Brexit and the New Destiny of the British in Europe

Brexit and the New Path of the British in Europe

📜 Status after Brexit

With the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union, British citizens lost the special status that allowed them to move and reside freely in member states.

• The United Kingdom is now considered a "third country".

• Permitted stay: up to 90 days out of 180 days without a visa.

• To reside in Europe, a residence permit is required.

• British professional qualifications are no longer automatically recognised.

💸 Cost of Living Crisis

Rising spending in the UK has led many Brits to look for more affordable alternatives:

• Energy bills, interest rates and taxes on the rise.

• Food and fuel prices are increasingly high.

• National social insurance contributions increased in 2022:

  • Employees: from 12% to 13.25%.

  • Employers: from 13.8% to 15.05%.

🌍 Remote Work Opportunity

Two-thirds of British workers are considering moving to other countries to work remotely.

• Portugal has launched the Digital Nomad Visa, allowing you to live in the country while working for foreign companies.

• The Cascais Tourist Board promoted the "It Works for You" campaign, attracting British freelancers.

• According to GlobeTrends, searches for this visa grew 376% in two years, in a universe of 35 million digital nomads.

⚖️ Competitive Job Market

Many skilled professionals believe they can get better terms outside the UK:

• Shorter working hours and lower taxes.

• More accessible private health systems.

• Mediterranean countries like Spain and Italy offer flexible hours and a lower cost of living.

🛡️ Safety

London has higher crime rates than other European capitals.

• Between 2015 and 2020, crimes increased annually.

• In 2019-2020 there were 912 thousand crimes, including 144 homicides.

• The pandemic temporarily reduced robberies and thefts.

• In 2020, there were 3.2 thousand fewer police officers than in 2010, reflecting funding cuts.

🌞 Retiring in Europe

The warmer, more relaxed climate attracts many British pensioners.

• About 20% of Britons living in Europe are retired.

• Portugal, Spain and Italy stand out as preferred destinations.