nortada
Well-known member
Because of the number of questions surrounding 2021 Overseas Sailing Season – Post Brexit/Transition Period etc. I have put this thread together hoping to clear up some uncertainty for the future.
The bottom line message is, if you want to spend more than 90 days in the EU after the end of this year, consider getting temporary residency in a Schengen country.
Initially, I considered floating this thread in Liveaboard Link but most current Brit liveaboards and longer term visitors to the Schengen Zone are well up to speed on these issues but possibly the broader audience who are contemplating more time abroad are not.
Before going any further it should be stressed what follows as at best 'a best guess' and has yet to be set in stone so it follows that, rather than laying down the law, what follows are thoughts for discussion.
Primarily, there are 2 main issues, boat status (VAT etc.) and visiting Brits status (Schengen and Freedom of Movement).
Too often discussions try to address both issues at the same time and this can lead to confusion and muddled thinking so I propose to leave boat issues on one side – possibly another thread could be dedicated to British boats abroad?
Schengen allows non-EU citizens to be in the Schengen Zone for a maximum of 90 days in any 180 days.
With effect from 1st Jan 21, unless a special agreement is reached, Brits will become subject to Schengen rules so, unless they are residents, if they are continuously in the Schengen Zone from that date, they will be required to leave by 1st Apr 21 and the earliest they will be able to enter any Schengen country would be 30 Jun 21. They could then remain continuously for another 90 days until 27 Sep 21 but then leave for the rest of 2021. Well 27 Dec 21 to be specific.
For many UK based British boaters, who just want a few weeks cruising Schengen Waters, this could be a perfectly acceptable state of affairs but not for those (possibly retired) who want longer cruises or hope to winter abroad on their boat.
So what can these longer term visitors do? Simple answer, get residency in a Schengen country. As we all still citizens of the EU until 31/12/20, this is a fairly simple procedure after 31/12/20, when we cease to be EU citizens, it will probably become far more difficult.
As a temporary resident, what do we get? Well unlimited time in our country of residence but we can also still reside/cruise for up to 90 days in 180 in any/all other Schengen countries. In effect, Freedom of Movement has largely been restored. As this is a sailing forum, I have centered on boats but of course the same opportunity exists for all Brits who wish to spend more time in the EU .
When considering getting residency it should be remembers that rather than 'an EU thing', residency is a strictly national issue so different states (and even areas in some countries) have widely different rules and ways of interpreting them.
Residency often gives you many other privileges but to keep this short and simple, I have limited myself to Freedom of Movement.
As a resident in Iberia, I can give much more detail on Portuguese Residencia but as a case in point, because Spain is so different, it is outside of my bailiwick.
Hope this is of interest and provides food for thought on plans for the future.
The bottom line message is, if you want to spend more than 90 days in the EU after the end of this year, consider getting temporary residency in a Schengen country.
Initially, I considered floating this thread in Liveaboard Link but most current Brit liveaboards and longer term visitors to the Schengen Zone are well up to speed on these issues but possibly the broader audience who are contemplating more time abroad are not.
Before going any further it should be stressed what follows as at best 'a best guess' and has yet to be set in stone so it follows that, rather than laying down the law, what follows are thoughts for discussion.
Primarily, there are 2 main issues, boat status (VAT etc.) and visiting Brits status (Schengen and Freedom of Movement).
Too often discussions try to address both issues at the same time and this can lead to confusion and muddled thinking so I propose to leave boat issues on one side – possibly another thread could be dedicated to British boats abroad?
Schengen allows non-EU citizens to be in the Schengen Zone for a maximum of 90 days in any 180 days.
With effect from 1st Jan 21, unless a special agreement is reached, Brits will become subject to Schengen rules so, unless they are residents, if they are continuously in the Schengen Zone from that date, they will be required to leave by 1st Apr 21 and the earliest they will be able to enter any Schengen country would be 30 Jun 21. They could then remain continuously for another 90 days until 27 Sep 21 but then leave for the rest of 2021. Well 27 Dec 21 to be specific.
For many UK based British boaters, who just want a few weeks cruising Schengen Waters, this could be a perfectly acceptable state of affairs but not for those (possibly retired) who want longer cruises or hope to winter abroad on their boat.
So what can these longer term visitors do? Simple answer, get residency in a Schengen country. As we all still citizens of the EU until 31/12/20, this is a fairly simple procedure after 31/12/20, when we cease to be EU citizens, it will probably become far more difficult.
As a temporary resident, what do we get? Well unlimited time in our country of residence but we can also still reside/cruise for up to 90 days in 180 in any/all other Schengen countries. In effect, Freedom of Movement has largely been restored. As this is a sailing forum, I have centered on boats but of course the same opportunity exists for all Brits who wish to spend more time in the EU .
When considering getting residency it should be remembers that rather than 'an EU thing', residency is a strictly national issue so different states (and even areas in some countries) have widely different rules and ways of interpreting them.
Residency often gives you many other privileges but to keep this short and simple, I have limited myself to Freedom of Movement.
As a resident in Iberia, I can give much more detail on Portuguese Residencia but as a case in point, because Spain is so different, it is outside of my bailiwick.
Hope this is of interest and provides food for thought on plans for the future.
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