Documentation and Status

[peteandthira]

Dear Liveaboards

I am getting close to my early retirement now, with plans well underway to live on board our boat from Scotland to the Med where our plans end. One SWMBO and no kids, also no property anywhere but do have a useful brother's address in UK.

I am turning my mind to documentation and UK residency status. I would like to remain a "UK citizen", since I will be receiving a pension from our Armed Forces.

As far as I know, I think I need boat ownership docs, showing VAT paid, Insurance docs, probably in other languages, E111 or the latest equivalent, passports. I am particularly keen to appear rather like a Brit on holiday, although it will be for many years I suspect.

I think I am unusual in not having property, although if it all goes wrong I am able to rent flats etc and self-support to a degree.

Can anyone offer any advice on this, eg feasability of remaining a UK taxpayer, availability of emergency medical treatment abroad, not wishing to be "illegal" and not wanting to be turned away from ports in Eurpean Med/getting boat impounded etc?

Or indeed anything else we should think about? We are Looking for a trouble-free cruisiing life for a few years, and most books on the subject seem to assume ownership of a let property somewhere. I can't afford that AND keep the boat and ourselves.

Thanks for reading

Pops

 

[Steve Clayton]

[ QUOTE ]
Dear Liveaboards

I am getting close to my early retirement now, with plans well underway to live on board our boat from Scotland to the Med where our plans end. One SWMBO and no kids, also no property anywhere but do have a useful brother's address in UK.
We're in the med now, 50% liveaboard, kids grown up, using their addresses in UK

I am turning my mind to documentation and UK residency status. I would like to remain a "UK citizen", since I will be receiving a pension from our Armed Forces.
I too will get a RAF pension in a few years time; contact them 5 months before due date, etc. If you take up Spanish residency then you will pay an import tax on your boat

As far as I know, I think I need boat ownership docs, showing VAT paid, Insurance docs, probably in other languages, E111 or the latest equivalent, passports. I am particularly keen to appear rather like a Brit on holiday, although it will be for many years I suspect.
Your insurance provider will give you a copy of your insurance in other languages. To appear like a Brit on holiday is easy; socks under the sandals is the giveaway

I think I am unusual in not having property, although if it all goes wrong I am able to rent flats etc and self-support to a degree.
Your not unusual - we sold up too.(but have an apartment out here). If it goes wrong for you then we can do a deal on renting our apartment www.seraph-apartments.com

Can anyone offer any advice on this, eg feasability of remaining a UK taxpayer, availability of emergency medical treatment abroad, not wishing to be "illegal" and not wanting to be turned away from ports in Eurpean Med/getting boat impounded etc?
All the above is feasible - make sure boat is less than 15metres else another tax (in Spain) will kick in if you are here for more than 183 days.

[/ QUOTE ]
Think about how you want to stay in touch with people back in the UK - it can cost a lot.
Any questions I can help with then just ask

 

[Trevethan]

As long as you list your brotehr's address as your residence there shouldn't be problems -- get you bank statements, tax/pension stuff sent tehre.

If he lives alone he will have to pay a little more council tax, otherwise it doesn't cost anything.

On the docs front, make sure you take your VHF licence and operators certs (sign a DD to get the radio lecence renwwed and have your browther post on the disc)

I hear plans may be afoot to abolish the annual licence fee and replace it with one that last as long as you own vessel. High time in my opinion.

Get copies of everything. and hety them stamped all official like (you can get your own ships stamp made up which some say is very effective in some parts of teh world.

Best of luck!

 

[peteandthira]

Steve_Clayton

Thank you for that. It sounds as though I'm not too far off the mark then. I don't plan to spend too long in Spain, feeling that we would like to reach the Eastern end of the Med eventually where we might hide between islands somewhere! Our boat is only 36' so won't incur the size tax. We don't plan to take up residency anywhere else, just live there a bit then move on!

Your boat seems huge - I must never get to see it or will be very envious! I only look at smaller ones these days!

Pops

 

[peteandthira]

Trevethan

Bro doesn't live on his own, he lives with his wife. Does that mean that his council tax will still increase for having a "ghost" resident? I am not interested in getting him into any bother, and will therefore pay his extra council tax even though I won't be benefitting from it. I am reluctant to ask the "proper authorities" until I have heard from others who are doing similar.

