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yebbl wrote on Sun Feb 28, 2021 4:35pm:
I left UK last October hoping to settle in Spain. The move was not just for myself but for family and friends to join me for holidays, long weekends etc. I found a suitable home and paid my deposit. Got as far as aquiring NIE and bank account, couldn't get appointments for further nec...
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...essary paperwork as waiting times are months away. Driving Licence in Spain also an issue now. I should have moved into new home in January but because of Brexit, UK now doesn't have EU rights. Be careful of your area of purchase choice. My advice is - Search Orihuela Costa Military Authorisation!!! This process (from Barcelona) takes longer than the 90days allowance. Some people talk about waiting 9 months for Military Certificate. Covid and Brexit make it near impossible for UK citizens now. It became clear to me if i stayed in Spain i may not see my family again. Residents only allowed into Spain. If i left Spain I couldn't re-enter as i am not resident. My choice was to stay alone in Spain or leave. I left , lost around £10,000. I am now back in UK enjoying seeing my family and friends again, and am happier to be here. I do miss the lovely weather and sunshine, but family are more important. The idea of cheap flights and family visiting regularly is now a thing of the past. I don't think that's going to happen in the future because of all rhe Covid testing, 2 tests when you arrive back in the UK and quarantine. I think this testing will continue for a least another or perhaps longer because every week there is another strain.!!! Please if you are thinking of moving to Spain, do lots and lots of homework, read about paperwork and banking and residential requirements and get as much advice as possible. Homework, homework and more homework. Grass is greener on the other side for people who are already settled there, but different rules now.
Yes, covid has made things difficult for everyone, but I am in the UK and cannot see some of my local family because of covid, and it will be many months before I can visit the ones further away due to needing to stay overnight. Cannot see friends at all under current rules, so not sure how you are managing to do so. So whether in Spain or the UK not seeing family and friends due to covid is the same. We must remember that all storms end eventually, the day will come when we can one day meet and hug those we currently miss so much.
With regards to your post and applying for residency, if your application was submitted before the end of December and is being processed then you would not be required to leave at the end of 90 days under the old EU SM rules under which you applied for residency. I am unsure if you actually applied to become a resident because that process was not dependent on you owning a house but did need to be started before the end of transition to aquire residency under the much easier SM route. With regards to Military zones, yes, complete pain, but direct consequence of brexit and Brits being third country nationals. The certificates are supposed to be issued within 2 months, so not sure how/why they are taking 9 months, but a rental contract would be enough evidence for living in Spain for processing the residency application while the purchase was in progress.
Yes, research is key to any big change in life. Brits can still move to Spain, but as with emigrating to many other countries, it will be a slower and more difficult process now that the UK has left the EU.
