Tags: residency-and-healthcare-after-Brexit
Posted on January 23, 2020

Information from UK Government website 23/01/2020:
If you are resident in Spain before the implementation period ends on 31 December 2020, you will be able to stay.
If you arrive in Spain before the end of the implementation period, you will be able to register as resident in Spain under the current rules, and will have your right to residence in Spain protected for as long as you remain resident.

Healthcare after Brexit:
There will be no changes to your healthcare access before 31 December 2020. You can also continue to use your EHIC, as you did before, during this time. If you are living in Spain or move there permanently before 31 December 2020, you’ll have life-long healthcare rights in Spain as you do now, provided you remain resident.

A message from British Consul Sarah-Jane Morris to UK nationals in Spain: The Withdrawal Agreement which sets out how the UK leaves the EU has now passed into UK law, which, once the European Parliament has ratified it this week, means that the UK is leaving the EU with a deal on 31st of January. This is very positive news for UK nationals who are resident in Spain, as the Withdrawal Agreement contains some really important protections for your rights:
You will be able to continue to live and work in Spain UK state pensioners will continue to have lifelong healthcare as long as they remain living in Spain.
This also applies to residents who claim a UK state pension in the future Your UK state pension will continue to be updated
You will be able to exchange your driving licence until the end of 2020 without taking a driving test and your Spanish licence will be accepted in the UK when you visit
Those rights will be protected for as long as you live in Spain, provided you are legally resident here by the end of 2020.

The Withdrawal Agreement also provides a Transition Period (from 31st of January until 31st of December) during which time nothing will change for UK Nationals in Spain. Sarah-Jane Morris said: “The approval of the Withdrawal Agreement is a very important step for UK nationals living here. It provides reassurance on key rights, such as being able to continue to live and work here, and for pensioners to have lifelong healthcare and uprated pensions.
Alongside those rights, you have obligations – the main one being to make sure you are registered with a green residency certificate.