Thanks for your reply

Pops

 

[MedMan]

[ QUOTE ]

I am turning my mind to documentation and UK residency status. I would like to remain a "UK citizen", since I will be receiving a pension from our Armed Forces.

[/ QUOTE ] Citizenship is not issue. Once a Brit always a Brit. However, residency is. You are classified as 'non-resident' for tax purposes if your visits to the UK come to less than 183 days in any one tax year AND average less than 91 days per tax year. If, using this calculation, you classify as non-resident, there are a host of consequencies affecting your tax. Contact your tax office and ask for the appropriate leaflet on Non-Residency.

Being non-resident in the UK does not necessarily mean that you are resident elsewhere, but it might. EU countries all have the same rules so, if you remain in one EU country for more than 183 days you will, technically, be resident there. However, if like many of us, you keep moving, you will not actually be resident anywhere for tax purposes. Unfortunately that does not mean you will get your pension tax free. As you will be drawing a Forces pension you will have to pay tax on it in the UK unless you become resident in a country with which the UK has a 'reciprocal agreement' in which case you will pay them tax, not the UK. In the past some yachties have contrived to become residents of Cyprus as their tax rate was lower than the UK, but I have no idea whether or not that is still the case.

 

[MedMan]

I agree - use your brother's address. As he does not live alone there is no issue with Council Tax - he will be paying the full amount anyway. Trevethan will only have mentioned it in case your brother lived alone in which case he would currently be receiving a 50% discount which he would loose if you technically became resident in his house.

 

[peteandthira]

Medman

Er, OK, got all that. I don't have a problem paying tax on my pension in the UK, but I don't plan to go back there often. Except for funerals, weddings (rare now!) and so-on. I will get the leaflet on non-residency, but in the meantime, is it actally a PROBLEM to do what I am planning, ie b*gger off, pay my tax happily, and have a good time on a boat for ages?

Ta

Pops

 

[MedMan]

[ QUOTE ]
Is it actally a PROBLEM to do what I am planning, ie b*gger off, pay my tax happily, and have a good time on a boat for ages? Pops

[/ QUOTE ] No problem what-so-ever, but I would advise you to 'come clean' with the tax-man (there is no advantage in not doing so) and strongly advise you to keep an address in this country for all other purposes - your brother's being ideal if he is game. Change your address to his for all your banks, your boat's SSR and VHF licence and your driving licence and register with a National Health doctor nearby. This is particularly important as technically you loose your right to National Health treatment if you are out of the country for more than 6 months. Go and see the Doc everytime you are home to make sure you keep on his books.

 

[peteandthira]

Medman

Doctor advice is a good one - thanks. I'm away up to the boat for the w/e now to lose ourselves with a bit of practise being away from it all. Can't get enough!

Pops

 

[Steve Clayton]

Good advice on the doctor front. At our age we need all the pills we can get!! We got 6 months supply on one UK prescription; and also find that the drugs on prescription in the UK are available over the counter here. (Spain) Just bring a couple of your prescriptions; plus the boxes they come in; and show both to a pharmacist and for a small fee you can get high again!

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

To add to what others have said, we have been in Gib for nearly a week and are researching wintering here. I have been told by a Brit liveaboard that he is able to obtain free GP and hospital treatment without E111 simply because he is a Brit citizen. I have not confirmed this with the authorities yet but could be of interest to those considering wintering here, or Costa del Sol or using Gib as a medical refuge instead of heading back to the UK.

 

[jerryat]

Hi Lemain,

When we were last in Gib., about three years ago, you certainly were entitled to free healthcare. My crew contracted a nasty problem with one of his eyes requiring a couple of visits to the hospital for treatment.

There were no charges or requests for E111 (or any other documentation) and the care was excellent and quick. I suspect that production of your passport is all that might be required for perhaps a longer stay in hospital. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Hope you're enjoying the place. Many other cruisers don't for some reason, but we love it and use it as a base for explore that 'end' of Spain.

Cheers Jerry

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Jerry, there are many, many 'plus' things about Gib but the downside seems to be the weather compared to other Costa del Sol alternatives. But, as one Brit liveaboard said, "you get used to it". Don't know that I like the idea of my lovely boat being battered by strong winds daily...need to think it through carefully.

 

[peteandthira]

More and more thanks for your interest chaps. Lemain, email probably on the way. How's it going?

Pops