Brexit: why British expats are worried

Brexit: why British expats are worried
By Catherine Hardy
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below:Copy to clipboardCopied

The right to residency, the right to work, health insurance, pension payments - everyone has questions and so far there are no answers.

ADVERTISEMENT

Javea is a beach resort on the Costa del Sol.

British expats began moving to the small beach-side town in the 60s and 70s. Their numbers swelled further after Spain joined with Brussels in 1986.

Figures from 2014 show Spain is the most popular EU destination for British migrants.

But now, there is uncertainty – and worry.

  • Chuck Daulson
  • English
  • 51
  • Bar owner

“We don’t know how we’re going to be now, we might have no pension, we might have no medical, we may have to sell our properties, we’ve lived here for a lot of years, we don’t know how it’s going to affect us anymore.”

  • Sarah
  • Londoner
  • 28
  • Living in Benidorm
  • Waitress

“If we leave the EU, then it’s bad on us expats who live here, obviously we’ll lose our medical care, we’ll lose our right to work without a work permit. Me and my boyfriend, we’ve lived here for 3 years, we won’t get a chance to get a mortgage or anything like that now.”

  • Thomas McCarney
  • British
  • Javea resident for 23 years

“We are all in limbo, we have just to wait and see what they decide is going to happen. But it is a worry, of course it is. Twenty-three-years here is a long time to be here”.

And the worry runs both ways.

Spanish business owners who rely heavily on the tourist sector are concerned what the Brexit will mean for their profits.

Share this articleComments

You might also like

People seeking safety deserve compassion. But this Rwanda Bill is cruel and inhumane

Kate Middleton admits editing photograph after it was retracted

Rishi Sunak says the UK is descending into 'mob rule' because of pro-Palestine protests