Dear Sharon,
We own a house, down on the coast in Calpe, which we bought in March 2001, when we were both still working and also owned a house in
the UK.
1am now 60 and my wife is 57, both not working due to ill health. We now intend to spend approximately 8 months in Spain at our
house and 4 months touring around in our Campervan with about 2 months of this time in the UK, staying at our son's which is our
official mailing address as we do not own a property there anymore. We still have an English doctor etc. and when we require
attention, use our EHIC here or fly back to the UK, depending how serious it is.
We applied (rightly or wrongly, we don't know) for residencia and have been to Alicante and all that is left to do is to pick up our
cards. Firstly, can you tell us ? at what stage are we officially residents. Is it when we went to Allicante and had our
fingerprints done etc. or when we pick the cards up.
Secondly, we own 2 vehicles, a 4 year old car and a 3 year old campervan both are RHD taxed, MOTd and insured in the UK. We thought
of bringing our car over permanently and register it here with Spanish plates. Can you tell us ? we have read your web site info,
but is the law on importing a vehicle about to change?
Can you answer the two main questions above and give us any other advice now knowing our circumstances.
Sincere thanks, Ron & Sue.
Dear Ron & Sue
Have a look http://www.residenteseuropeos.com on this website it gives you up to date rules and regs in English. You no longer have to apply for residencia but you can if you wish as you are nearly there you should carry on as you will find it easier to be dealt with holding a residence card instead of having to carry passports around.
Up to date rules and regs on importing your car nowhttp:// http://www.spainvia.com/motoringinspain.htm
On my site it tells you information on what you have to do if anything
http://livespainforlife.co.uk/default.aspx?id=83
This was taken from the British expats website and it will apply to you if you intend to be in Spain for 8 months at a time
Absences, from the United Kingdom, for more than three months can affect you
British Citizens who leave the Unitied Kingdom, for any single period exceeding 3 months duration, should know that the U.K. Government considers them to have given up their residence in the U.K. regardless as to whether or not they continue to maintain a home there.
There are some serious implications here, since when they return to the U.K. they will have to satisfy the Authorities that they have indeed taken up residence in the United Kingdom once again. This includes access to Health care and Social Security benefits.
Once you have been absent from the U.K. for 3 months, or more, then your EHIC is no longer valid for you to use there.
If you do so, then you will be committing benefit fraud. Also be aware that computer terminals have been installed in many chemist shops here in Spain and you may get caught, particularly when attempting to obtain those repeat prescription.
Further note that the Regional Government of Valencia are determined to clamp down on health tourism.
Hope this helps