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British Ambassador holds outreach meetings with expats in Portugal
| Published: | 24 Mar at 6 PM |
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The British Ambassador to Portugal is visiting expat communities during the run-up to next Wednesday’s triggering of Article 50.
British Ambassador Kirsty Hayes has already met with members of expat communities in Albufeira, Portamao and Cascais and is hoping to visit Porto and Caldas da Rainha before PM Theresa May invokes Article 50 next week. Her intention is to explain the next stage of Brexit negotiations and answer any questions British expats may have about their futures in the country.
She’s being accompanied by British Consul Simona Demuro and a team of consular staff, and hopes to be able to answer a variety of questions from expat residents.Hayes is reassuring British expats that nothing should change as regards obligations and rights during the two-year period of negotiations, and she’s also reassuring concerned expats by repeating the comments of members of the Portuguese government that the British expat community is highly valued. She's also saying that reciprocal protection of the right to remain and other rights after Brexit is finalised should not be problematical.
Another issue brought up by many worried expats attending the meetings is the right to heathcare, with Hayes expalining it’s at present available to any national with a Portuguese residency permit. Those relying on EU health cards, however, will need to be patient as the issue requires discussion as part of the Brexit negotiations.
In a recent meeting between Britain’s Foreign Secretary and his Portuguese counterpart, it was made clear that Portugal would be moe than happy to welcome more British nationals wanting to live in the country. Hayes is stressing the necessity for Brit expats currently living in Portugal to make sure they are registered with the authorities, as only around 50 per cent of the full number have regularised their status to date. She adds that, should anyone have problems with the required documentation, the British Embassy would be happy to help.
Source: Portugal News
British Ambassador Kirsty Hayes has already met with members of expat communities in Albufeira, Portamao and Cascais and is hoping to visit Porto and Caldas da Rainha before PM Theresa May invokes Article 50 next week. Her intention is to explain the next stage of Brexit negotiations and answer any questions British expats may have about their futures in the country.
She’s being accompanied by British Consul Simona Demuro and a team of consular staff, and hopes to be able to answer a variety of questions from expat residents.Hayes is reassuring British expats that nothing should change as regards obligations and rights during the two-year period of negotiations, and she’s also reassuring concerned expats by repeating the comments of members of the Portuguese government that the British expat community is highly valued. She's also saying that reciprocal protection of the right to remain and other rights after Brexit is finalised should not be problematical.
Another issue brought up by many worried expats attending the meetings is the right to heathcare, with Hayes expalining it’s at present available to any national with a Portuguese residency permit. Those relying on EU health cards, however, will need to be patient as the issue requires discussion as part of the Brexit negotiations.
In a recent meeting between Britain’s Foreign Secretary and his Portuguese counterpart, it was made clear that Portugal would be moe than happy to welcome more British nationals wanting to live in the country. Hayes is stressing the necessity for Brit expats currently living in Portugal to make sure they are registered with the authorities, as only around 50 per cent of the full number have regularised their status to date. She adds that, should anyone have problems with the required documentation, the British Embassy would be happy to help.
Source: Portugal News
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