Individuals from abroad, both adults and children, residing in Tenerife but lacking a residence permit, continue to be unable to benefit from the Canary Islands resident voucher. This warning comes from multiple social organisations on the island, a predicament that has persisted since February 2023. Specifically, the Venezuela Solidarity Association and COPETE (Peruvian Community of Tenerife) highlight that adult foreigners, school-age children, and applicants for international protection, all hailing from non-EU nations and without legal residency, have been bearing the cost of public transport personally for months, even though they are registered in Tenerife. “This constitutes a discriminatory act which contravenes the law regarding the rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain,” asserts Marcela Máspero, president of the Venezuela Solidarity Association.
Lucas (not his real name) is a young man from Peru who has lived in Tenerife for a year and recently secured a job with a contract, social security number, and even a digital certificate. Nevertheless, after three attempts, he still does not possess the resident bonus. He has completed all these processes thanks to the receipt of his application for a residence card provided by the immigration office in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. “When I received the final receipt, they informed me that they could manage everything, including securing the resident bonus,” he recounts. The last attempt was made two weeks ago, during which he indicates that he faced the same refusal from the Santa Cruz de Tenerife staff: “They informed me that they couldn’t assist me with that document, claiming it wasn’t the correct one.” Lucas acknowledges that this situation has financial repercussions for him as he has to cover the expenses of his daily commutes to work. In this context, Víctor Ramírez, president of COPETE, underscores that foreign individuals requesting this transport subsidy require it to reach their jobs: “They are not seeking a bonus for leisure activities, vacations, or going to the beach; they are requesting something that enables them to access public transportation just like everyone else,” he asserts.
From Marcela’s perspective, the issue arises from an interpretation by the Mobility Directorate of the Cabildo de Tenerife, which, according to Máspero, deems that access to the ground transport subsidy should adhere to the same “legal criteria” as the resident voucher for air and sea transport. Indeed, individuals from non-EU countries who lack a residence card do not benefit from discounted air and sea fares, despite having legally resided in the Islands for years. In any case, Máspero argues that this perspective “does not align with the legal interpretation of residence, as it pertains to Immigration. It does not fall under your jurisdiction.”
Last year, the Common Deputy sought information regarding the issue from the island authority. In a subsequent recommendation published, it indicates that a Resolution from the Insular Director of Mobility, dated February 23, 2023, stipulates that a DNI, passport (if a citizen of the European Union), or Foreigner Identification Card (TIE) indicating an address in the Canary Islands is necessary. If residence is not stated on the identity document, proof of registration must be submitted. The Ministry of Mobility has yet to respond to enquiries from the media on this matter.
Conversely, the other islands in the Archipelago permit access to free transportation on the sole condition that the user resides on the respective island, regardless of their residence status. Only the most recent identification document registration is required for this. In contrast, the website that oversees the processing of this card in Tenerife does not clarify the requirements for application. In fact, the information regarding the prerequisites for accreditation of the Canarian Residence directs users to a non-functional link, and the online process only specifies the option to upload a photo of the DNI. Máspero notes that this was not always the case: “Until the end of February 2023, any registered individual with their passport was entitled to the ground transport subsidy.”
The president of the Venezuelan migrant organisation mentions that recently some individuals with a Foreigner Identification Number (NIE), a personal number assigned by the National Police to foreigners, have been granted this transport title. For asylum seekers, however, this number is not issued until the second appointment for applying for international protection, which can take over 10 months from the initiation of the process. During this entire duration, individuals are ineligible to request the transport voucher in Tenerife. Moreover, minors without legal residence in Spain and lacking an NIE are also affected, significantly impacting their education, as noted by Aleta Máspero. “We have had to assist minors in getting to school because their parents lack the necessary funds,” she reveals.
At the start of this year, the Common Deputy advised the Cabildo of Tenerife to revise the criteria for accessing the Canarian Resident Bonus, aiming for “all individuals residing in the Canary Islands, regardless of their administrative status, to have equal access to free transportation vouchers on the island of Tenerife.” The same document stresses that restricting this transport card solely to individuals in irregular administrative situations would contravene the principle of equal treatment, consequently “discriminating against a notably vulnerable group.” It further mentions that varying requirements between islands could lead to an unequal situation among residents of the Canary Islands. Presently, the Common Deputy has confirmed to this outlet that they will monitor this case as it represents a “right that any foreign individual residing in the Islands is entitled to.”
Marcela acknowledges that the situation has slightly improved since the electronic system now accepts the NIE document assigned to asylum seekers during their second appointment and the white NIE provided by the Police upon request. These documents, which had not been deemed valid since February 2023, can now be used. However, Máspero warns that this last step is at the “discretion” of the Police: “I am aware of numerous cases, from our users, who have approached the police and been denied,” he points out.
