[Closed] UK citizens in Europe/planning to stay/leave uk?

Another thing I found after Mrs Egf's recent long stay in Hospital (Harrogate District Hospital) & chatting to the many Indian staff (nearly all from Kerala) is that they seemed happy enough & weren't in fear of their jobs.

India's not in the EU though so maybe It's [s]your elephant[/s] irrelevant.

Not a uk citizen but I have lived and worked in the uk for 20 years .

Moved back to france in April last year with my british wife and children . Kids should be ok as their birh was registered at the french consulate and we have a Livret de famille .

At the moment not worried about my wife being deported but it might come up at some point . More worried about my uk state pension and what will happen .

Would like to add that we had decided to leave the uk before Brexit but glad we did .

I said to my wife on the 24th June 2016 "Sod this then, I'm leaving the UK"

I emigrated to Canada yesterday.

I emigrated to Canada yesterday.

If I'd had any sense I'd have done that when we 1st joined 'The Common Market'

& being an NHL fan.....

Doug - problem with many expats here in spain is that they came on a budget and sold up in the uk. They have nothing to return to, so if they have to return through lack of healthcare or residency where will they go? Ok to the uk but to live where?

I understand now the residency criteria has tightened, i m pretty sure i just applied for mine and got it, now you have to prove a min income and healthcare provision.

Amazingly i know expats who voted brexit and now complain about the exchange rate.

Moved away from the UK 10 years ago, moved back 2 years now. Not the place I left, seems a bit less happy.
Lucky to have 2 passports so might leave again soon.

Most of the working age will most likely stay outside of the UK if this thread is anything to go by; if they have kids in that country too, then I guess thats where they will stay ... but those without kids/family abroad will most likely move back to the UK when they get old and need health or social care. Thats what vast majority do nowadays anyways.

The risk I guess is if future UK governments bring in some legislation that prevents people who have not lived in the UK for 5 years or so from getting health or social care.

do other EU countries not have healthcare then?

I breaks my heart that this thread exists.
I hate this country.

I like UK in my own way not perfect but good enough. 😀

"Paradise" is what you make of it yourself.

Visited most EU cities before but as much as I like them, it would be rather difficult for me to live there without being able to speak or to write in their language.

IMO only few of the larger ones will be "easier" to find employment. The rest will be very competitive for new comers if you don't speak their language.

Personally go wherever makes you happy. I did.

I’ll retire to Europe somewhere in all likelihood, most probably France as my wife is French although she’s quite keen on Portugal at the moment (we have a few friends who have retired to Lisbon)

I have a UK passport and am confident I’ll need no citizenship test or new passport to move to Europe post April 2019

jambalaya - Member
I’ll retire to Europe somewhere in all likelihood, most probably France as my wife is French although she’s quite keen on Portugal at the moment (we have a few friends who have retired to Lisbon)

I have a UK passport and am confident I’ll need no citizenship test or new passport to move to Europe post April 2019

For me I will go where ever that makes me happy but at the moment it is just the UK, as not being well off means it is the same all over regardless. For example, I can be in the richest country in the world but if I am not well off it will be the same old shite all over again.

"Paradise" is what you make of it yourself.

Visited most EU cities before but as much as I like them, it would be rather difficult for me to live there without being able to speak or to write in their language

There must be some [url= http://bfy.tw/FMS7 ]magical solution[/url] to such a conundrum! 😉

My story is similar to many here. I left the UK twelve years ago, with eight years in Denmark then four years in Australia. Wife and daughter have Danish passports and between us we always considered that at some point we would move 'home' - with that loosely defined as Europe, probably UK or Denmark. Looking at the UK from afar, it seems less welcoming now - as does Denmark, which has also moved towards nationalism as part of a broad 'anti' movement. I'm not sure the UK would let my wife and daughter in, post-Brexit, and similarly I'm not sure Denmark would let me in.

