Just asked Ams. Roger, but I think it's worth a general airing since a goodly percentage of posters are ex-pats. During the Brexit hoo ha there was lots of views and opinions given out about a multitude of things. Not just here but in all the vatious media channels. Some professed to want to stop the current free labour market and even to send all EU workers packing and therefor have more jobs for the locals. However where would this leave the Ex-pats living in the EU, especially the retirees and pensioners making their pensions go further in sunnier climes. If this was to happen where would the ex-pats here in Not606 stand ?
If it happened, then I suppose they'd come back to the UK. They'd have too. I can't see this happening at all, the EU and ourselves, all seem to be singing off the same hymn sheet when it comes to this and that everybody will be able to stay in their country of residence.
All the expats in Spain do is import cash, in the form of pensions. You think the Spanish are chucking them out?
My lad has a static home in France where he spends half a year but he site management are changing the rules on ground rent etc. They now want six months in advance and thence monthly payments immediately after. He is debating about pulling out for other reasons as once we are out he will lose entitlement to public services, especially medical.
I have dual citizenship, which grants me EU and British citizenship. So living and working based in Europe is ok. I'm more concerned what would happen if we had to move back to blighty, as my wife and Kid have Finnish passports. The pension thing could go tits up though, that does worry me and needs sorting out. I paid into UK oensions for half my working life, the other half in Europe.
Like 83 I can't see it happening, but who knows ten years down the line with an even worse economic crisis and yet more "it's all the fault of immigrants", so I've tried to protect myself as best I can. One of my grandparents was Irish, so I'm entitled to an Irish passport, and it's been applied for. My son is 17, and as soon as he was born I got a British passport for him (and his mother got him an Italian one) so he's covered.
I will probably have to get a French passport. Living and working in France was not a big issue before free movement came into play, just more paperwork (and the French love paper). So I can't see things being any worse than that, and probably better. But I work in Switzerland while living in France, and that agreement is an EU-Swiss affair. Once Brexit bites, I become just another foreign worker. Before free movement in the EU and the EU-Swiss arrangement, it was possible to work cross border but much more complicated and not certain to be granted for those not being French or German nationals. So easier to avoid the problem and remain a citizen of the EU, and France allows dual nationality. Germany does not normally allow dual nationality, so could be a bigger issue for anyone in that situation. It's also worse for those Brits living and working in Switzerland. EU residents can get 5 year permits, non-EU need to renew every year. I am sure it will all get worked out, just how long it will take, more complication and more chance for administrative screw ups!
