UK nationals living in Spain: your healthcare access after Brexit

34 comments on “UK nationals living in Spain: your healthcare access after Brexit”

1. Will a minimum income be applied when a permanent resident changes the green certificate for the new paperwork and if so at what rate. Many workers and pensioners will not earn the 4x amount required for non EU residents.
   Thank you.

2. I work in Spain and I get medical care my husband gets his medical on the back of me because I pay taxes. Can you tell me if this will continue if there is no deal with brexit

3. My concern is the pensioners who are resident in spain after 2020 if they don’t sort things out some can not get insurance for medical and all so can not pay into the system because there pension won’t cover the cost to live and pay for treatment . It is then said well they can go back and become a resident in the uk to get health care they can’t afford to go back and why should they so the uk just abandons its own people this needs to be a priority not wait and see what happens

4. We have lived in Spain for over 10 years. Will we have to renew our Spanish Residencia?

   1. As long as you have the green A4 or credit card-sized piece of paper there is no need to take any action now. After Brexit all UK nationals will need to exchange their certificate for a new card.

5. Never doubted it.

6. I asked a policeman ( Spanish ) do I need to change my driving licence immediately as my British one has 2 years left on it, he said no you can drive in it for up to 2 years I am resident, but that’s the only thing I haven’t done yet, your comments would be appreciated Thank You

   1. If you are resident in Spain, you should exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one. You can still use your Spanish licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK. If there’s no deal, the Spanish government has said you will have 9 months from the day the UK leaves the EU to exchange your UK licence for a Spanish one. Your UK licence will be recognised in this 9 month period. For more on driving in Spain visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain#driving-in-spain.

7. What about health provision under S1 for pensioners?

   1. If there is a deal and you are resident in Spain, your current rights on access to healthcare in Spain will remain the same as long as you remain a resident in Spain. If there’s no deal, the Spanish Royal Decree states that if you are registered in Spain as a resident, you will be able to continue to access healthcare. This will apply until at least the end of 2020, provided the UK makes the same arrangements for Spanish nationals in the UK. Read the Spanish government’s guidance on access to Spanish healthcare and Brexit. While no formal, written agreement exists at the moment between UK and Spain to confirm this, it is clear both sides are working to the same end goal. If an agreement is reached the government will use this period to explore longer term options with the EU and/or the Spanish government including the funding of healthcare for pensioners, other S1 holders and EHICs. Should UK nationals face changes in their circumstance and wish to return to the UK, they will be entitled to NHS services as soon as they take up ordinary residence in the UK.

8. Is the guarantee of healthcare to the end of 2020 on condition of there being a deal on leaving the EU and on condition of reciprocation by the UK of rights of EU citizens living in the UK?

   1. The Spanish Government has taken steps to protect UK Nationals’ access to healthcare in a no deal Brexit. The Spanish Royal Decree states that if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, those who are registered in Spain with an S1 form will be able to continue to access healthcare as they do now for a transitional period, provided the UK makes provisions for Spanish nationals in the UK. This would apply until at least 31 December 2020. You can find more information about the Royal Decree from the Spanish Government website.

9. This should not be necessary. I think that Britains government should revoke article 50 . The amount of money spent on Brexit is unforgivable and we are all in a state of uncertainty. The way EU nationals are being treated in UK is horrific and the recent move to block parliament is the last straw. Stop it now

10. Thank you for your clear advice which we appreciate

11. I have a Spanish residents card which i have had for 13 years, do I have to apply for another?

    1. As long as your residency certificate is the green A4 or credit card-sized piece of paper there is no need to change it before Brexit. After the UK leaves the EU, all UK nationals will need to exchange their current residency certificate for a new card, but this option is not currently available.

12. If you are are on the padron and have residencia and are fully legal I can’t see any problem.

13. Don’t panic!!!

14. Thank you, however, most pensioners who are residents and legal are worried for after December 2020. Including my husband and myself.
    We both have cancer so private health care won’t help us.
    Yikes

    1. We know that healthcare is the most important issue for UK nationals in Spain. If there’s no deal, the Spanish Royal Decree states that if you are registered in Spain as a resident, you will be able to continue to access healthcare. This will apply until at least the end of 2020, provided the UK makes the same arrangements for Spanish nationals in the UK. Read the Spanish government’s guidance on access to Spanish healthcare and Brexit. While no formal, written agreement exists at the moment between UK and Spain to confirm the reciprocal arrangements until the end of 2020, it is clear both sides are working to the same end goal. If an agreement is reached the government will use this period to explore longer term options with the EU and/or the Spanish government including the funding of healthcare for pensioners, other S1 holders and EHICs. Should UK nationals face changes in their circumstance and wish to return to the UK, they will be entitled to NHS services as soon as they take up ordinary residence in the UK. You should also be aware that paying into the Convenio Especial would be an option for you if your healthcare was not covered in any other way. This is available for those with pre-existing conditions.

