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BREXIT

The bright side of Brexit: The ‘good news’ for Brits in Spain

Britain has voted to leave the European Union, and many if not most British expats in Spain are deeply concerned. But there are a few silver linings... perhaps.

Published: 28 June 2016 16:48 CEST
The bright side of Brexit: The 'good news' for Brits in Spain
Could Brexit be a reason to celebrate in Spain? Photo: AFP

Readers fed up with all the negativity have asked us to try and put some positive spin on the result of the Brexit referendum and the economic fall out, which began even before the results came in.

It has not been easy, but we've had a go at looking on the bright side of Brexit for Brits in Spain.

Cheaper visits back home

With the value of the pound falling surely and swiftly since Friday morning – on Tuesday it was worth around €1.20 – life in Spain for those Britons who rely on income from back home will be more expensive. But on the flip side, it will certainly make trips home to see the family in Britain a little cheaper. Especially if you earn a wage in euros but spend in pounds.

Christmas shopping at Harrods never looked so good. 


With the current exchange rate you can buy more pounds for your euro. Photo: AFP

We've been here before

The fall in the pound is indeed worrying and Brits have told The Local they have already seen the value of their pensions cut. But the one thing to remember is that we've been here before. 

“Back in 2008 we saw almost parity between the euro and the pound so at the moment it’s not too disastrous,” Victoria Lewis, a financial advisor, told The Local.

 “Most people are not panicking yet,” she said. 

 Cate Carnduff from Herman de Graaf estate agents added: “The pound is always going up and down and around. We nearly had parity a few years ago and we didn't go out of business.”

Get rich selling your house

But as well as those who pile through the arrival gates each year, there are hundreds if not thousands who return to Britain.

 For people who already own property in Spain, now might just be the time to put it on the market, sell up and head home. Thanks to the exchange rate you're going to be able to get more for your money back home. And it might even get better if you wait a little bit.

“Given the thrashing of the exchange rates it is a good time to sell your house and buy sterling,” said Maura Hillen, a town councillor in Albox representing expats.


Photo: AFP

And it's not all bad news for buyers

While it may become a good market for leavers (those heading out of Spain, not those who voted Out) the reality is that it's still not too bad for buyers either. While estate agents are clearly concerned, they say there are still many great deals out there for those looking to sell up in the UK and buy a house in Spain.

 “The Brits buy in Spain for the wonderful climate and bohemian lifestyle. That hasn’t changed and houses in Spain will always have a pull for the British purchaser,” a spokesman for property website Kyero told The Local. 

“There was a very healthy market for Spanish property before Spain joined the Eurozone and there'll still be a thriving market once Britain leaves. Property prices in Spain remain relatively low, and this is still an excellent time to make a shrewd investment in the Spanish property market.”

Nothing will happen for a while, if ever?

One thing that is certain is that nothing will happen for a while. And some, in fact many are suggesting that it will become so complicated for the UK to leave the EU that it might never happen. 

In the meantime Simon Manley, British Ambassador in Madrid sent a message of calm to expats in Spain.

“The truth is that, right now, nothing has changed. You can still live here, work here, just as you did before.”

 

 

Europe might actually become stronger

Of course, no one knows what will happen with the EU now that the UK has voted to leave. But its leaders, at least those from France, Germany and Italy, are promising “a new impulse” to the EU now that the “enfant terrible” has it made it clear it wants a divorce.

It may be that the British public's rejection of the EU, may force Europe to carry out the many necessary reforms to prevent other countries from following suit. And without Britain blocking the path, it may actually be possible to bring Europe closer together politically, which is what many economists believe is necessary.

In short, Brexit could give the EU an almighty kick up the backside and force it to take steps to make its economy stronger and to make the voters feel less disconnected from the decision makers.

It's a great time to become Spanish

Let’s face it, Spaniards know how to enjoy life. Not only do they have an amazing climate and great food but they also enjoy the longest life expectancy in the world (after the Japanese).

For those who've always dreamed of being one of them, this might be your chance.

READ MORE: Worried about Brexit? Here's how to become Spanish

 What better excuse could there be to apply for Spanish citizenship – if you qualify that is, than the potential troubles ahead now that the UK has voted Leave?

Wedding bells for Spanish-British couples?

Again this all depends on what happens over the next two years but the Brexit could mean a surge in marriages between Spanish and British couples, the easiest way for a Brit to gain Spanish citizenship.

Some of you have already told us about proposals prompted by Brexit. And as the uncertainty lingers we expect to hear more.

Those interested can follow The Local’s handy guide to getting married in Spain.

Fewer Brits on the Costas?

