Post-Transition income requirements for Expats (immigrants) from Britain - Page 2

<sigh>

Astonished - that some do still think this. When the income from Brit pensions and tourism amounts to less than 0.5% of Spain’s GDP there is no logical basis for the belief that Spain will defy the EU and treat British pensioners/citizens as ‘special’.

There will be no ‘special Visa’ for Brits. Leave did actually mean Leave ...

Chris

Is it definitely pounds and not euros for the 30k?

Why would you want a Special deal? UK voted to be Non EU knowing the rules that come with it.

I am in no way an expert in the Brexit process and have not had much to do with it. HOWEVER, my mum is a widow who lives in Spain and has been completely fretting over the situation and what she should/shouldn't do with regards applying for residency etc. and how it will affect her UK status.  She unfortunately made the mistake of reading information from "none formal" sources and listening to the opinions of those around her (many of whom are in different situations). This created panic and upset.  

I note that this post started with a link to an Expat Magazine and whilst I would never comment on the accuracy of such an article as I have no idea, I would urge everyone concerned over Brexit and how it affects them to look at officicial sources of information. This is exactly what I did for my mum and she discovered that one of her biggest fears around healthcare was easily remedied. 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain

I found this to be very useful reading and easy to follow. It also gives links to the official Spanish websites and other sources of information. You can even sign up for updates.

Bottom line for me is that nobody truly seems to know exactly what is going to happen after December. 

OK. Let’s look at those points, all fair points of view. 

1.“my mum is a widow who lives in Spain ... fretting over what she should/shouldn't do with regards applying for residency etc. and how it will affect her UK status.”

If she has been here more than 90 days she needs to obtain residencia pronto. The U.K. govt site you mention has been saying this for months. She will always be a UK citizen. Securing her legal residency status makes no difference to her citizen position.

2. “this post started with a link to an Expat Magazine and whilst I would never comment on the accuracy of such an article as I have no idea, I would urge everyone concerned over Brexit and how it affects them to look at official sources of information”

True. Official sources are always the best. They are advising that the Transition period is likely to end 31.12.20. The Spanish Moncloa govt site says the same. It will not be the same after Transition ends, that’s axiomatic. But the expats site is also a reputable one. That’s just my own opinion, naturally.

3. “my mum discovered that one of her biggest fears around healthcare was easily remedied”. 

That’s good. If she is a UK state pensioner then her healthcare cover in Spain will be met through the reciprocal U.K.-Spain agreement. But she will also need residencia.

4. “https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain

I found this to be very useful reading and easy to follow.”

Indeed. I have posted links to this same site and url in other posts on the Costa Almeria forum. And the CAB (Spain) site is also reputable. 

5. “nobody truly seems to know exactly what is going to happen after December.”

True - no-one is a fortune teller but everyone does know what the residency application rules are in Spain and how they apply to citizens of third countries. 

The U.K. is now a third (non EU) country. Rules for us will not remain the same as before we left the EU.

So it’s not really a case of ‘no-one knows yet’. We do have clarity. We know that in due course all of us with residencia will obtain a TIE identity card. We don’t as yet know when during this year these will start to be issued. Spain is currently discussing the mechanics within the EU, as are all the other EU countries.

Chris

I wasn't asking for your advice but thank you anyway, I appreciate the points you make.

After reading the .gov website we already know what my mum has to do. I think the big point you missed is that there are probably a number of people, often the older generation, who are understandably a little scared about such a commitment.  My mum was panicking more because she doesn't have my dad with her to help make these big decisions.

I was hoping that people on here in a similar position might take some reassurance from what I said and the link I posted. 

I think in all fairness, the point Chrisso was trying to make, the BIG takeaway, is that Residencia is not optional; to be blunt, you have two choices - apply for Residencia and stay longer than 90 days, or don’t and be restricted to 90 days in any 180 day period.

That is really THE main consideration if you wish to live here.  Once that decision is made, the administration of that decision is what you then face.

There are many who may be worried of course, many who are confused by the often conflicting “advice” that can be found posted or heard from a friend down at the bar / cafe / chiringuito .... but really, as I say, the primary, overriding decision is “do I want to reside in Spain or don’t I?”

If you DO ... then Residencia must be obtained.  Without resorting to advice on how to go about it, that really is the main question that must first be answered.

A valuable and impeccable source of information is the Spanish government website, lamoncloa.gob.es - that has up-to-date information on what is required to reside in Spain and is often ahead, and less confusing than gov.uk

Chris

Thanks for your comments and the link. I am still a little confused however and wonder if you could clarify. 

Your post says income yet the article says you have to prove the amount in foreign legal currency. That suggests that you have to have that money in the bank (or wherever) which isn't as onerous as having that amount as income.

Are you able to further advise please.

Many thanks 

Chris 

The format of the income requirement is on the residencia application form. 

The exact amount and the mechanism by which a third country immigrant has to demonstrate this depends on different Extranjeros offices across Spain. In Almeria in 2018 they wanted to know our income, not bank statements or annual bank deposits. But apparently others going to the Almeria office were asked for bank statements. So it’s not just a matter of variation between regions, it’s differential practice within a single office... But it is euros rather than U.K. currency albeit the conversion is easily calculated. 

In 2018 the Almeria Extranjeros Office required tax certification of our annual income, i.e. a P60 for occupational pension, and a pension statement letter from the DWP, etc.

I had to also provide translations which had to be via an officially authorised translator. Hence I used the services of a local gestor.

Chris

When we went for Residencia in Almeria they were not interested that we owned our own property and never asked for savings, they just needed proof that we had a income, and everything must be officially translated into Spanish.