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Brit expats in Portugal urged to register as residents
| Published: | 15 Oct at 6 PM |
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The recently arrived new British Ambassador to Portugal is urging British expats to register with the authorities before March 29.
Ambassador Chris Sainty believes there may come a point when it’s crucial for British expatriates living in Portugal to have the correct registration papers before Brexit kicks in. His comment came during a two-day tour of the Algarve, home to a good number of British expats, during which he stressed the need for members of the British expat community to ensure their proof of residency. Sainty said there are a high number of Britons living in the country who’ve not yet registered and who’re perhaps not aware they will be asked to prove their right to be there after Brexit is finalised.
According to the Ambassador, it’s an uncomplicated procedure and there’s advice on how to do it on the Embassy’s Living in Portugal web pages. Embassy figures show some 50,000 Brits at present in the country, an increase of 10,000 over the past two years. In addition to the Ambassador’s visit, the British Vice-Consulate in Portimao has held meetings in the Algarve aimed at educating the expat community on the registration process. Those who live in Portugal for over six months per year should be registered, and those who’ve been resident for five years and more can apply for permanent residency.
In an attempt to reassure worried British expats, Sainty said the Portuguese official he’d been speaking with understood the problems Brexit is causing the British community, with the government being supportive and constructive as regards an agreement. Most officials, he said, regret the UK’s leaving the EU, but respect the fact that a democratic decision has been made.
Ambassador Chris Sainty believes there may come a point when it’s crucial for British expatriates living in Portugal to have the correct registration papers before Brexit kicks in. His comment came during a two-day tour of the Algarve, home to a good number of British expats, during which he stressed the need for members of the British expat community to ensure their proof of residency. Sainty said there are a high number of Britons living in the country who’ve not yet registered and who’re perhaps not aware they will be asked to prove their right to be there after Brexit is finalised.
According to the Ambassador, it’s an uncomplicated procedure and there’s advice on how to do it on the Embassy’s Living in Portugal web pages. Embassy figures show some 50,000 Brits at present in the country, an increase of 10,000 over the past two years. In addition to the Ambassador’s visit, the British Vice-Consulate in Portimao has held meetings in the Algarve aimed at educating the expat community on the registration process. Those who live in Portugal for over six months per year should be registered, and those who’ve been resident for five years and more can apply for permanent residency.
In an attempt to reassure worried British expats, Sainty said the Portuguese official he’d been speaking with understood the problems Brexit is causing the British community, with the government being supportive and constructive as regards an agreement. Most officials, he said, regret the UK’s leaving the EU, but respect the fact that a democratic decision has been made.
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