Brexit: What will happen to UK citizens living in Spain now?
Covid-19 has had a major impact on society and is currently one of the most-discussed topics of 2020. The virus has affected people from all countries in the world. People in the United Kingdom don’t just have to deal with the virus as the nation will finally leave the European Union in 2021. In other words, Brexit is now in full swing. For this reason, citizens of the country have to adapt to some changes when living in other European countries. The United Kingdom will not be able to make its own rules independently.
A British citizen living in countries that are part of the European Union now has to obtain a number of residency documents, and without these documents, they can easily get into legal problems. At the moment, more than 250,000 British nationals live in Spain, as recorded by the National Statistics Institute (INE). All these people will have to comply with the requirements that result from Brexit. You can get some help in order to complete the process, and in this case, you would have to contact a law firm that specializes in immigration law. A good law firm that can help you with the process is Tejada Solicitors settled in the south of Spain.
How Can You Obtain a Spanish Residence Permit?
A huge proportion of British citizens living in Spain are not interested in moving back to the United Kingdom – Brexit or no Brexit. If such a person can prove that they were already living in Spain as of December 31st, 2020, but they still failed to process their residency, they can follow the guidelines of the withdrawal agreement. If they have proof of such residency, such as a health card or driver’s license exchange, any consumption using credit cards from January 1st, 2021, will be processed at the TIE card. Alternatively, you can apply for Spanish Residency.
However, British citizens who started living in Spain on January 1, 2021 or later will have to apply for Spanish residency as non-EU citizens and will need to follow the General Immigration Regime. In this case, they can choose to use the Golden Visa or the non-lucrative residence Visa.
Which Steps Should Be Followed if You Want to Acquire a Residence Permit in Spain?
First, British citizens have to contact a law firm that specializes in offering legal services to foreigners living in Spain. Such a firm will ensure that you don’t miss any steps when applying for a residency permit.
When applying for a residency permit, you will first have to specify whether or not you entered the country before December 31, 2020. If you can prove effective residence before this date, you can apply for the permit at an immigration office or a local police station. On the other hand, people who moved into the country from January 31, 2021 can make the application through a non-profit Visa at the consulate of Spain in London. In order to avoid issues and complete the process in a short period, experts advise you to contact a law firm that offers immigration legal services early.
A Non-profit Visa and a Golden Visa will both require processing at the consulate of Spain in London or a corresponding demarcation. Here, you will be required to produce a number of documents, including a certificate of your criminal background and economic means when the Non-Profit Visa is finally processed. The beneficiary of the Visa will need to travel to Spain in 90 days to complete the procedure. Public officials in Spain will explain the entire process since they have to fill out a number of forms.
On the other hand, expatriates who have been living in Spain before December 31, 2020 are required to follow the procedures for the TIE Card. This process has to be done at the immigration offices in Spain. This procedure is less complex than that of the Non-Profit Visa, and the administrative procedures are simpler and less costly.
Which Documents Are Necessary for People Wanting to Reside in Spain?
As mentioned earlier, a large number of British citizens currently live in Spain, and they now have to comply with the Brexit requirements. People who are keen on moving to Spain from the UK, depending on whether or not they are beneficiaries of the withdrawal agreement, can process the NIE card. If they start living in Spain from January 1, 2021 with the intention of residing for a long period, they will have to process the Non-Profit Visa. To reassure British citizens living in Spain, the British Embassy published a video on Facebook. In it, the British ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliot, noted that the rights of UK citizens living in Spain will be guaranteed. This will not be done by the possession of a residence document, but British citizens will have to become legal residents of Spain before the end of the transition period.
What Does the Spanish Residence Card Include?
At the start of July 2020, the government of Spain came up with a new special residence permit outside the European Union, and this permit is referred to as TIE – Foreigner Identity Card. As noted by the authorities in Spain, this is a special residency document that is only meant for British citizens living in Spain. Also, you should remember that the famous Withdrawal Agreement also protects citizens of the United Kingdom who are living in Spain. This agreement was approved by the European Union, so people will be able to get the TIE in a very simple process. Hugh Elliot, the British ambassador to Spain, noted that the new residence permit works like a photo card and explicitly indicates the rights of British citizens post-Brexit.
Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business – Spain Web Design by Gandy-Draper.
Born a “Norverner”, she then spent most of her life “Dann Saff” before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle’s loves are Alan, the internet, dogs, good food, and dry white wine – although not necessarily in that order.
