EU passport
 

Hi folks,
I put this in a search here and nothing came up but just a couple of general questions for comment purposes etc.
1. I have a job here and have been working since August 2015, obviously a tax payer on the padron and NIE, have a Spanish driving licence and own a property here. What is the opinion of the assembled throng about my situation, in terms of working beyond Brexit now as normal, should it be ok after I have been here 5 years. It appears from what I read the Spanish are keen to do a deal and keep the status quo. Any thoughts and opinions please.
2. EU passport, should we be thinking about this or not, has anyone applied for one, do we know how long or diffucult the process is. I guess some of this will come out in the following months, but also would be interested to hear of your opionions or things that you have read and believe to be fact or true.
Thanks for your posts in advance,
Nick

Re: EU passport
 

I'm sure the EU passport doesn't exist as an entity, they are just passports of an EU member country, so the UK passport will cease to be an EU passport once we have left the EU, and to keep one you will have to become a citizen of one of the remaining 27 countries.

Re: EU passport
 

I would be very wary of any suggestion that such a thing as an EU passport would ever become a practical reality. It would suggest that the EU would bestow on the holder rights and privileges that others could not benefit from - something that obviously begs the question of what the EU would require in return. The EU is simply not going to grant residence and social or healthcare benefits simply in return for a €80 fee - think about it, it doesn't add up. If history has taught us anything about the EU it is that the EU doesn't give anything without exacting full payment.

Re: EU passport
 

Hi guys,
This was what I wanted this type of feedback, the word is bandied around and misimplies its meaning. I read that folks are rushing to get an EU passport obviously this cannot be the case.

Re: EU passport
 

Do they mean taking citizenship of an EU country they are settled in and getting a passport that way?

Re: EU passport
 

I am fortunate enough to have had an Irish mother. That entitles me to Irish citizenship and an Irish (EU) passport. All property and financial transactions have been completed using the Irish passport as identification and if push comes to shove I will use the Irish passport permanently in preference to my British one if it makes my life in Europe easier and I suspect many others are doing the exact same thing. You can apply for an Irish passport if your parent/grandparent were Irish citizens.

Re: EU passport
 

Once you have been registered resident in Spanish territories for ten years, you can apply for Spanish nationality.

Re: EU passport
 

So, still another 8 years to go for the OP, and by that time Brexit should have happened.

Re: EU passport
 

We have been through all the tests and due diligence, have now been approved for German citizenship, and will be eligible for German "EU" passports. The requirements are much the same in any EU member state. Moderate fluency in the local language is a big part of it, a basic understanding of the history of the country, and of course, fiscal viability.

Re: EU passport
 

1. You should expect a reciprocal deal will be struck within the next three to four months. Spain has already indicated it is very keen to make such an arrangement which is no surprise with all those British expats contributing to the Spanish economy.

2. As others have mentioned there's no such thing as an 'EU passport' rather there are passports from the 28 EU member states; soon to be 27. To acquire another EU member state passport ahead of Brexit you'll need to fulfil the citizenship requirements of one of the other 27 nations. If you have Irish-born parent or grandparent then that would be the simplest way to go. Otherwise you should sit tight in Spain until you are eligible for Spanish citizenship.

Re: EU passport
 

You should also have signed on the list of foreigners and obtained your (green) residency certificate.

Re: EU passport
 

Spainmay be keen to continue with a reciprocal agreement but will the UK?


Howmany brexit voter’s will be happy that the current EU residents living in the UKwill remain and what restrictions do they want on them? For example, if they arenot working, and living on benefits but have families or working under theradar etc. What about all the expats who live under the radar in Spain?

Re: EU passport
 

I'm sure Theresa May has explicitly said so and added that she is keen to have such arrangements in place at the earliest opportunity

Re: EU passport
 

What agreements and what does it cover?


What about EU citizens in UK living on benefits or working under the radar?


What about EU citizens who work in UK and have family members (spouse and children) giving in their home country - will they be allowed in to the UK post brexit?


Post brexit who will be allowed in under these agreements?

