fbpx
Log in

Login to your account

Username *
Password *
Remember Me

Create an account

Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.
Name *
Username *
Password *
Verify password *
Email *
Verify email *
Captcha *

British Ambassador Kirsty Hayes writes to British nationals resident in Portugal

BritishAmbassador2Since the Referendum, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of you across the country, from the Algarve to Porto, Funchal to Caldas da Rainha.  I understand your concerns for the future including your residency status in Portugal, your UK pensions, access to health and other social services, and how you can acquire dual nationality.  At our meetings, on our social media and in interviews, I have pledged to keep you up to date as negotiations on our exit from the European Union continue.

On Monday 26 June, the Prime Minister outlined to Parliament an offer to protect the rights of EU nationals in the UK.  It is her firm expectation the EU will offer reciprocal treatment for British nationals resident in its Member States. Our firm priority is to secure a deal that puts people first, provides certainty and assures peace of mind.

Many of you will have seen the press reports.  I hope you will also read the detailed proposals set out in “Safeguarding the position of EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU” (https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/brexit) and sign-up for email alerts to receive updates.

The first key element is residence status.  Until the UK’s Exit, EU citizens in the UK will continue to enjoy all the rights they have under EU law.  As I have said before, the same will apply to you, British residents in Portugal.

The second key element is healthcare, pensions, education and access to benefits.   It is the UK’s intention to treat EU citizens with settled status in the same way as if they were UK citizens for the purposes of education, benefits and pensions.  For you, the UK will continue to export and uprate the UK State Pension and provide associated healthcare cover within the EU. We will also continue to protect the export of other benefits, and associated healthcare cover.

Subject to negotiations, we want to continue participating in the European Health Insurance Card scheme meaning EHIC holders continue to benefit from free, or reduced-cost, needs-arising healthcare while on a temporary stay in the EU — and vice versa for EU EHIC holders visiting the UK.

Some of you have children who wish to study in the UK.  The offer announced on Monday 26 June states qualifying EU citizens who arrived in the UK before the specified date will continue to be eligible for Higher Education and Further Education student loans and ‘home fee’ status.  And we intend to continue to recognise professional qualifications obtained in the EU27 prior to the UK's withdrawal from the EU, and vice versa.

We now await the EU’s formal response to our proposals.  There will be a period of negotiation before we reach a final agreement.

I will continue to engage with you, including during town hall meetings in the autumn.  In the meantime, please follow me on Twitter (@KirstyHayesFCO) and access the Embassy’s social media (@UKinPortugal on Twitter; British Embassy Lisbon and Brits in Portugal on Facebook).

Kirsty Hayes

British Ambassador to Portugal

 

http://www.vale-da-telha.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/image001.jpg

Pin It

Comments  

0 #8 AL 2017-07-03 09:52
Brexit sigh!!!
Talking about the UK leaving the EU as if it is really going to happen.
1. UK defence force integrating with EU defence force at speed of light despite Brexit vote.
2. 700 new EU laws adopted in UK since Brexit vote, another 1200 on the way.
3. Referendum result was not ratified by a government Bill
4. Parliament did not make the constitutional decision to leave the EU
5. Theresa May's triggering of Article 50 was “an illusion” with no legal basis

There are many other examples why the current UK government is lying and never had any intention of leaving the EU. Please stop reading government propaganda from the likes of BBC, ITV and the publicly owned Channel 4 and get your information from independent journalists.
+1 #7 AL 2017-07-03 09:32
Quoting Kevin Evans:
Quoting Two.sugars.in.my.tea:
Residents may want to seriously research what happened to the ex-pats who stayed on in Rhodesia after independence - a telling guide to what's likely to happen after Brexit...... YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED



What an inane comment !
Trying to instil fear into people by equating the reactions to Brexit by the democratically governed European countries that constitute the E.U., with what happened after the granting of independence to just one African country controlled by a despot racist dictator and his gangster mobs is beyond stupid.


You beat me to it.
+3 #6 Kevin Evans 2017-07-02 10:57
Quoting Two.sugars.in.my.tea:
Residents may want to seriously research what happened to the ex-pats who stayed on in Rhodesia after independence - a telling guide to what's likely to happen after Brexit...... YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED



What an inane comment !
Trying to instil fear into people by equating the reactions to Brexit by the democratically governed European countries that constitute the E.U., with what happened after the granting of independence to just one African country controlled by a despot racist dictator and his gangster mobs is beyond stupid.
+2 #5 Sue F 2017-07-02 09:22
From my understanding, the UK is the only country in the OECD, therefore the only country in the EU, that freezes the pensions of their expats, so there can't be a reciprocal deal on this as far as I can fathom. Secondly, it would be an easy right to for the EU to reciprocate because few EU migrants retire to the UK. Health is an entirely different issue though. Below is the link to the government document.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/621848/60093_Cm9464_NSS_SDR_Web.pdf
-2 #4 Two.sugars.in.my.tea 2017-07-02 08:50
Residents may want to seriously research what happened to the ex-pats who stayed on in Rhodesia after independence - a telling guide to what's likely to happen after Brexit...... YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
0 #3 Chris Wallen 2017-07-02 07:00
I attended Ms Hayes' meeting held in São Brás last summer in the first weeks after the referendum. At one point she told the audience 'we are not encouraged to speculate'. However, much of of what she said was speculative. It appears that she is merely being consistent although by adding that this is only the government's 'intention' she has left herself a certain amount of wriggle room.
0 #2 Peter Booker 2017-06-30 08:52
One way in which HM government saves pennies is by refusing to enhance state pensions in line with inflation for those pensioners who live outside Europe. It seems, from the following statement, that pensions paid in the EU will continue to be adjusted in line with inflation. But the negotiations have only just begun, so how can Ms Hayes issue such a categorical assurance?

"For you, the UK will continue to export and uprate the UK State Pension and provide associated healthcare cover within the EU. We will also continue to protect the export of other benefits, and associated healthcare cover."
+2 #1 dw 2017-06-29 23:50
"...the Prime Minister outlined to Parliament an offer to protect the rights of EU nationals in the UK. It is her firm expectation the EU will offer reciprocal treatment for British nationals resident in its Member States. Our firm priority is to secure a deal that puts people first, provides certainty and assures peace of mind."

So why was Theresa May's offer so much weaker than the EU's offer of full rights?

You must be a registered user to make comments.
Please register here to post your comments.

Cerro Novo Property Sales and Management
All Finance Matters
Carvoeiro Villa Holidays Property Management
Medal Insurance
Rural Properties Portugal
Beverywhere.com
To-go-for Homes
SeaToSky Homes