Notdunroamin

You don't have to renounce your original citizenship but you cannot use it in Spain or for anything to do with Spanish bureaucracy.

Outside of Spain if you got into trouble somewhere and needed consular help then properly you should go to the Spanish one but if you went to the British how anybody would know the difference I have no idea.

Notdunroamin

Originally Posted by Ultramarine
If my memory serves me well there are less than 40 thousand Brits in Portugal and about one million in Spain. Why so many Brits preferred Spain over Portugal?
OK, Portugal is smaller in area and population than Spain, but not 25 times smaller.

There never have been 1m Brits in Spain, it's reckoned that in the entire EU there are just 1.3m

Nobody knows the number for sure but a study last year came up with this.

Ultramarine

OK, 40k in Portugal vs 250k in Spain, still unexplained imbalance

Lynn R

As the population of Portugal is less than a quarter of Spain's, that seems fairly proportionate to me.

Moses2013

You can question anything really. Why are there more Brits in France compared to Portugal? Why are there so many Portuguese in Jersey? History, access, size etc. It's been explained.

bobd22

Also size area wise? Spain is around 5 times larger.

Joppa

And the number of British visitors in 2019: 2.3 million to Spain, 600,000 to Portugal.

steviedeluxe

The Brits in Spain generally head for the Med coast (and Balearics). Even the Algarve in south Portugal doesn't get quite the same climate. Equally, there are very few Brits along the north coast of Spain - Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque country - and it's arguable that the scenery and beaches there are far superior to the eastern seaboard.

Jon-Bxl

We live in Ayamonte right on the border of Portugal. On the Spain forum, you will find the 'Ayamonte Club' a sub forum dedicated to people in our corner of Spain. An active expat community always ready to help out.

With the exception of our local golf club restaurant and a local shop serving food, the nearest restaurant is actually in Portugal.. However Ayamonte itself has loads of options for socialising. Its all within 10 minutes of our home.

Living in a border community has great advantages, being able to 'nip out' to another country and another culture is wonderful. And its interesting how the cultures differ just across the river, which is the border.

We have no heavy industry/chimneys, miles of pristine beaches in each country, the Atlantic on one side... and natural parks and golf courses means that we have a low population density (good numbers for e.g CV19 on both sides) and lots of fresh air. And lots of options of what to do.

We also have Faro airport in Portugal with lo-cost airlines serving the whole of the Algarve and us only 40 mins away.

"Best of both worlds"

Jon

Ewany200

Could you elaborate please? Did you or do you know anyone who obtained Spanish nationality, "renounced" their british citizenship but in reality kept their passport and british citizenship?

Sorry i know its old thread, but im kinda desperate to find info about this.

Cheers

inbarcelona

If you take up Spanish nationality you are SUPPOSED to renounce your British nationality. But you just say you have. You don´t actually do it. The Spanish don´t check (and don´t care). You don´t give up your British passport...you keep it.

The only change is that technically you are not eligible for British Consular assistance while in Spain...hardly a deal-breaker

inbarcelona

Have a look at this video. There is a question about dual nationality at about 52 minutes into the broadcast.
This is from The British Ambassador to Madrid

inbarcelona

Sorry guys....I don´t know why it isn´t showing the link. See my message at 5.40pm

inbarcelona

Ewany.....I think you have seen the link already, Yes?.

Notdunroamin

So much beating of gums when Mr Google has the anwers!

https://www.gov.uk/renounce-british-nationality

https://assets.publishing.service.go.../Guide_RS1.pdf

Back on topic

Portugal-v-Spain