What that means for us is that we're now looking at longer term living abroad, probably stay in Australia, maybe SE Asia. Likely going to sell property in London and Copenhagen as a result of this, which feels like cutting off the return route. Certainly not massively unhappy with that, but there is a regret that the 'rules' have changed re. Europe and I'm now on the losing side. And, not to brag (though this does sound like a dick comment but it's not intended to), me and many of my mates in a similar situation probably fall into the category of people the Brexiters like: degree-educated, professional and earning more than the prime minister. Seems like everyone loses out from my perspective - thanks my Mum for voting exit without thinking it through!

andytherocketeer - Member

do other EU countries not have healthcare then?

At the moment expats get healthcare free under EC rules. After brexit unless there is a deal they won't be and insurance will be unaffordable for many

Been out of the UK for 10 yrs now, for me and the missus there was always the assumption that it was ‘home’ and that we would move back. But with our kids really doing great in schools here, and the current situation has meant that seems a very unlikely outcome these days.

At least we can always have holidays in Aviemore 🙂

Been in France now 6 years started to seriously study french this year,domiciled here and pay tax when I am lucky enough to earn any money, my partner is french, Brexit has seriously affected my work in a negative way I dont want to leave, the stress of all this is horrible I wake in the night sometimes in a complete panic.

@doug healthcare has been “resolved” in the Brexit negotiations already - of course it can all fall apart at the last minute but remember that things like healthcare and right to remain can be decided on a country by country basis if needed. So if EU says “no” Spain can make its own rules. It’s obviously better to do it all at one UK/EU level (not least fir efficiency and also ability to reside permanently in any eu country rather than just one - btw eu only offered the latter initially) but its not needed.

Without wanting to make this an EU Mk2 thread regarding UK having somehow “changed”

Dutch nearly elected a far right leader and are so unhappy at EU they passed a law some time ago saying all new treaties / changes MUST be subject to a referendum
Le Pen made final Presidential run off and got 35% of the vote
Switzerland voted to end freedom of movement, not build any more Mosques and never to join the EU
Austria has a far right leader and a party in the ascendency
Germany has far right in Parliament and their number 1 election issue was Turkey
Numerous EU members simply refused to accept the refugee quota deal Junker tried to enforce
Poland is being sued by the EU

The eurosceptism in the UK re “superstate project” and concern over security, immigration and asylum seekers is widely shared

andytherocketeer - Member
do other EU countries not have healthcare then?

Yes ... but tad different. France is particularly interesting on funding social care costs; Germany I expect will soon need to revise their policies too ... they are potentially on a cliff edge with a very high portion of over 65’s ... if their economy was to dip - it could have a huge impact.

[url= http://https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/default/files/media/commission-background-paper-social-care-health-system-other-countries.pdf ]Health & social care comparison [/url]

I think i read that the uk healthcare recipical agreement costs c 3.5k gbp pa, so if expats have to pay this many cannot afford it as something like 80% rely on the state pension at c 8k pa. Numbers may be slightly out but that sort of magnitude. Its pretty much why the pensioners moved to spain, better quality of life at lower cost.

Also, as the state pension is so expensive to provide i really think the govt will freeze it for pensioners outside uk, like canada, aus etc now.

@doug healthcare has been “resolved” in the Brexit negotiations already - of course it can all fall apart at the last minute

Evidence? Cite?

jambalaya - Member - Block User
I’ll retire to Europe somewhere in all likelihood, most probably France as my wife is French although she’s quite keen on Portugal at the moment (we have a few friends who have retired to Lisbon)

I have a UK passport and am confident I’ll need no citizenship test or new passport to move to Europe post April 2019

Hang on...so you voted for the massively racist, retarded, benefit-the-1%-****-the-99% FUBAR situation that is Brexit, then you are just going to swan off to ANOTHER EU country to retire?

