If You Planned to Retire in an EU Country what Are You Plans Now?

[ZaraW]

Not really AIBU but interested to see what others plans are. I'm 50 next year and always hoped to retire to Italy when I was around 60.

Obviously, that's not going to happen. If you planned to do the same what will you do now?

A) Relocate within the UK to countryside, coast etc.
B) Retire to a country outside of the EU. I thought about Thailand as I love it but the heat and humidity would be too much on a permanent basis.
C) Stay where you and travel to Europe for the permitted time.
D) Other

Covid has got me thinking about future plans and I just don't know what I want.

We plan to retire to Ibiza. I have citizenship of an EU country and I hope my DH, British national only, can join me there. Otherwise I may have to leave him behind.

Haha, exactly the same dialogue could be heard between my husband and I immediately after the Brexit vote!

I'm hoping that my dual citizenship gets us around this issue, but if it doesn't, I've told him that he can visit me in Mallorca anytime he wants. It's no problem. 😂

We still plan to go. We own a property in Spain and DH has an EU passport. We aren’t going for 10 years or so but will have to see what the situation is then

A word of advice -- if you're relying on a spouse's EU passport to retire elsewhere, the rules will be different depending whether you are going to the country that passport is from, or a different EU country.

For example, my DH has a German passport and we moved to Germany some years back. Because he is German, I had to apply for a residence permit under the rules that Germany is allowed to set for its own citizens. This included income requirements, pension requirements, language rules, etc.

If we move to a different EU country under freedom of movement rules, then none of that applies.

So check your immigration requirements carefully!

Were considering semi retirement(me retire, Oh part time)to Seville, Toulouse or California as oh in aviation industry. All 3 options are still available and the same

Well certainly the French requirements only remain roughly the same if you are resident before 1st Jan 21..after that the requirements do look like changing from the status quo (e.g; minimum income requirements for new arrivals, plus lots more) and there's also, as bohemian has pointed out upthread, the whole issue of work permissions/work permits or similar since the Brits have lost FOM across borders for work purposes.

..Of course as an aside on top of all that there's the other happy news that major companies in the Aviation sector based in at least one of the two european cities you mention are reducing headcount.

That said I hope it works out for you - best of luck with your plans.

I hope to retire to the Alps in ten years. It won't be possible now because we won't be able to afford to. I guess I will have to spend my retirement here and will fill my days campaigning to rejoin the EU and get our rights back so at least my children will have these opportunities in the future.

I wonder if enough of us lobbied government (not this one, but the next) we could get our rights to FOM back? I think the EU would willingly extend this to us without membership. It the UK government that it absolutely determined to strip us of our rights, not the EU.

Freedom of Movement only came in in 2005

That was only the date for the new states from Eastern Europe.

FoM between member states has been in place in various forms since 1961, and was fully implemented in 1968. There have been a number of subsequent changes to accommodate the new countries and new circumstances, but FoM is one of the 'Four Pillars' and has always been a basic concept of the EEC and EU.

British citizens have enjoyed FoM since 1973.

I have an Irish passport as do my dc ( along with British) I'm glad it's something I don't have to worry about. I do feel sorry for those who no longer have this option though.

I wonder if enough of us lobbied government (not this one, but the next) we could get our rights to FOM back? I think the EU would willingly extend this to us without membership

Someone hasn't been paying attention. There is absolutely zero chance of the UK gaining FOM. IT is one of the pillars of the EU and there isn't any hope anymore of gaining it back without membership. It was offered and refused.

@KenDodd

I wonder if enough of us lobbied government (not this one, but the next) we could get our rights to FOM back? I think the EU would willingly extend this to us without membership. It the UK government that it absolutely determined to strip us of our rights, not the EU.

That’s really not how that works 😂😂

It was offered and refused.
I believe to was the UK government that refused, not the EU?

I wonder if enough of us lobbied government (not this one, but the next) we could get our rights to FOM back? I think the EU would willingly extend this to us without membership

Not a chance, as onlythepianoplayer says FOM is one of the pillars of the EU. We can't just "cherry pick" to keep/or regain that and avoid other associated obligations that come with EU membership such as access to the Single Market and/or being in the Customs Union.

It the UK government that it absolutely determined to strip us of our rights, not the EU.

Yep.

And besides, don't rain on my parade, it's the only bit of hope I cling to.

I believe to was the UK government that refused, not the EU?

Yes, and it won't be offered again, we are a very long way past that point now.

@BeepBoopBop I'm assuming you done your homework because:

1. You have to have applied for your titre de Sejour by the 31st.

To do that you will have to supply evidence of health care, your tax declaration for 19/20 and proof of your French address plus a minimum income.

1. You cannot apply for French healthcare for 3 months so you will need private health insurance.

1. The prefectures will be closing for Christmas next week and very little will be processed before the 4th January.

I wish you luck but you really will need it to squeeze in so late in the day.

you've

[quote Oreservoir]@BeepBoopBop I'm assuming you done your homework because:

1. You have to have applied for your titre de Sejour by the 31st.

To do that you will have to supply evidence of health care, your tax declaration for 19/20 and proof of your French address plus a minimum income.

1. You cannot apply for French healthcare for 3 months so you will need private health insurance.

1. The prefectures will be closing for Christmas next week and very little will be processed before the 4th January.

I wish you luck but you really will need it to squeeze in so late in the day.[/quote]
Yes we have thanks. We need to be physically resident (ie in residence) by 31st December with our rental agreement, or Attestation De Herbegement and/or Certificate (from Marie) if they issue them, some don't. Then, we have until the middle of next year to apply for CdS. We will have secured our residency under the current terms under the WA by moving into the house we are renting by the end of 2020.
Everything else is in hand.

DH grandfather was polish, we may try to get his father to apply for polish citizenship, I think its possible that could enable DH and kids to get it too. voila back into the EU....

I was going to move to Greece and start a small holiday let business there before the vote. It isn't retirement as such but meant giving up my corporate life.

After the vote we decided to do exactly the same thing but in Cornwall. We made the move 18 months ago and now have the business up and running.

I think we did the right thing. The weather isn't as good though!

I also have an Irish passport, as does my DH and DD so it's a relief that we do have options. I really do feel for those who have lost FoM, doesn't seem right that they should be deprived of their 2nd holiday homes.

Not a chance, as onlythepianoplayer says FOM is one of the pillars of the EU. We can't just "cherry pick" to keep/or regain that and avoid other associated obligations that come with EU membership such as access to the Single Market and/or being in the Customs Union

Isn’t that what the talk are based on. Countries cherry picking the best bits for them in exchange for everything else.

Unfortunately I think Blair’s version of FOM was what landed us in this mess in the first place

I think probably/hopefully B. It’s a shame as it just appears it will be too expensive to have a home in the EU soon.

How does one find untraceable Irish birth certificates of an Irish grandfather if one does not even know where to start because of death and divorce? One can get an Irish passport with a grand parent's birth certificate.

@tara66

How does one find untraceable Irish birth certificates of an Irish grandfather if one does not even know where to start because of death and divorce? One can get an Irish passport with a grand parent's birth certificate.

What do you mean untraceable - do you know their name? Where they were from in Ireland? It’s possible to get birth cents through official channels but you need details like their name and birthday etc

I wanted Spain, but...
Now Haven't a scooby. I prefer not to retire very far away from DC so might depend where they end up living.