Brit Expats In Spain Urged To Register For Residency To Protect Their Rights

British expats in Spain are being urged to ensure they’re legally registered by the end of this year.

A message from the British Embassy has been sent to all UK expats living, retiring or working in the popular destination as a reminder that only the civil rights of registered residents will be guaranteed after the end of this year.

Registered Britons will be able to continue living and working in Spain, and British retirees on state pensions will be allowed access to Spanish healthcare. In addition, the UK state pension paid to registered expats will increase annually vi the ‘tripe lock’ mechanism. One issue as regards registration has been that many government offices in cities and larger towns are not yet open for registration due to the coronavirus crisis.

Those in regions now operating under phases two and three should be opening their doors and offering a limited number of expat appointments, with full details available on the government’s Public Administration portal. According to the embassy, Brits who’ve applied for registration but haven’t yet received their documentation will still have their rights protected from the beginning of 2021.

The embassy is also reminding British expatriates that driving licenses exchanged before year end won’t require a new driving test, adding appointments should be made as soon as possible. Given the total confusion and panic previously endured by British expats in Spain due to a shocking lack of solid government-backed information as to their post-Brexit rights, the Embassy’s notice is being welcomed by the countrywide community in the hope that no more changes will now be made.