By Richard Torné
British expats who fail to sign on the town hall register or apply for residency before next year’s Brexit “could be in trouble” with the Spanish authorities.
Brexpats in Spain association head Richard Hill gave the blunt message last week at a public meeting in Palomares, attended by British councillor, Charmain Arbouin.
Addressing a 100-strong crowd, Mr Hill said: “Those who are ‘flying below the radar’ could be in trouble come March 29 (the date the UK leaves the EU in 2019).
“If you want to stay in Spain – get your NIE (foreign identity number), get your padrón and get your ‘residencia’…otherwise there may well be an issue for you.”
He was critical of Brits who were undecided over where to live. “It’s make your mind up time – you’re going to have to decide where you want to be before March 29,” he went on.
Mr Hill, who has so far held 10 meetings on Brexit in other parts of the country, stressed that appointment waiting times to obtain residency permits at the foreigners’ office had risen from two to six weeks in the wake of the Brexit vote.
“By the end of the year, when people start to panic, you could be talking months,” he added.
Ms Arbouin echoed his views. Fielding questions also about health, pensions and voting rights, she was adamant expats would have to register as residents if they wished to continue benefitting from the country’s public services.
“If you are registered now and are resident at the point of us leaving, nothing should change for you, but it’s not sufficient for you to say ‘I’ve lived here for 15 years’ – you will have to have had a legal footprint here,” she added.
She said anyone in doubt should check with their local council to ensure they were still on the padrón and to contact the National Police regarding their ‘residencia’ (residency) status.
Disenfranchised
Although the second reading of a private bill to grant votes for life went through the British parliament on February 23, both Mr Hill and Ms Arbouin downplayed its significance for expats intending to vote in future UK elections, saying the proposal could yet be scuppered.
On the issue of voting in Spain, Mr Arbouin told this paper that she was “not confident at all” that expats would be able to vote in the forthcoming May 2019 local elections.
Despite being hopeful both countries would be able to strike a bilateral deal following the EU’s announcement that it would not get involved over the issue of voting rights in member states, she said it was doubtful this would happen in time for next year’s local polls, meaning expats now faced being disenfranchised both in the UK and in Spain.
Brexit – what it means for expats so far:
Ms Arbouin reminded everyone that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed” but stressed there was a “broad agreement” with the EU over citizens’ rights. Namely:
- UK government has agreed to continue to up-rate pensions
- People who are legally resident in Spain at the point of Brexit will be able to continue using health services
- Legally registered residents should see “no material change” in their circumstances and should be able to continue to live and work as they are now
“nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”
correct and all 28 states need to agree,so good luck with that one.
Yes and isn’t it just typical of the Spanish laying down their dictatorial law without knowing the consequences yet! They forget how much money the expats bring into the country. It’s about time they woke up from the Franco era and let people live.
Not to mention how much of a drain on the Spanish resources the British immigrants bring to Spain. I would say that a Sovereign state has every right to lay down whatever laws it sees fit. Your attitude, Sarah, is very much part of the problem.
Good. I also think ex pats in Spain should be told to learn Spanish and speak it after all they go on about it in England how people should come to there country and speak it.
That’s there country Spain is Spanish not English….
What happens if you want to come to Spain after Brexit. I hold a European health licence. Is this made redundant ?