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UK nationals’ rights protected post-Brexit
goes on as normal for British nationals living in Spain despite the UK quitting the European Union - as long as they are registered as being officially resident.
Hours before Brexit at midnight central European time last Friday, Ambassador Hugh Elliott and Consular Policy advisor Lorna Geddie assured expats they could continue living and working in Spain.
In a live question and answer session on the ‘Brits in Spain’ Facebook site, they said the Withdrawal Agreement signed by the British government and the 27 remaining EU member states protected the lives of UK nationals living on the continent and Europeans in Britain.
It was the fifth such live session on the social media site and Mr Elliott said since taking up his post last year; he had enjoyed the opportunity of meeting many British people and hearing 'your questions, concerns and anxieties.'
He said for many Friday January 31 and Brexit was a day 'you didn’t want to happen' but added, “The Withdrawal Agreement protects the rights of UK citizens living in Spain; the Withdrawal Agreement means you will be able to continue living in Spain.”
Ms Geddie said until December 31 this year there was a ‘transition period’ between the UK and its EU partners. “During that time, things will remain pretty much as they are now.”
However, she said it was 'really essential' people register as being resident 'as soon as possible' with new appointments being opened up by the Spanish authorities. In addition, she said expats should ensure they were correctly registered for healthcare and should exchange a UK driving licence for a Spanish equivalent.
She also advised that people should use the official gov.uk/livinginspain guide to stay up to date with official information and register for email alerts on the site.
Process
“If you have not yet started the process of getting residency, take advantage of the time and do not leave it until the last minute,” added Ms Geddie - who said that all family members, including children should be registered as residents.
The so-called ‘swallows’ people who divide their time living in both the UK and in Spain remain a 'grey area' as negotiations continue between London and Brussels over the future relationship between the UK and the EU bloc.
“If you are in this situation, there is no immediate change,” said Ms Geddie. “However, at the end of the transition period; freedom of movement will end LIFE that’s one of the consequences of leaving the EU.
“Over the course of the year there will be another set of negotiations and as part of them, there will be talks about mobility of citizens - the ability of people who live in the UK to go to the EU and likewise, people living in Europe to go to the UK.”
She said people splitting their time between the UK and Europe but finding more of their time in the EU could consider becoming resident of their host country - but there were implications such as taxes.
Again, the advice was to remain up to date with the negotiations and the embassy and consular team would stage another Facebook session to answer questions and explain the changes for the group.
The Spanish government is to introduce a new identity form, known as a TIE, for British citizens in the future but Mr Elliott said the authorities had yet to detail how it was to be introduced or how to obtain it.
He said until the new system came into operation, the existing forms of residency certificates - both the green credit card and the A4 sized forms would remain valid.