I'd quite like to get to the ROI not sure of the where and how. I have an Australian passport through my father but sadly Australia is the last place on the planet I'd want to go. Trapped!!

neilco - Member
What that means for us is that we're now looking at longer term living abroad, probably stay in Australia, maybe SE Asia.

perditus - Member
I'd quite like to get to the ROI not sure of the where and how. I have an Australian passport through my father but sadly Australia is the last place on the planet I'd want to go. Trapped!!

Why if I may ask?
Why is Australia the last place to go?
There are tonnes of Brits wanting to move there every year for various reasons. 🙂

I'd quite like to get to the ROI not sure of the where and how.

[img] https://flic.kr/p/DZUS1N [/img]Funny lived here since I was nine (28 years or so) , went through UK School Uni system, always worked. I’m Registered to vote etc, Wife is English so are Kids. But the more this goes on the more I’ve started to feel uncomfortable, lots of Anti Irish stuff being spouted now, Good old UKIP wishing Cromwell was still around as he knew how to deal with the Irish!!

I see it as just a symptom though the world seems to be going to shite at the moment!!

TJ David Davies evidence to Brexit Committee and statement to Parliament. There are 3m EU citizens in the UK and 1m of “us” “over there” - thus it’s a pretty easy thing for EU to agree recipricol rights IMO

As I said even if the EU makes no agreement it’s within the power of individual countries to grant rights

nothing has been agreed .

i think the UK proposal is ok .

I have to agree with Jambalaya. Most of the rest of Europe has very strong xenophobic or racist or islamophobic tendancies.

I am in Germany and when I read the Guardian talk as if the country is a liberal promised land, i cannot believe my eyes. The traditonal CDU voter is mildly xenophobic to say the least and then 12% vorted for the popular right AfD, so i would guess nearly half the population are at least mildly xenophobic. Even many liberals will privately moan about the Turks and Arabs. In Saxony, the AfD was the 2nd most popular party in the junior vote for under 18s this year. I often hear the opinion that the EU is basically rubbish, Greeks are lazy tax dodgers, Spaniards more or less the same, no-one seems to like the French, but the EU is worth staying in due to economic reasons. And I have often asked Germans if they would be willing to fight for other EU countries such as Greece or Lithuania, and none have ever said yes!

Funnily enough, I read a report from Poland which in part explained their swing to the right as coming from those who have returned from Britain with tales of multiculturalism which have scared the Poles into swinging to the right to save their identity.

But anyway, I think the only proper reason to settle for good in a country is perhaps that you really like it and the lifestyle....

I will stay in Germany, I like it here but to be honest, I think Brits are generally more welcoming to other cultures in general than the Germans, Brexit or no Brexit.

And I forgot to mention the more or less daily attacks by neo-Nazi idiots on refugee centers etc....

Wasn’t this thread supposed to be “non political” ?

Proves again some posters can’t understand the original requirements. 🙄

Living in the south of Germany on the German/Swiss border, my german is improving all the time and having lived in the UK all my life, there is absolutely no way I would return to live. Getting married to a native german in March so all being well i'm hoping Brexit wont effect us too much (fingers crossed!)

I just prefer the lifestyle over here.

Jamba - thats davies being wishful. Not an agreement. He still wants to register every EU citizen and that is unnacceptable

He still wants to register every EU citizen and that is unnacceptable

Why is it unacceptable?

Everyone in the UK is "registered", when they are born and when you die.

Why should EU citizens be different?

Its unacceptable to the EU to treat its citizens differently from UK ones. Its actually against EU law I believe

Its unacceptable to the EU to treat its citizens differently from UK ones

What is the different treatment?

I've been in the Vaterland for nigh on ten years and settled in Munich for seven. Prior to that I was flitting about between Munich, Austria and Italy, basically the alps working as a bike guide.

I speak fluent [s]German[/s] Bavaria. People in northern Germany assume I'm Bavarian 🙄

I going to get my driving ban sorted, apply for citizenship and then move on.

I feel as though I've stagnated. Nothing new or exciting happens much (other than being stopped by the Polizei). I've experienced more or less everything I want to experience here.

