Brits living abroad

[barkinatthemoon]

After brexit, what will happen to expats living abroad in eu countries? People who aren't married to a person from the country they reside in, they just chose to move their as a couple and have set up a life there. What happens to them? Will they have to give up their UK citizenship in order to stay in an EU country?
We have family living abroad who seem completely oblivious to the situation and don't seem to think it will affect them at all...

It depends which country they are in.

I am in France and although there is a lot of uncertainty over things like driving licences and a lot of tedious paperwork to do, it seems unlikely that anyone will not be allowed to stay, whether they are married to a French person or not.

People who have been living here under the radar, i.e. not declaring their income in France for tax purposes etc. might struggle to prove that they have been legally resident prior to Brexit, but everyone else should be OK.

I'm on the Swiss French border and my British friends here have applied for Carte de Sejour - permission to stay. The people in the Mairie (town halls) and the local government offices don't really know how to handle it. Permission to stay for current EU citizens isn't a thing. It's caused havok here.

There seems to be huge variation in how the local préfectures are dealing with applications from Brits. I'm almost looking forward to 30th March now, because at least then we will know whether we have crashed out or not and we can get on with sorting ourselves out.

Different countries will deal with Brexit differently - I'm in Finland and the government here just voted to extend current rights to Brits until the end of 2020 at least and then they will decide what to do next depending on what happens with Brexit.

Your family should contact the British embassy where they live and ask for advice specific to that country.

Here in Germany a registration system has been set up, which AIUI continues the former rights for a couple of years or until such time as clarity has been achieved. It doesn't affect me as I, thank goodness, gained my citizenship four months ago.

The German authorities are very keen to help. I've heard that citizenship applications from Brits are being prioritised in some places. The lady who processed mine was certainly aware of the pressing nature of time; once I had the papers all together, it happened quickly.

Here in Portugal the government and embassy are encouraging everyone (who hasn't already) to apply for temporary residence. I've been here long enough to have permanent residency. I've applied for a Portuguese driving licence and an Irish passport, courtesy of my grandmother who was from Wexford.

barkinatthemoon

Your family are incredibly naive. You would be kind if you encouraged your relatives to get their act together if they plan to stay long term where they are.

Some EU countries allow dual nationality, others force you to choose one or the other.

Getting a new nationality can be relatively straightforward administrative procedure or it can be hell. Especially if you are a disorganised type without all necessary paperwork in order and at hand.

Have your relatives got an EU driving license? The British license may no longer be valid post brexit meaning potentially going through theory classes, and paying for a course of lessons before taking the test again.

I am lucky where I am with very competent national and local government. Have been kept fully informed re the consequences of no deal or not. That might not be the case for your family.

Can't believe they have their heads in the sand! Perhaps they just don't want to worry you?

I'm in the Netherlands and life just carries on as normal. I'll be issued an permit and all my rights will continue as before. I do qualify for Dutch nationality but would have to give up my British nationality first, so unless they change the rules (which had also be suggested) I won't become Dutch.
I already have a Dutch driving licence; I think under EU regulations they had to be swapped after two years residency in another country anyway?

I think most of the question has been answered. Officially from the European Parliament the intention is that all UK in Europe are welcome to stay.
This is filtered down to individual countries parliaments who are (I think) agreeing, but are waiting for the UK to stop messing about which is also affecting their own nationals that are in the UK, so again positive but it is a 'strong intention' rather than signed into law at this stage.
The approach and capabilities of individual countries obviously varies. France has a 6-10 month delay in exchanging driving licences, I had my papers returned and they are to be resubmitted after Westminster makes it's mind up. Theory has it that existing UK/EU licences are OK for 12 months. I just hope this instruction filters down to the Gendarme in the street!
The main thing will be to accumulate as much paper evidence as possible which supports your life where you are currently living.

How about Healthcare tho? At the moment we have a reciprocal agreement so can use state Healthcare, surly this will stop?

Rights to healthcare will depend on the country and the situation of the person concerned.

The people who will have the biggest issues are the pensioners who spend part of the year in the U.K. and part in Spain/France as they will most likely not qualify for residence and will lose their EHIC.

For those of us who have been working and contributing in Europe, healthcare shouldn't be an issue although we will lose many other rights unless we take local citizenship.

Hardly anyone will think it won't affect them, they just don't know what they can or will need to do yet, because there is no official guidance, because nobody official knows! So people who aren't entitled to citizenship of their adopted country or sent entitled yet have almost no choice but to put their heads in the sand.

I live in a country which allows dual citizenship for those whose other nationality is an EU one, and most people who meet citizenship requirements have got citizenship now - nobody bothered before the referendum of course. I'm always taken aback when people who are entitled to citizenship haven't bothered though, that just seems self destructive...

Odds are those not entitled to citizenship will be able to stay but it will be permanently more expensive and more of a hassle than before, with all the extra paperwork on an ongoing basis.

Having to answer questions from all and sundry about the group insanity of your birth nation gets a bit wearing...

I know everything is up in the air at the moment but it is still worth sorting out paperwork etc. and looking at the most likely scenario you will find yourself in, maybe having a chat with the local authorities.

I have just found out that I only have a few months left to apply for one of my children to get the EU nationality of the country we live in - this nationality can be held alongside her British passport, unlike the one she currently has. My other child will have to renounce her British passport for a different EU passport as no dual nationality is allowed.

Having said this, there is a chance that the authorities will also give me the same nationality as my child's mother. So my entitlement is through my child, not on my own merit.

Otherwise my family will have 3 different nationalities. With 1 in 4 of us free to live in both the UK and the EU post brexit.