With the falling pound we might well see less Brits choosing to head to Spain for their holidays and hope instead to save some money on a ‘staycation’. That might mean less of a pile up on those popular resorts and less bad behaviour from untrained youths in hotspots like San Antonio and Magaluf. 

And if Brexit really does mean an end to free health care in Spain, it could send pensioners hurrying home. Just imagine Benidorm without the mobility scooters?


Photo: AFP

Better relations with American expats

There's nothing like commiserating about the trials and tribulations of bureaucracy to bring people together. If Brexit happens, Brits would probably have to face the prospect of all kinds of administrative headaches and red tape that Americans have already been dealing with forever, so they're sure to make some Yankee friends who will certainly be empathetic about their plight, and will no doubt have some useful advice.

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BREXIT

‘Get the TIE now’: Brits in Spain urged to exchange residency document

The British Embassy in Madrid says it's “really important” that the 200,000+ UK nationals in Spain with a green residency certificate exchange it for a TIE card "as soon as possible" to avoid issues with the EU’s new Entry Exit System. 

Published: 13 May 2024 17:00 CEST
'Get the TIE now': Brits in Spain urged to exchange residency document

British authorities in Spain have urged thousands of Brits in Spain who have held onto their old green Spanish residency certificates since Brexit “to follow suit and get a TIE as soon as possible, ahead of the introduction of the EU’s new Entry Exit System (EES), expected in autumn this year”.

“It’s really important that any British person who lives in Spain gets the TIE – not only because it is the most durable and dependable way to prove your rights in Spain, but also to avoid disruption at the border when the EU’s Entry Exit Scheme comes into force,” outgoing British Ambassador Hugh Elliott said in the statement to the press.  

“We are working with the Spanish Government and the EU to prepare for the implementation of this new scheme and we have requested that more TIE appointments are made available.”

READ MORE: How Brits in Spain can exchange their green residency document for a TIE in 2024

The green certificate – issued in either card or A4 sheet size – is the residency document of EU nationals and is officially called Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión. They do not contain a photo, nor do they have an expiry date, and they’re sometimes wrongly called NIEs. 

Example of a smaller green residency certificate, which used to be issued to UK nationals residing in Spain before Brexit took place.

The British Embassy has encouraged Brits with these green certificates to exchange them since the Spanish government began issuing Withdrawal Agreement TIEs to Brits in July 2020.

However, the exchange has never been made compulsory, just strongly encouraged.

The TIE, which stands for Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero, is the biometric residence card that non-EU residents in Spain get, so this corresponds to the new status of UK nationals. 

A 2023 study by Spain’s Immigration Observatory revealed that more than half of UK nationals living in Spain last year hadn’t exchanged their green residency documents for TIEs following Brexit. 

This amounted to 211,274 UK nationals residing in Spain who preferred to keep their green certificates rather than follow the advice of British authorities.

However in their latest announcement, the British Embassy says “most British people living in Spain already have the TIE, having abandoned the formerly issued paper Green Certificate following Brexit”.  

The justification for encouraging the exchange up to now has been mainly to avoid problems with border and airport officials, as there have been some British travellers whose green certificates were not recognised as valid residency documents and weren’t allowed to board their flights.

“The biometric TIE proves that the holder is a Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary with the right to reside and work in Spain,” the embassy writes. 

So what’s changed now to increase the urgency of British authorities? 

The EU’s new Entry Exit system, which has been marred with problems and delays since its announcement.

READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about Spain and the EU’s new Entry Exit System

“The EES will require all non-EU short stay travellers to register via an automated system at the border. They will need to provide their name, passport details, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images) and the date and place of entry and exit upon entering Spain,” wrote the British Embassy in Madrid on Monday. 

“This will replace the current passport stamping at the border. These details will be held on file for three years, meaning Britons making repeat visits to Spain within a three-year period will not have to go through the same registration process each time.  

“To be exempt from registering with the EES, British residents in the EU will need to show a valid uniform-format biometric card, which in Spain is the TIE.” 

In essence, as the EU’s travel system is going fully digital and biometric, the green certificates will no longer be accepted. 

As the UK Embassy writes: “The non-biometric Green Certificate, though a valid residency document in Spain, was issued prior to EU Exit and does not feature in the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement or in Annex 22 of the Schengen Border Guard Handbook. 

“Therefore, it is expected that Green Certificate holders may lose out on the chance to be exempt from registering. 

“As a result, they may encounter difficulties and delays at the border, especially when entering other EU countries where the Green Certificate may not be recognised.”

It’s important to note that the British Embassy has not stated that is now compulsory for Brits to exchange their green certificates for TIEs, but they are strongly advised to do so.

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