I wouldn't want to live elsewhere in Germany other than Bavaria. I can't realistically afford any property around here. Rents (and property prices) in and around Munich are on par with London.

I find living costs, our rather the fixed living costs are high and that I'm running in a hamster wheel just to keep my head above water.

I'm tired of being moaned or shouted at by walkers or the Wirt (landlord of the mountain hut) for riding my bike.
I'm fed up with being tutted at because I have crossed the road against the red man.

Despite having been in Schermany for so long I find aspects of the culture hard to deal with. Few people say thanks when you hold a door for them or when you pull in to let them pass on a tight road.
There's next to no small talk other than with people you know.
I find London a friendlier place to be.

Taxes are high. Even my accountant says I shouldn't earn so much as I've not got enough out going costs. As such I've had a few eye watering tax bills for a relatively tame turn over of 45k.

It's not all bad, I've got some great friends, have had some great experiences and live in a safe and clean environment.

However, there is a certain mentality here that grates with me.

I want a more relaxed lifestyle and believe it is difficult to find here.

. I start to learn and then never have need to use it.

I intend to stay but I could really do without this **** fest and the worry it is causing

Does that mean you spend your free time hanging around with expats...?

Join a club and socialise with the natives.
I used to go ride with a group twice a week and then got a job where no one spoke English. Was the best thing.

Jetzt ko i deitsch und baorisch redn, gar koan problem.

At the moment expats get healthcare free under EC rules.

Nope. Not after six months and not if you're working. I pay a darn sight more for my Krankenkasse (lit. sick bank) than I would be paying in the UK. On top of my monthly payments I've got an excess of 1000€ and none of that money goes towards a pension or unemployment benefit like National Insurance payments do.

OP... Where in the Vaterland are you?

The traditonal CDU voter is mildly xenophobic to say the least and then 12% vorted for the popular right AfD, so i would guess nearly half the population are at least mildly xenophobic

Yup, this too... There is a certain #everydayrascism culture.

The GF is half Persian. He dad is from Iran and he often hears comments despite being here since 1975.

Have met a few POC (ninfan©) who have said that life in Germany is one compared to the UK or France.

gobuchul - Member

Its unacceptable to the EU to treat its citizens differently from UK ones

What is the different treatment?

Forcing EU citizens to have some for of registration card when UK citizens don't have one

But only they don't.

Which EU citizens are forced to "register" in the UK?

Besides, isn't it compulsory in a lot of EU countries for all of their citizens to carry ID cards? France for example? So if you want to apply for residency and live, work, pay tax, access all the health care etc. Surely you would also need to have an ID card? And if you have an ID card, you must appear on a register and are therefore "registered"?

Those are above are genuine questions, I have no idea what the detailed requirements are.

Seems there is no requirement for EU citizens in the UK to register yet. However[url= https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/politics/2017/oct/17/britain-to-accept-eu-nationals-by-default-says-amber-rudd ]It's coming soon according to The Guardian[/url]
I am uncomfortable with one group of people being singled out for registration.

Forcing EU citizens to have some for of registration card when UK citizens don't have one

Not sure that's against EU law TBH - if you live in Spain you have to get residency papers, while Spanish citizens are exempt. You also have to get private health insurance if you're not working and paying social security... So differential treatment isn't [i]completely [/i]forbidden.

And what will UK citizens have to do as third country citizens?

Seems there is no requirement for EU citizens in the UK to register yet. HoweverIt's coming soon according to The Guardian
I am uncomfortable with one group of people being singled out for registration

I have to register as living/being resident in Germany, but do not have to carry ID as I'm not a German citizen.

To answer the original question, my sister has lived in Germany for a few years and is applying for Irish citizenship (my maternal grandparents were Irish) to allow her to live and work in the EU hassle-free.

I'm going to apply for it too, once she's finished with all the documents, just, well, cos.

I have to register as living/being resident in Germany,

TJ - Do you think that's unacceptable and illegal?