Spain after Brexit

Different outcomes for different situations. It's not genuine residents fault that non genuine people who have been living under the radar will be targeted. To tell you the truth, I'm delighted, as legal residents we pay our taxes and deserve the service we get. 

Don't forget the Great British public voted for Brexit. I actually don't think much will change in Spain, I think a LOT will change in the UK as expats who have flouted the laws here have to move back and put more strain on the resources. If that causes a shift in house prices so be it, what goes up must come down. 

I suppose there must be a lot there who have never registered or paid taxes and will find themselves in a tricky situation. 'what goes up must come down' I am not really sure they have ever been up! 

“I know there are EU rules but I wonder if Spain will need to be a bit more lenient with UK individuals for financial reasons.”

I have seen this wish expressed on other forums. It’s understandable but leaving the EU is not painless, it means that the rules for third countries (non-EU) will sadly have to apply. The value that U.K. citizens in Spain impart to Spanish GDP is negligible, about 1%. And Scandinavians are already buying up properties that U.K. citizens are selling off. After Dec 2020 there will be no special offers or visas or exemptions for non-residents from the U.K. but they will still be able to stay here up to 180 days in each year, the timetabling of stays will just be more circumscribed.

Chris

It's good to see someone finally put this in concrete terms. (Chrisso50)  Since buying our apt in Spain, we have constantly been told that the Spanish will not risk the loss of British money.  Therefore we will get special treatment.  My take is that the Spanish will do whatever is politically expedient. There are only approx 350,000 Brits here - the 3rd largest group of immigrants and I am sure this figure is going down.  Also, I am surprised that there is little to no mention of the Spanish political party VOX by Brits who live here.  Vox actually increased their voting share in the last election and where were they the strongest?  Right where we are!  (From Murcia southward along the coast!)  

Interestingly the supporters of VOX in Spain seem to want a more centralised power structure I.e. against Catalunya going it’s own way whereas over powerful centralisation in Westminster is one of the main causes of Brexit.

Not just the Scandinavians who are buying up property: French, Dutch and Belgians as well - classic example of British (mainly English) exceptionalism thinking that the Spanish can’t do without us.

Absolutely true Jack. we lived in France for 6 years, registered as residents and paid our taxes there.  We aim to do exactly the same now we are here in Spain.

My sentiments on that front, it will in my eyes reduce the uptake on purchasing property out there, but who knows, the ministers have made aright dogs breakfast of it so far, so not holding out for miracles, on changes to the arrangement

I am interested to hear how people think the Spanish authorities are going to police the people that have lived 'under the radar' for years, and on talking to one of them yesterday they are just going to do what they have been doing for years, Keeping their heads down. He told me he has no intention of become resident because he knows he wouldn't pass the financial criteria, I am sure there are 1000's of these people living in Spain he isn't alone. So anyone have an opinion how they are going to police this,

Personally I have mixed feelings, I couldn't live like that with something hanging over my head, I have to be 100% legal where ever I live, but these people, some of them have been here for years and years and years, they have made a home, contributed to the economy, I know one that does very good charity work, so I think if these people have say been here for say over 5 years and haven't got a criminal record then perhaps Spain should re think and drop the financial criteria to a more reasonable level and give these people a chance to become legal.

But my question is how is spain going to Police this??????

Good question Jenni, and I think it could never be 100% effectively policed, BUT .... it will only take one slip.  So much is tied to your NIE now and as an EU citizen, that's really the end of it, but as a Third Country National ..... Green card or TIE will be requested for an awful lot of things - and if they don't have NIE´s, then the moment they need to sign for something or prove identity in some way and provide passport instead of NIE, they are history.  Many will continue to successfully fly under the radar.  Many more won't and they will be mighty upset when it happens.

As an aside, an acquaintance who is a Third Country National already was wanting to stay here, their 90 days was almost up, but they were desparate to stay.  The advice they received from what I shall politely call official sources was that if they managed to stay in Spain for longer than 3 years as a TCN without being caught, then they automatically would be granted resident status.  NOW, I CANNOT attest to the veracity of this personally, obviously, all I can say is that the information came from someone I trust very much and who should know and has proved themselves very reliable previously....