Since the UK formally left the European Union on January 1st, 2020 - commonly known as BREXIT - it has become a lot harder to become a Spanish resident. New rules apply, as they do for other non-EU members.
[Image courtesy of BankInfoSecurity]
Backstory
The British voted to leave the EU on June 16th, 2016, by a margin of 51.9% to 48.1%. The leave campaign led by the "charismatic" Bojo the Clown (Boris Johnson) famously lied throughout the campaign. Nigel Farage, then leader of UKIP was uncompromising in his desire to leave Europe.
[Image courtesy of Facebook]
Johnson is now a disgraced politician and human being, largely because of his incompetence and hypocrisy over party-gate.
Farage is now leader of Reform, the successor to UKIP, who has finally been elected as MP for Clacton-on-Sea (Essex), following the massive demise of the Conservative Party.
How to become a resident if you're British
The options at the start of BREXIT in January 2020 were these:
If you were already living in Spain and had a NIE, all you had to do was upgrade to a TIE (not compulsory, but advisable); have a Spanish bank account; and exchange your UK driving licence for a Spanish permiso de conducir.- Get employment in Spain and comply with the above.
- Get NLV (Non-Lucrative Visa) status.
- Apply for a "golden visa", ie "buy your residency" by investing at least 500,000 euros in a property in Spain.
- Become a "digital nomad".
- Apply for Spanish nationality.
[Image courtesy of Spain Law Hub]
How's it going?
Long-term British residents who didn't bother to fulfil the requirements suddenly found themselves subject to the 90-day-rule. Many have been barred from living in their homes for longer than the permitted number of days. Others have been tracked down and extradited and heavily fined. Their illegal cars have been seized and crushed. Their unoccupied homes are vulnerable to okupas (squatters).
I have little sympathy, it serves them right. The requirements were well publicised, well in advance, so they have no excuse for not complying.
[Image courtesy of SGM Abogados]
British workers, mainly tradesmen, are still able to come to Spain to work on extended contracts, although they do not get residency status.
Many Brits desiring residency have acquired NLVs which means they are not allowed to work and earn money. These are mainly retired people with sufficient financial means to live in Spain.
The digital nomad programme has expanded greatly and is thriving.
Thousands of foreigners have applied for Spanish nationality. The majority are "refugees" from Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, such as Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. That is a relatively straightforward process. For non-native-Spanish speakers from outside the EU, it's trickier, but do-able. I intend to make an application this month.
A major change to the rules
As of April 3rd, the "golden visa" option has been cancelled.
Many commentators regard this decision by Pedro Sanchez' government to be a mistake.
The Press and media have had a field day. The BBC posted this on its website:
Spain to axe 'golden visas' scheme
[Photo courtesy of Navas & Cusi]
and the English freebie published in Spain, the EuroWeekly News, said this:
Spain scraps golden visas « Euro Weekly News
The national newspapers in Spain also led on the story:
Adiós a las ‘golden visa’: ya no se podrá adquirir el permiso de residencia por inversiones inmobiliarias | Economía | EL PAÍS
Las 'Golden Visa' ya son historia y a partir de hoy dejan de concederse | Actualidad Económica - El Mundo
Ten key golden visa stats as Spain axes scheme for wealthy foreigners - The Local
The Spanish government is actively looking at ways to axe the 90-day-rule.
This would be a big boost for those affected and would bring much needed extra cash into the Spanish economy.
[Image courtesy of SGM Abogados]
Other links:
All TIE’d up! How to apply for the Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero in Spain - www.secretserrania.com
DIGITAL NOMADS - Help me, Ronda - www.help-me-ronda.com
HOW TO …..apply for a replacement TIE - www.eyeonspain.com
Photos and images:
BankInfoSecurity, Facebook, Navas & Cusi, SGM Abogados, Spain Law Hub, Wikipedia
© The Crazy Guy (Paul Whitelock)
Acknowledgements:
BBC, EuroWeekly News, El Mundo, El Pais, The Local
Tags:
Argentina, BankInfoSecurity, BBC, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, EuroWeekly News, El Mundo, El Pais, Facebook, "golden visa", Latin America, Mexico, Navas & Cusi, non-native-Spanish speakers, Paul Whitelock, Pedro Sanchez, Peru, "refugees", SGM Abogados, Spain Law Hub, Spanish nationality, Spanish-speaking countries, The Crazy Guy, The Local, Uruguay, Venezuela, Wikipedia, www.eyeonspain.com, www.help-me-ronda.com, www.secretserrania.com