- Please visit our social media pages
Sometimes, you only realise the full weight of your work when you stop and look back. I recently counted the number of articles I’ve written under the Brexit link on our Citizens Advice Spain website — 186 in total, 181 written by me spanning from 2016 to today. Each one marked a moment in time, capturing the evolving story of Brexit as it affected the lives of British nationals in Spain. It struck me that, in those pages, lies a living record of confusion, determination, and hope that deserves to remain online for posterity.
When I began writing about Brexit, the referendum hadn’t even taken place. The topic was new, uncertain, and filled with speculation. Yet I felt it was vital to prepare our readers, many of whom were long-term residents in Spain, for what could happen if the UK voted to leave the EU. On the morning after the referendum result was declared, I went live on an English-language radio station in Spain. I had been up all night following the vote, and the mood was one of disbelief and deep concern. People wanted answers, but no one had any. That was the start of what became a long journey of research, explanation, and reassurance.
From that point onwards, my days were consumed with translating complex legal developments into clear, practical information. Every time a new statement emerged from Brussels, Westminster, or Madrid, I’d work late into the night to interpret what it meant for ordinary residents. Over time, those articles became a timeline , a step-by-step record of what British citizens in Spain needed to know, from residency rights to healthcare, taxation, driving licences, pensions, and property ownership.
Throughout those years, I also closely followed every round of negotiation between the British government and the European Union. It became increasingly clear that parts of the British team didn’t fully understand the legal and procedural structure they were entering into. The EU operates by directives, and that framework shaped the entire process, something the UK side often seemed to overlook. There were times when proposals coming from London simply didn’t make sense for those of us living within an EU member state. From the start, I could see that Spain’s declaratory system of residency was likely to remain, and I explained why it was both logical and necessary. In the end, that’s exactly what happened, the system continued, just as I anticipated. When I need to look for answers, I would turn the Brussels either the Michel Barnier team or Guy Verhofstadt, both teams were patient, kind and helpful. There was nowhere I felt I could turn to in the UK even though I was under the impression that they would be protecting our rights.
Those of us following each announcement will remember the deep anxiety during the period when a no-deal Brexit seemed increasingly possible. Every day brought new speculation about whether rights would be protected or whether British residents would suddenly lose their legal status in the EU. During that time, I wrote extensively about what a no-deal scenario would mean in practical terms, what would happen to our healthcare, our residency, and our ability to continue living here. It was an anxious time for so many, and I tried to bring reassurance by setting out the likely outcomes and Spain’s clear intention to protect those already resident.
There were moments of frustration, especially when misinformation spread faster than the facts. I remember, at one stage, being told I had “no right” to give seminars on Brexit, by founder of a group that had only just been formed during the process. It was an odd accusation, considering that I had been covering Brexit from before the vote itself and had continued through every twist and turn since. But I decided not to engage in rivalry. Experience doesn’t need to shout; it simply continues to show up, do the work, and let the record speak for itself.
At Citizens Advice Spain, our goal has always been to provide clarity and calm where confusion reigns. We have never sought the limelight, only to ensure that residents understood their rights and obligations. When the Withdrawal Agreement was finally signed, many were still uncertain about what it truly meant in practice. That’s when our years of preparation paid off. Because we had followed every stage from the beginning, we could explain not only what the new rules said, but why they were there, and how they had evolved.
Those 186 articles aren’t just updates; they represent thousands of questions from real people, retirees, workers, students, and families, each trying to find their footing in a post-Brexit Spain. Behind every piece was a sense of duty to make the complicated understandable, to give residents confidence when official information was slow or unclear.
Looking back now, I can see that what started as urgent public guidance has become a historical record. The Brexit link on our site isn’t just a reference section, it’s a time capsule. It shows how advice developed as events unfolded, from speculation to negotiation to implementation. That’s why I’ve kept it active, for posterity. It’s there to remind anyone who looks back in years to come of what the process really felt like for those living it from the ground up.
And despite what some say — that Brexit is over and we should “get over it” the reality is that its effects are still being felt today. Residents are still facing practical problems such as renewing TIE cards, finding no available appointments, incorrect information being provided by the ministries , and dealing with the administrative legacies of Brexit. It hasn’t ended; it has simply changed shape. Almost a decade later, it continues to affect people’s lives in ways that were never fully anticipated.
I don’t write this with resentment toward others who later joined the conversation. In fact, it’s heartening to know that awareness grew (as we made sure on our group we should not be pro or against, a member who would insist on posting only pro posts on our group, I suggested they start their own group which was commenced on and still going strong). But I do believe that experience matters. There’s value in having followed an issue from the very start, not only reading the headlines but understanding the human side, the fear, confusion, and resilience of people adapting to an unfamiliar system.
So, while others may have come and gone, I remain proud of that long thread of work. Each article, each seminar, and each question answered has contributed to a clearer understanding of citizens’ rights in Spain. As time passes, Brexit may fade from daily conversation, but those records will stay as testimony to the years we spent guiding people through it.
Experience doesn’t just happen overnight. It’s built through consistency, dedication, and a willingness to stand steady when others are still finding their footing. And in that sense, I’m glad that the record, every one of those 186 articles, still stands as proof.
Even now, nearly a decade later, the work continues. In our Citizens Advice Spain Facebook group, debates still arise over the correct format for TIE cards. Some people suggest that if Article 50 isn’t on the front, it’s because the card is temporary and simply notes residency and work rights.
My conclusion after searchingTIE for UK Nationals under the Withdrawal Agreement (WA):
A residence document issued by EU Member States to UK nationals, following Articles 18.4 and 50 of the WA. It uses the same uniform format and security features as third-country nationals’ residence permits (Regulation 1030/2002), includes a common declaration and cross referencing the resolution, WA and the directive for uniform style cards for third country nationals including those protected under the withdrawal agreement:
for EU-wide recognition, and has a validity of 5 years for temporary residence and 10 years for permanent residence (Commission Implementing Decision, 21 Feb 2020). While there has been debate over whether Article 50 cards should show both residency and work rights (like third-country cards) or just Article 50 with residency, there is no fixed EU-wide design. Spain can issue the card using the third-country nationals’ format, as long as it meets the above requirements and clearly refers to the Withdrawal Agreement, either on the front (Article 50) or on the back (Article 18.4).
Adding the link to the 186 articles to date. This for anyone who may wish to peruse or are bored stiff 😃 BREXIT