15. What about holidays can we stay more than 30days in one visit ?

    1. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the rules around travel will change. UK nationals will be able to spend up to 90 days in another EU, EEA or EFTA country within any 180-day period. For more information see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-spain#passports-and-travel

16. It’s absolutely impossible to get an appointment to exchange your driving licence either by phone or using the website. My husband has already been fined for not having a Spanish driving licence within six months of getting his residency permit, and he still can’t get an appointment.

    1. We are aware that there are difficulties in getting appointments to exchange your driving licence in some areas. Be aware that you don’t need to exchange your licence in the place where you are resident, so you may find it easier to get an appointment elsewhere. The Spanish Government has given a grace period of 9 months during which UK licences will still be recognised after Brexit.

17. What about healthcare after Dec 2020? A lot of us hope to live longer than that.

    1. We know that healthcare is the most important issue for UK nationals in Spain. If there’s no deal, the Spanish Royal Decree states that if you are registered in Spain as a resident, you will be able to continue to access healthcare. This will apply until at least the end of 2020, provided the UK makes the same arrangements for Spanish nationals in the UK. Read the Spanish government’s guidance on access to Spanish healthcare and Brexit. While no formal, written agreement exists at the moment between UK and Spain to confirm the reciprocal arrangements until the end of 2020, it is clear both sides are working to the same end goal. If an agreement is reached the government will use this period to explore longer term options with the EU and/or the Spanish government including the funding of healthcare for pensioners, other S1 holders and EHICs. Should UK nationals face changes in their circumstance and wish to return to the UK, they will be entitled to NHS services as soon as they take up ordinary residence in the UK.

18. Thank you so much for your continued efforts to help the situation here in Spain but I would just like to say our concern is post 31st December 2020 and not the forthcoming year. I think UK people living in Spain are looking at the security of our long term future, not the short term picture. A lot of people here have made their homes in Spain and their lives are now here, which doesn’t mean we want to relinquish our UK citizenship. Any possible reassurance the UK government can give us would be welcome as I am sure the UK doesn’t want an influx of UK people returning from abroad just because the issues on long term medical treatment and people’s pensions have not been addressed.

    1. We know that healthcare is the most important issue for UK nationals in Spain. If there’s no deal, the Spanish Royal Decree states that if you are registered in Spain as a resident, you will be able to continue to access healthcare. This will apply until at least the end of 2020, provided the UK makes the same arrangements for Spanish nationals in the UK. Read the Spanish government’s guidance on access to Spanish healthcare and Brexit. While no formal, written agreement exists at the moment between UK and Spain to confirm the reciprocal arrangements until the end of 2020, it is clear both sides are working to the same end goal. If an agreement is reached the government will use this period to explore longer term options with the EU and/or the Spanish government including the funding of healthcare for pensioners, other S1 holders and EHICs. Should UK nationals face changes in their circumstance and wish to return to the UK, they will be entitled to NHS services as soon as they take up ordinary residence in the UK.

19. In June 2020 we will have lived in Spain for 15 years. Unless the 15 year rule is abolished we will be disenfranchised. As my main pension is an Armed Forces one for 39 years service, I am obliged to pay tax on it to HMRC. This is contrary to my basic human rights. I should have the option to pay tax on it to the Spanish government (in addition to the renta I already pay) as an offset to continue to receive Spanish health care.

20. Fantastic news. I was afraid that as we only became resident in November 2017 and therefore not ‘permanent’, we might not be included. I believe the only thing we need to do is change our green residency card for a TIE card in no deal. Thanks so much for this

21. Hi
    I’m travelling from Spain to the UK for Christmas leaving Spain on 18 December and returning on 29th.
    Will my current passport be valid? It doesn’t expire till 2025.
    Many thanks.

    1. Your passport will be fine for travel this Christmas. The reason we are urging people to check their passports is because if there’s a no-deal Brexit, you must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

22. It would be nice to know what happens about health care after Dec 2020?

    1. We know that healthcare is the most important issue for UK nationals in Spain. If there’s no deal, the Spanish Royal Decree states that if you are registered in Spain as a resident, you will be able to continue to access healthcare. This will apply until at least the end of 2020, provided the UK makes the same arrangements for Spanish nationals in the UK. Read the Spanish government’s guidance on access to Spanish healthcare and Brexit. While no formal, written agreement exists at the moment between UK and Spain to confirm the reciprocal arrangements until the end of 2020, it is clear both sides are working to the same end goal. If an agreement is reached the government will use this period to explore longer term options with the EU and/or the Spanish government including the funding of healthcare for pensioners, other S1 holders and EHICs. Should UK nationals face changes in their circumstance and wish to return to the UK, they will be entitled to NHS services as soon as they take up ordinary residence in the UK.

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