While Brexit negotiations have already started, thousands of Britons living in the European Union worry about their future – especially about losing their rights regarding access to work, health care, and education. According to the latest figures presented by the Office for National Statistics on January, nearly 900,000 Britons are living with uncertainty and might have to consider a backup plan.
The largest British https://www.expat.communities in the EU
Spain is home to the largest British https://www.expat.community in the European Union. Among these 308,805 Britons, 101,045 are 65 years old or over. Next is France with 157,062 British nationals, Ireland with 112,090, Germany with 96,200, the Netherlands with 41,373, and Belgium with 24,975 British nationals. Other EU countries such as Malta, Cyprus, and Portugal are quite popular with Britons with some 189,000 of them living there. Most of the Britons abroad appear to be over 65 years old and possibly retired.
But the figures released by the Office for National Statistics suggest that fewer Britons are currently living in European Union countries compared to United Nations' global estimations of 1,2 million. However, these figures only take into account the nationality factor, which means that dual nationals, as well as UK-born Irish and Polish citizens, are excluded. On the other hand, British citizens born overseas are included. Last, only citizens who have been residing in an EU country for more than 12 months are considered.
British professionals in the EU
Among the 900,000 Britons living in the EU, nearly 280,000 are aged 30 to 49, and an equivalent number is aged 50 to 64. These age groups are said to be professionals having moved elsewhere in Europe for better career opportunities thanks to the freedom of movement within the European Union. But significant labour market restrictions might be on the way while Brexit negotiations are taking place.
What does the future behold?
Half a year after Brexit, British nationals are still entitled to freedom of movement, being able to live and work in different European countries following the same regulations as the local people do. They pay the same higher education tuition fees, have access to health care, buy properties, and receive pensions without the requirement of a visa or a permit.
However, the conditions may change in the future, when Brexit is official. Health care is probably one of the main concerns of Britons aged over 65 living outside their country. Till now, the National Health Service (NHS) has been taking care of the bill for retirees receiving health care in Spain or elsewhere in the EU. It's worth mentioning that health care services in Spain, besides the quality of life, the climate, the cost of living and accommodation, are much cheaper compared to the UK. Losing their residency rights, Briton retirees will have to reconsider their budgets and look into other countries – even if that means going further away, outside the European Union.
At the moment, nothing is certain, and the UK is in the middle of negotiation practices with the EU. Each side is holding on to some things but is soft on letting other things go. Theresa May said that the government would guarantee the rights of EU citizens living in Britain, provided the rights of British nationals in other EU member states are also guaranteed.
EU citizens living in the UK
In 2015, the number of EU nationals living in the UK was estimated to around 3,159,000, some of whom had already applied for citizenship. 916,000 of them came from Poland while the rest are from Ireland, Romania, Portugal, Italy, Lithuania, France, Germany and Spain.
