brexit: the withdrawl

The withdrawal agreement

The two questions I get asked the most.

source: uk and Spanish goverments' guidelines for Spain

Visas and residency

If you were legally resident in Spain before 1 January 2021, you will be able to stay. You must ensure you are correctly registered as a resident. Children must also be registered. To prove the status of residency, any of the following documents are valid:

 

If you are registering for the first time, you will be issued with a biometric residence card called a Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE). This card will prove your rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you registered as a resident before 6 July 2020, you will have a green A4 certificate or credit card-sized piece of paper from Extranjeria or the police. This is still a valid document and proves your rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

You can exchange your paper EU residence document for the new TIE but you are not obliged to.

The Spanish government recommends obtaining the TIE because the biometric card is more durable and may simplify some administrative processes.

For those holding permanent residencia 

Read the Spanish government’s guidance on how to apply for the new TIE.

The relevant part for those holding permanent residencia being:

 What documentation do I have to provide?

•  Application form EX23. 
•  Your permanent residence certificate.
•  Passport in force or copy of expired. If the passport is expired, a copy of the passport and the renewal application must be provided.
•  Proof-of-charge form (Model 790. Code 012). The paragraph “Certificate of Community resident registration or residence card of a family member of a Union citizen” should be marked.
•  1 photograph according to the requirements established in the regulations on national identity document.

Social security

I am British and I work in Spain. I will soon reach my pension age. What will happen with my state pension rights after Brexit?

Nothing will happen to your state pension and everything will be as now. You will be entitled to your pension under the same conditions as today, the amount will be calculated according to the same rule and you can even have it exported and up-rated to another EU state should you decide to settle elsewhere.