British foreigners are said to have left Spain “en masse” and, as a result of Brexit, many retirees left the famous part of the Costa del Sol.
Tourism experts have pointed out that the number of Britons is declining due to the stricter immigration rules introduced after Britain’s departure from the European Union.
Robert Bornhardt, a property expert who runs a real estate agency in the coastal city of Fuengirola, said many retirees are starting to sell their properties.
Due to Brexit, UK citizens can only travel to Spain without a visa for a maximum of three months for tourism and business reasons.
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However, from 2022 British citizens will need a visa waiver to enter Spain. Spanish government website.
The new rules allow Brits to travel to the country visa-free, but they must have a valid ETIAS visa waiver before arriving.
Mr Bornhard said Fast Many retirees have spent up to six months in Spain enjoying the warm weather before Brexit, but due to the new rules, this is no longer possible.
He explained: “Retired Brits have started selling. They come here in September or October and then stay in the best weather for six months until April / May.
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“But now they can only come for 90 days, and a lot of them drove. The Spanish now is very strict with the cars with foreign coating and mainly with the British cars ”.
According to RAC Consulting To drive in Spain, vehicles registered in the United Kingdom as of September 28 must display the letters “UK” when driving in Spain.
The decal should be familiar with what is on your license plate.
Bornhard said post-Brexit health costs would also affect people’s decision to leave Spain, “because a lot of older people want to leave. Sometimes for health or insurance reasons ”.
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As of 2020, there are over 360,000 UK residents living in Spain. Local Reports.
Alicante, Malaca and the Balearic Islands have the largest number of British settlers in the country.
Earlier this year, The Mirror spoke to two Brits and married an EU citizen who said Brexit had ruined their retirement plans.
The 72-year-old retiree, who was asked to remain anonymous, said that despite having lived in Spain with his Russian partner and children for two decades, they face separation under the country’s new rules.
He told The Mirror: “We were really disappointed. I worked here for many years, even with my partner, who still works ”.
“She legally enjoys all freedoms in the UK and we have a house in Spain where she also enjoys all freedoms because she has an EU passport.
“We spend four to six months a year at our house in Spain, but now they discriminate against me. I have to leave after 90 days and leave it there for as long as I want ”.
Britt, a worker who owns a villa in Alicante, said that she and her husband wanted to spend half of the property each year in retirement.
But Epping Forest’s Marilyn Smith says Brexit has shattered all her dreams.
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