Phew… what a ride! We’ve Been Through It All, and We’ll Get Through This Too
Keeping up with all the rules, documents, and updates hasn’t been easy. Here’s a look at the journey so far:
2015-2025: Spanish Wills
. Some Notaries and lawyers appeared to not have read the articles on the EU regulations on succession.
. Some not adding the relative clauses.
. Lack of understanding of regional laws in the UK.
. Believing that the regulations no longer applied to resident UK nationals post Brexit.
2020: Brexit Transition
- Residency documents and TIE updates became essential.
- Understanding residency rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
- Navigating appointments and paperwork for TIE renewals.
2020–2022: Covid & Travel Disruptions
- Constantly changing travel and health rules.
- Impact on family visits, work, and daily life.
- Guidance for quarantines, PCR tests, and travel restrictions.
2021–2023: Driving Licence Saga
- UK licences no longer automatically valid in Spain.
- Residents required to exchange UK licences for Spanish ones.
- Queues, paperwork, and deadlines caused major stress.
2021–2023: Healthcare Changes
- Changes of S1 forms for healthcare access in the UK.
- EHIC replaced by GHIC cards for most UK nationals.
- Understanding coverage and navigating new requirements.
2021–2023: Legal Documents & Finances
- Apostilles and sworn translations needed for official documents.
- Banks and financial matters affected by cross-border regulations.
2021–2023: Voting & Local Participation
- Loss of the right to vote in EU elections.
- UK nationals retained the right to vote in local Spanish elections via bilateral agreements.
Ongoing: TIE Renewals & Appointments
- Challenges with renewing TIEs and maintaining residency rights.
- Securing appointments continues to be unpredictable and time-consuming.
Upcoming: EES & ETIAS
- Entry/Exit System (EES) will electronically track entries/exits for non-EU nationals.
- ETIAS required for short-term travel across the Schengen area.
- Uncertainties remain:
- How border control will handle travelers at airports, land borders, and across different EU countries.
- What happens if your TIE has expired when traveling.
- While the system aims to streamline border checks, many UK nationals are understandably cautious.
Through it all…
Every change, every challenge, every form and appointment, we’ve adapted, helped each other, and kept you informed.
If we’ve handled everything so far, there’s no doubt we’ll get through whatever comes next!
Please note: The information provided is based upon our understanding of current legislation. It is not legal advice but is provided freely to enable you to be properly informed. We recommend that if you are considering taking action, you should seek professional advice.
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