays have also emerged at major hubs including Madrid-Barajas Airport and Málaga Airport.

Part of the disruption has been linked to the rollout of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), a new digital border control system for non-EU travellers. The system requires biometric registration,

which can significantly increase processing times — particularly on first use.

In some cases, passengers have reported delays of several hours during peak periods.

Impact on Residents and Tourism

The ongoing delays are raising concerns not only among expatriate residents but also within the wider tourism sector, with fears that inefficient border processing could damage the visitor experience.

Local representatives stress that resolving the issue quickly is essential to:

Improve travel conditions for residents
Maintain Ibiza’s reputation as a leading tourist destination
Ensure smooth airport operations during the summer season

🌴 What’s On This Week – Costa Blanca

(Benidorm & surrounding areas)

Regional overview: steady pre-summer momentum

Across the Costa Blanca, including Benidorm, Altea, L’Alfàs del Pi (Albir), La Nucía and Finestrat, the region is entering a strong early-season phase with increasing visitor numbers, expanding nightlife, and a growing calendar of small cultural and leisure events ahead of the main summer period.

Markets, live music, coastal tourism and community events continue to dominate activity this week, alongside ongoing infrastructure improvements such as new sustainability and mobility projects.

BENIDORM – Markets, nightlife and tourism growth

Weekly street markets in Benidorm remain a key attraction, including Wednesday and Sunday general markets offering food, clothing and local goods.

The Old Town continues to host craft stalls and informal street entertainment, while evening activity is increasing as the summer season approaches.

Live music is now a nightly feature across main entertainment zones, with tribute acts, DJs and bar performances contributing to strong visitor activity.

Tourism officials also note continued preparation for upcoming seasonal events, including the build-up toward traditional spring and early summer festivals.

ALTEA – Culture and coastal leisure

Altea continues to focus on cultural tourism and relaxation, with art galleries, artisan shops and small exhibitions operating throughout the Old Town.

Live acoustic performances and low-key entertainment are taking place across seafront bars, while boat excursions from Altea harbour are operating regular coastal and sunset sailing routes depending on weather conditions.

ALBIR / L’ALFÀS DEL PI – Community events and live music

L'Alfàs del Pi and the Albir area maintain a steady mix of expat and local activity.

Weekly Friday markets remain popular, while Irish pubs and live music venues continue to host regular bands and acoustic performances.

The Casa de Cultura is also hosting community exhibitions, theatre and social events throughout the week.

LA NUCÍA – Sports and weekend activity

La Nucia continues to centre around sports tourism, with its major sports complex hosting training camps and competitive events.

The Sunday rastro flea market remains a key attraction, drawing visitors from across the region.

FINESTRAT – Coastal leisure and markets

Finestrat is experiencing growing beachfront activity as beach bars and restaurants reopen for the warmer season.

Markets in La Cala continue on Tuesdays and Saturdays, offering local produce and artisan goods, while sunset dining and relaxed evening entertainment are becoming more frequent.

VILLAJOYOSA – Culture, coastline and local life

Villajoyosa is experiencing steady early-season activity, supported by its historic old town, colourful seafront and growing cultural tourism offer.

Local markets and small artisan trading continue throughout the week, while the seafront promenade is seeing increased footfall as warmer weather returns.

The town also maintains its reputation for traditional fishing heritage, chocolate production history, and quiet beach tourism, offering a more relaxed contrast to nearby resort centres.

INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE – Benidorm EV expansion

Alongside tourism growth, Benidorm is also continuing its sustainability rollout, including new electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the Levante area as part of its broader mobility and climate strategy.

The project forms part of EU-backed funding aimed at supporting low-emission transport across major Mediterranean destinations.

REGIONAL SUMMARY

Benidorm: busiest hub with nightlife, markets and entertainment growth
Altea: cultural, scenic and relaxed
Albir / L’Alfàs del Pi: balanced social and live music scene
La Nucía: sports-led and residential
Finestrat: beach-focused and seasonal lifestyle
Villajoyosa: coastal heritage, relaxed tourism and local culture

The Costa Blanca continues its gradual transition into peak tourist season, with activity levels rising steadily across all major towns.

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British Residents in Ibiza Face Lengthy Airport Queues Despite Residency Status

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(Benidorm & surrounding areas)

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