Posted: Fri Mar 6, 2020 3:42pm
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