agree_to_disagree

I think you exaggerate the contribution expats make to GDP.

DLC

They might let people leave a few days late without any black mark against their name (at least until ETIAS automates everything) but I'm pretty sure they won't let it turn into a cachondeo.

bobd22

I seem to remember it was something started by Cameron around 2015?

hughandi

I agree but at the same time disagree.

Agree, it is not a huge contribution to the GDP, but at a local level in can hit hard at businesses that cater for the expat market.

DaveLovesDee

And that expat market would have remained stable had those who chose not to register actually complied with the law and registered.

I can appreciate that the local economy will lose some trade, but I suspect they were more aware than those Brits who failed to register.

bobd22

Simple fact is had the people who lived under the radar done things correctly by obtaining residencia, then everyone would have been winners. The Spanish government would have gained from getting the tax they were due, local economy would gain from the same spending they would make either way and they would gain by being legal and allowed to stay with same perks as pre Brexit. I have no sympathy for such people they played the game they chose and must now accept the consequences.

DaveLovesDee

Yup. And some of the same people wanting sympathy for the locals are the ones who are screwing the locals over by not legalising their residency when they should have, even after constant reminders.

VEDShappy

Whilst I generally agree with the above there are also those who could not meet even the old criteria.
That they were tolerated by the authorities encouraged them and, in some sense, who could blame them? I know that I'd rather spend my pension on renting, for example, a caravan in Benidorm not a council flat in Blackburn. I don't think that you hear so much from them.
Those fly by nights running businesses, doing "airport runs" and the other activities have none of my sympathy and deserve all that's coming

bobd22

I accept your comment but unless you can meet your basic obligations you shouldn't be here or if you are and the wheel comes off so to speak then such people have to accept the outcome rather than bleating to the press looking for a sympathetic view from authorities. No matter what one says what was coming wasn't hidden certainly over the last 12 or 18 months. Yes I used to hear people here say it won't happen we won't leave. However writing was on the wall certainly once Boris took the reigns.

bobd22

I also think Spain did make it simple to comply with what was required. Not sure how other countries dealt with it? Certainly it was both more straightforward for those of us living legally in Spain to remain and less costly than for EU citizens to remain in the UK from what I've read. Plus I doubt in the UK there would be much sympathy shown for EU citizens that couldn't meet the UK's criteria to stay.
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bitmanev

Spain? corruption and money talks...

agree_to_disagree

VEDShappy

Do you have a link for this?

Stingychips

yep. Wealthy undocumented expats will definitely find a way in a place like Spain where money talks. Tbh I hope they do send all the dregs and idiots that are in Spain causing constant headaches in areas like Marbella. Brexit will help Spain in that sense. Britain has also been doing the same with undocumented Europeans which just come to Britain to traffic drugs. London is fully controlled by the Albanian mafia. They used to get dodgy Italian passports by paying back handers so they could reside in the UK. Can’t see those Italian papers working anymore lol.

bobd22

How accurate this is I don't know as it is the Mirror, I like the bit where it says they had armed police present, errr fairly normal to have police at the airport and all Spanish police are armed, but let's make it sound more dramatic than it is. Thing is it looks like they do intend to impose the rules and where easier than at the airport. Another point mentioned in the article that doesn't ring true to me is "People with letters telling them to collect their residency cards were denied entry". However its been discussed on a number of threads that when you apply for a TIE or an exchange to TIE you get no letter or information sent telling you the card is ready for collection? Rather they either tell you at time of application when to make an appointment to collect or wait at least 45 days to do that.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-new...spain-23832596