Re: EU passport
 

As has been said already - nobody knows for sure and so nobody can give you a definitive answer. What is becoming clear is that Spain seems keen on maintaining the status quo in terms of British expats and it's own citizens living in the UK. Whether that enthusiasm translates into formal agreement is quite another thing. I am quite sure that the EU as a body of governance will seek to maintain a united front as much as possible during Brexit negotiations and it may well be that we see Brussels talking down hope of any such agreements between the UK and Spain. The post-brexit realities may be quite different - Spain has a massive trade surplus with the UK which they will be keen to maintain as without it, and the cash pumped into local economies by resident expats, their economy would become perilously fragile.

Re: EU passport
 

:goodpost:

Re: EU passport
 

1. You should expect a reciprocal deal will be struck within the next three to four months. Spain has already indicated it is very keen to make such an arrangement which is no surprise with all those British expats contributing to the Spanish economy.

2. As others have mentioned there's no such thing as an 'EU passport' rather there are passports from the 28 EU member states; soon to be 27. To acquire another EU member state passport ahead of Brexit you'll need to fulfil the citizenship requirements of one of the other 27 nations. If you have Irish-born parent or grandparent then that would be the simplest way to go. Otherwise you should sit tight in Spain until you are eligible for Spanish citizenship.

Yes this what I have seen and heard from the politicians here. At the end of the day TM has stated no arangement on EU citizens in the UK until she has an agreement in place for Brits in the EU. Sounds sensible and I believe this will be a major topic to be discussed and agreed. Yes the expats here sure put a lot of money into the local economies. In my little town in the North only me and a few teachers, however I believe common sense will prevail and all will be well, but you never konw with that buffoon Junker.

Re: EU passport
 

Common sense? As in the British referendum about the EU membership?Then good luck to you.

BTW, European expats put at lot of money into the UK economy as well. So if the British want them to leave, what is left of common sense?

Re: EU passport
 

I hope so as well, but as I understand that is not the case, because as you say any expat working contributes to the economy, as a tax payer and skill use. Goodness me we need it .

Re: EU passport
 

Why do the brits think that the expat community in Spain is such a high revenue for the Spanish govt and the economy?


Ask yourself where do they spend the money and how much do they actually have and for how long?


For the pensioners yes most get covered by S1 form and the NHS pays a fee but how much does it actually cost the Spanish NHS? Does the fee cover ALL costs?


Many pensioners don’t bother with S1 and rely on EHIC and flying back to the UK for more urgent treatment and / or planned ops.


How many expats (young and old) are fully compliant and declare their income to the Spanish tax man


Then you have they younger generation who work under the radarpay nothing and again spend their money in little Britain bubbles / enclaves that they live in.


I would suggest Spain would be better off without these and may even use brexit to clamp down on this behaviour by many expats


If the expats dried up post brexit the biggest sufferers would be the Brit bars and the Brit restaurants and the illegal builders, taxidrivers, key holders, cleaners, bar staff etc. The legal ones are so few and far between they are a mere drop in the ocean


Yes tourism is a big driver for the economy and will survive longer term and property prices may get hit again but as they are going nowhere so no big deal on the economy

Re: EU passport
 

Tadd, please use the default font in posts, changing it makes it very difficult when quoting only part of the comment.


How many Spanish people, young and old are fully compliant and declare their income to the Spanish tax man is a much more germane question.

Re: EU passport
 

Apart from scaremongers, nobody has ever suggested asking anybody to leave anywhere.

As for common sense, democracy trumps the so called common sense of anyone disagreeing with democracy.

The Common Market was common sense.....the EU is a basket case.

Re: EU passport
 

I am fully compliant with the tax as my company pays all my taxes and I have no time or energy to work extra in a bar. Please do not tar us all with the same brush. I am quite sure there are folks out there working cash in hand. This happens everywhere even in the UK, often scroungers on benefits who are not entitled.
I have never dodged any tax in my working life.
Yes not paying tax in Spain was a national vocation and the same with Greece. It is not just some Brits as you may like to think.

Re: EU passport
 

I appreciate a lot of people are still sore that the referendum didn't go their way but you won't find a single politician on either side of the Channel stating that any EU citizens resident in the UK or vice versa prior to the vote will be required to leave. Both HMG and the EU have openly stated that a reciprocal arrangement is the first priority once formal negotiations start in the summer.

Re: EU passport
 

Maybe...

Re: EU passport
 

Very true but 2 wrongs don't make a right.


Tax avoidance is a big issue in most countries but the expats are an easier target