Portuguese PM Reassures Brit Expats Over Rights To Remain

The Portuguese Prime Minister has unveiled a plan to safeguard the post-Brexit rights of UK expatriates living in the country.

As part of a plan to mitigate negative Brexit effects, the Portuguese PM has included a guarantee that British expats living in the popular retirement destination will be able to retain their residential and other rights. Between 40,000 and 50,000 expatriate Brits are believed to be living in Portugal, although just 23,000 have registered with their local authorities.

Along with residential rights, Brits will be able to access state healthcare and will have their professional academic qualifications recognised in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Portugal’s Minister for the Economy Pedro Siza Viera reassured the media that lawmakers are well prepared to protect the rights of British expats on a unilateral basis. Right now, he said, the Portuguese government has no idea what it is the UK wants, so it’s up to the country to protect its British residents.

At the same time, Austrian authorities are reassuring the British expatriate community they will be allowed to stay and their rights will be protected. UK expats living and working in the country took to Twitter after the news broke, thanking the government for its invaluable reassurance to all those wishing to work, study and live in Austria in spite of Brexit. As with the rest of Europe, registration is important, with those who haven’t yet taken the step urged to do so in the very near future.