Brexit update. New guidelines
Following the latest guidance from the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office regarding Brexit, there have been updates and changes that affect British citizens living in Spain.
In this article, PSI Consultants will simplify what has been stated in the gov.uk article, with an overview of the most important facts & details for British citizens.
A quick disclaimer, information provided in this article has been simplified from the GOV.UK living in Spain article. Definitive information should be clarified by the Spanish authorities.
For more information, please read the original article.
Residency and visas.
Residing in Spain for than 3 months will require you to register as a Spanish resident.
You’ll receive a green A4 or credit card sized certificate from Extranjeria or your main local police station.
You must update this registration document once the UK leave the EU.
Passports and travel.
British nationals can apply or renew passports within Spain.
You can obtain an emergency travel document or passport if required.
Post-Brexit, double check that your passport is still valid.
There will be new travel rules if a no deal Brexit occurs.
A minimum of 6 month minimum left on a passport prior to the date of travel.
Possibly, short-term visits within the Schengen area may not require a visa.
You may visit up to 90 days in any EU country, within an 180 day period.
If there is a Brexit deal, there may be no changes until the end of 2020.
Healthcare.
Non-native Spanish residents will need to registered in the healthcare system.
British residents in Spain cannot use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Spanish residents travelling outside of Spain will require a a Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea (TSE).
Apply for the TSE online or in a social security office.
S1 form holders travelling within the EU should apply for UK-issued EHIC.
Purchase comprehensive travel insurance for added protection, not provided by TSE & EHIC.
Healthcare will be protected if there is a Brexit deal and you are a resident of Spain.
Healthcare access may change if there is no Brexit deal for British residents living in Spain.
If there is no Brexit deal, the Spanish Royal Decree allows for Britons who are Spanish residents and registered for healthcare to continue to accessing the healthcare until 2020.
Working in Spain.
Registered as a resident in Spain allows you to work.
You may apply for:
Spanish criminal records certificate (Certificado de Antecedentes Penales).
Certificate from the Spanish sex offenders registry (Certificado de Delitos de Naturaleza Sexual) to work with children.
Record of your employment history in Spain from Seguridad Social (a Vida Laboral certificate).
Money and tax.
UK & Spain have a double-taxation agreement that prevents paying tax on the same income in both countries.
You may receive a double taxation relief.
Spanish residents must declare global income to the Spanish authorities.
If you are not a resident, you will only pay tax on income that came from Spain.
Declaring overseas assets will require filing an annual declaration of overseas assets called a Modelo 720, otherwise there are severe penalties.
Possibly, you can pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.
Post-Brexit, the double taxation agreement with Spain will not change.
If there is no Brexit deal, it may be more expensive to use bank cards in Spain.
Pensions in Spain.
When moving & retiring abroad, you must notify the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax.
You can claim UK state pensions.
If you have worked in Spain, Spanish and UK state pensions can be claimed from the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social.
Pensions can be claimed from working in other EU countries.
When you receive a Life certificate form in the post, you must fill it in promptly otherwise your payments may be suspended.
After Brexit, the UK government will continue to pay the UK state pension to eligible UK nationals.
Upon a Brexit deal, if you work and pay social security contributions in Spain, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Spanish pension.
Upon a no deal Brexit, the Spanish government will take into account periods of work in the UK prior to the UK leaving the EU when calculating Spanish pensions.
Benefits.
Britons living in Spain will be able to claim some UK benefits, including child and disability benefits.
Being abroad for more than 4 weeks will halt income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit.
Spanish benefits may be claimed, you can:
Read the European Union’s guidance on claiming benefits in an EU country.
Speak to a social worker (trabajador social) at your local town hall.
Visit your nearest Instituto de Mayores y Servicios Sociales office.
You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC.
If there is a Brexit deal, if you work and pay social security contributions in Spain, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Spanish contributions-based benefits.
If there is a no deal Brexit, the Spanish government may continue to take into account any periods of work within UK prior to the UK leaving the EU, when claiming Spanish contributions-based benefits.
Driving in Spain.
Britons who are Spanish residents should exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one.
You can use your Spanish licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.
You must renew or exchange an old UK licence that doesn’t have a 10 year validity period.
Once you’ve been a resident in Spain for 2 years, you’ll need a Spanish licence.
If a driving licence is lost, stolen or expires you will not be able to renew it with the UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
You will need to apply to the DVLA for a ‘certificate of entitlement’ in Spanish to be able to apply for a Spanish driving licence.
Spanish driving rules may have some differences to British driving standards.
If there is a Brexit deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the transition period.
If there is a no deal Brexit, there will be 9 months from the day the UK leaves the EU to exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one.
British residents or spending longer than 6 months of the year in Spain will mean to you must register your vehicle with the Spanish authorities and you may need to pay some taxes.
You may be exempt from some of these taxes, if you have certificates of exemption.
Voting.
Britons living full time in Spain can vote in local elections.
Check your Padrón status with your local town hall and the municipal electoral roll.
Declare your intention to vote and register on the local electoral roll.
Britons cannot vote in Spanish general or regional elections.
British nationals living Spain may be able to vote in some UK elections (check if you are able to vote & register as an overseas voter).
UK nationals will no longer be able to vote in European elections.
Births, deaths and getting married.
Children born in Spain will need to have their birth registered abroad.
Make sure that you have an existing funeral plan for the passing on of a family member, read what to do after someone dies abroad.
Being married in Spain is similar to the UK, learn how you can get married abroad, notarial and documentary services.
Accommodation and buying property
Purchasing a property in Spain is slightly different to the UK, learn how to buy or let property in Spain.
Pets.
The exiting rules may change, however you can still travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret.
Emergencies.
In any emergency situation, contact your nearest British embassy or consulate.
Dial 122 for European emergency.
Dial 091 for national police.
Dial 061 for health emergencies.
Dial 080 for firefighters.
Dial 092 for local police.
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