24 Dec, 2020 @ 23:53
1 min read

BREXIT DEAL: The five biggest losses for Brits who regularly visit or live in Spain

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BORIS Johnson is rejoicing tonight after finally securing a Brexit deal following days of tense negotiations.

The talks came down to the wire in the run up to Christmas Eve as agreements over fishing rights continued to put a spanner in the works. 

But while Britain’s waters will be protected, with a five-year transition period agreed, there have immediately been several key rights lost. 

For those with homes in Spain or who live between the UK and the likes of the Costa del Sol, there have been several key losses – other than the big one of course; the right to freely live and work in any EU member state.

90 day stay limit 

According to a document released by the EU, the agreement means Brits will no longer be allowed to stay in the union for more than 90 days in a 180 day period without a visa. 

That is bad news for UK nationals who spend six consecutive months per year living in their holiday homes on the likes of the Costa del Sol or Costa Blanca in Spain.

Pet passports 

There has also been no agreement made on pet passports. It means that any Brit planning to travel to the EU with their furry friend will likely have to have an animal health certificate (AHC). 

The document can be prepared by your vet and will be valid for four months, but must be obtained 10 days before travel.

They will be valid for a single trip into the EU, further travel within the union and re-entry into the UK, reported BBC. 

Roaming charges

Those with British phone numbers will also feel the pinch while travelling and using their device. 

The UK will no longer be included in the EU-wide ban on roaming charges, meaning making calls or using the internet on UK service providers could cost significantly more while visiting the bloc. 

Border checks 

Brits travelling to the EU will face increased border checks as they become lumped in the ‘third country’ category with the likes of Russia. 

That could mean longer queues when boarding your flight or trying to get out of the airport. 

No more erasmus 

In a blow for British students, the UK will no longer be a part of the Erasmus programme. 

The long-running scheme saw university students study abroad as a part of their degrees or studies, allowing them to learn another language while learning about the culture of another member state.

Laurence Dollimore

Laurence Dollimore is a Spanish-speaking, NCTJ-trained journalist with almost a decade’s worth of experience.
The London native has a BA in International Relations from the University of Leeds and and an MA in the same subject from Queen Mary University London.
He earned his gold star diploma in multimedia journalism at the prestigious News Associates in London in 2016, before immediately joining the Olive Press at their offices on the Costa del Sol.
After a five-year stint, Laurence returned to the UK to work as a senior reporter at the Mail Online, where he remained for two years before coming back to the Olive Press as Digital Editor in 2023.
He continues to work for the biggest newspapers in the UK, who hire him to investigate and report on stories in Spain.
These include the Daily Mail, Telegraph, Mail Online, Mail on Sunday and The Sun and Sun Online.
He has broken world exclusives on everything from the Madeleine McCann case to the anti-tourism movement in Tenerife.

GOT A STORY? Contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call +34 951 273 575 Twitter: @olivepress

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