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British Ambassador answers your Brexit questions BY ALYSON AND DAVE SHELDRAKE
The triggering of Article 50 on March 29th is destined to go down as a historic day for both Britain and Europe. But what is it going to mean for Brits living in Portugal – or even for Brits wanting to travel and holiday here?
British Ambassador to Portugal Kirsty Hayes and Vice Consul Clive Jewell Picture credit: Dave Sheldrake Photography
We attended an information evening in March hosted by the British Ambassador to Portugal, Kirsty Hayes, to try to find out some answers. It was reassuring to hear the current position of the British government in relation to their UK citizens abroad, and to feel that our questions and concerns were being heard. What was clear, however, is just how many complications and areas of negotiation lie ahead. The event allowed for questions to be raised in advance, and the sheer volume of different categories of interest to UK nationals living in Portugal became apparent as the talk began. Here’s an overview of what was addressed… Right to remain post-Brexit This was one of the major areas of concern, and one that the Ambassador was keen to address. Her stance was clear: the Portuguese government is not going to be “asking us to leave” in two years’ time. The Portuguese recognise the valuable contribution that Brits make to their country, and we will continue to be made welcome. Indeed, Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva has already made it clear that he wants to “ensure our Brits here are duly protected and looked after,” and that he “wants to attract even more British citizens to come to Portugal” - good news for the 30,000 Brits that currently call Portugal home. Dual citizenship Although quick to point out that the UK government does not give advice on gaining citizenship or nationality of another country, the Ambassador did helpfully confirm that both the UK and Portugal accept and recognise dual nationality, which would allow us to retain our British passport but also gain a Portuguese EU passport too – something we are keen to do. Our timing is perfect. Our five-year residency is due for renewal prior to the end of the two year Brexit period, so we can apply for our 10-year residency, and as you need to have completed six years’ residency before you can apply for citizenship, we will make it within the two year Brexit period!
The article is an edited version of a post on Alyson and Dave’s website - visit www.algarveblog.com to read the full article which covers additional topics.
There’s just this small matter, as stated on the IRN website: “Nationality may be acquired if you have been legally resident in Portuguese territory for at least six years … provided that you have sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language.” Better start those lessons then! Healthcare Access to healthcare was a major issue for many.
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Brits with Portuguese residency are currently entitled to register with a local health centre and receive state healthcare. This is unlikely to change once Britain is no longer an EU member, as non-EU nationals with residency here currently have the same access rights as nationalised Portuguese residents. However, it is a different matter for UK visitors to Portugal. The gov.uk website currently states that holidaymakers should have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and take out private travel insurance before travelling to Portugal. Post-Brexit, however, the Ambassador stated that “we can’t give a blanket reassurance, this will have to be an area that is negotiated.” A theme is already emerging. We need to look at the rights non-EU citizens living in Portugal currently have, and start wondering if those issues are going to be applicable for Brits once the UK is no longer an EU member. Tourism and travel The Ambassador appeared confident that some form of visa-free travel in the EU would be possible, although the details of this remain to be seen. Right to work This is an area which is likely to see changes postBrexit, with right to work visas and lengths of stay to be negotiated. As the UK is insistent that it wants more ‘control of its borders’ and influence over the numbers of people coming to the UK to seek work, we can expect reciprocal arrangements to be considered in the EU. Driving licences The issue of holding an EU UK licence post-Brexit was another ‘hot potato’. The advice was to simply surrender your UK licence for a Portuguese one if you are legally resident in Portugal. Summary The Ambassador’s advice at this stage was simple: check that your papers are in order, ensure that you are registered here appropriately (including registering for healthcare and any other rights that you are entitled to), and that circumstances will not change for Brits living in Portugal in the next two years. She pledged her support and willingness to return with updates when they became available, and recommended consulting both the ‘Brits in Portugal’ Facebook page and newly launched government website www.planforbritain.gov.uk. Whatever happens, the next two years are certainly going to be interesting. We hope that we will continue to be able to enjoy such a beautiful place that we are very happy to call home for many more years to come.