My name's Alex and this is my website all about Albatera in Spain. Register now for free to talk about Brexit and the EU: living, holidaying and moving to Albatera and much more!
Withdrawal Agreement
I'm sure we've all heard of it and have a fair idea of what it means. I considered myself pretty well up on it but having read it, or rather a plain English 'translation' with the verbose and confusing legal jargon stripped out, I've fleshed up on a few things I already knew and learnt at least one thing I didn't.
For instance:
Once you have acquired permanent residence, you can be away from your host country for 5 years - an increase on the 2 years permitted for EU citizens - and still retain the right to return and keep your rights of permanent residence.
If you do not have your 5 years in yet:
While you are building up your years to 5, you can be away from your host country for no more than 6 months every year without losing your resident status. You’re allowed one longer absence of up to 12 months in the 5 year period for ‘important reasons’: eg childbirth, serious illness, study, vocational training or posting elsewhere.
If you are covered by an S1 (and this one is a surprise)
If you hold an S1 form from the UK, you will also continue to be eligible for a UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which will cover you for medically necessary treatment during a temporary visit to any EEA country or Switzerland.
It's worth a read and although it's tailored for UK citizens in France the terms of the agreement are EU wide and enshrined in law (or will be) so the only variations will be in the way each country implements them on a bureaucratic level.
