British Expats Leave Spain in Droves
According to ‘The Standard’, ‘The Express’ and ‘The Mirror’, British expats are leaving Spain in droves.
‘Edinburgh Live’ went one step further, saying homesick Brits are fuming, with pensioners saying they have no choice but to move, due to more stringent immigration rules were enforced after the UK left the European Union.
Brexit has caused a lot of Brits to sell up and move home. Many are moving for the National Health Service in the UK and to be closer to family & friends as retirees get older.
The statistics are backed up by Knight Frank who claim that:
39% of expats bought a property [in the UK] during the pandemic.”
The pandemic sparked a surge in purchases by expatriates looking to acquire a base back home.
The survey results confirm that the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, the United Kingdom and the Philippines were the key locations our expatriate respondents were based prior to the pandemic.
The Weakened Pound
Another reason Brits are returning home is the weakened pound. The GBP does not buy as many EUR as 10 years ago.
Look at the chart below where 1 GBP = 1.44 has fallen to 1.19 EUR due to Brexit and other considerations.
Any Brit who bought a home in Spain in 2015 and sold in 2021 has made a 17% profit on the exchange rate, but likely wouldn’t have made much on the property increase.
British Expats in Spain ‘Not Happy’
British expats in Spain have warned ‘we are being screwed over’ as they abandon the Costa del Sol due to Brexit.
Robert Barnhardt, a property expert who runs an estate agency in the seaside town of Fuengirola, told The Express that many retired people are now starting to sell their properties.
Due to Brexit, UK citizens can only visit Spain without a visa for up to three months for tourism and businesses purposes.
However, from 2022 British nationals will need a visa waiver to enter Spain, according to rules outlined on the Spanish government website.
The new rules will mean that Brits can still visit the country without a visa but will need to hold a valid ETIAS visa waiver before arriving.
Mr Barnhardt said that many pensioners used to spend up to six months in Spain to enjoy the warm weather before Brexit, but due to the new rules, this is no longer possible.
He explained: “A lot of retired British people are starting to sell up. They used to come down here in September or October and then stay until April/May for the six months of better weather.
The Covid-19 pandemic had added to the situation with Brits visiting Spain worried about their health costs being covered.
Do I still need an EHIC card after Brexit?Is my EHIC still valid after Brexit?
Yes, you can still use a UK-issued EHIC after Brexit. So if you already have an EHIC and you’re going on a temporary visit to an EU country, perhaps for a holiday, to study or for work, you can use it to access state healthcare until it expires.
However, the long term outlook is unknown.
You can read more about the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) and the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) here.
A UK GHIC and a new UK EHIC are free of charge.
Covid-19 and Quarantine
The costs of quarantine hotels are not covered by the EHIC or GHIC, as the UK considers these hotels to be a public health measure, not medically necessary state-provided healthcare.
If you need medical treatment while staying at a quarantine hotel, the UK Government will fund treatment as usual for UK residents or insured individuals. Use your EHIC or GHIC card, or contact the NHS Business Services Authority to receive a Provisional Replacement Certificate if you do not have a valid card.
EHIC has only ever covered emergency and necessary healthcare costs, so it is always recommended that you take out comprehensive travel insurance, including health cover, when you travel abroad.
Click here to get a global health insurance quote.
Where Can I Use a GHIC or EHIC?
You can use a UK GHIC or existing EHIC while visiting:
- an EU country
- Switzerland (only UK nationals, Swiss nationals and EU citizens)
A UK GHIC may become valid in more countries in the future.
Where am I covered by the EHIC?
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lichtenstein Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Expats who move abroad are only covered for emergencies by the EHIC or GHIC.
You need expat health insurance to cover cancer & other critical illnesses whilst abroad.