Interesting travel situation...

[TheFrenchConnection]

A bit specialised but any informed opinions welcomed!

We are planning our first winter trip to Spain and Portugal again after our rapid retreat from Spain and hurried journey home just ahead of our French 'lockdown' in March 2020.

We are UK nationals but French residents with permanent 'Carte de Sejour', so we are resident in the Schengen Zone and not subject to any '90-in-180' restrictions.

Confusion arises as to the Covid requirements, as everything we read refers to visitors who are both UK nationals AND resident and also arrivals by air and ferry. We are 'double-jabbed' (hate that expression!) and our Spanish land border is invisible... but what about Portugal from Spain as UK nationals and French residents...? We use our French Carte de Sejour, not our UK Passports, for travel within Shengen so...

I think we'll need to check with Embassies!

[flyboyprowler]

We are in a similar situation but now resident in Spain and the MH matriculated there as well.

As I understand it, as residents in the EU, we have right of travel throughout the Schengen area, indeed as we did before Brexit.

The only restrictions that would apply would be individual country bans due to covid or other reasons.

[TheFrenchConnection]

But are we 'British' or 'French' (or in your case 'Spanish') in the eyes of any COVID-19 restrictions? Given of course that restrictions can change - daily it seems when Boris is in charge.

[flyboyprowler]

I believe that as British passport holders we remain British. Residency gives us the right to travel as Europeans through the Schengen area and to remain in our country of residency for more that 183 days.

[colin]

TheFrenchConnection - 2021-09-08 7:22 PM

We are UK nationals but French residents with permanent 'Carte de Sejour', so we are resident in the Schengen Zone and not subject to any '90-in-180' restrictions.

 

Are you sure?

 

Going to another EU country during my long-term stay – more than 90 days

 

When you stay in an EU country for a long stay, usually for more than 90 days, you will generally be issued with a long-stay visa and/or a residence permit.

 

If your long-stay visa or residence permit has been issued by a Schengen area country, you can travel to another Schengen area country for 90 days per 180 day period. You must:

 

justify the purpose of your stay;

have sufficient financial resources for your stay and travel back;

not be considered a threat to public policy, public security or public health.

You can also pass through other Schengen area countries on the way to your host country.

 

To move from one EU country to another for more than 90 days, you will need a long-stay visa or a residence permit for that country. If you wish to work, study or join your family in the second country, you may have to fulfil more conditions.

[flyboyprowler]

I took this off the Government institute website, but I think it was written before Brexit.

 

The Withdrawal Agreement guarantees British citizens (who are lawfully resident in EU member states) broadly the same rights as they have now. They can continue to live, work and travel (although these rights would cease after a leave of absence of more than five years). The same would apply to British citizens moving to the EU during the transition period, which is expected to end on 31 December 2020. This is because freedom of movement would continue to apply during this time.

 

And this applies to UK citizens, living in the UK, for travel after Brexit. I feel sure that those resident in the EU before Brexit still have free travel ion the Schengen zone.

 

The EU has agreed to add the UK to the EU’s list of visa-exempt countries[3] (of which there are currently 61). This gives British citizens the right to travel to the EU after the transition period for up to 90 days without a visa within any 180-day period. It would be conditional on the UK granting visa-free travel to EU citizens to the UK. Visas for short business trips and longer visits to the EU will be a matter for negotiation between the UK and the EU.

 

We are now resident in Spain for the reason of free travel so hopefully our Spanish registered van will pass freely through the open boarders. (lol)

[TheFrenchConnection]

The key element here is the withdrawal agreement which guaranteed continuing rights for those of.us holding a Carte de Sejour en permenance. Post-Brexit these were replaced by new Cartes specificaly stating they are issued under the terms of Article 50, maintaining all of our Pre-Brexit rights.

The situation may be different for the 5-year cards and those issued post-Brexit and certainly so for visas.

 

[stevejelf]

I have just returned from two weeks in Spain and Portugal as UK nationals but French residents with permanent 'Carte de Sejour', No checks no problems

 

Gibraltar was like the olden days of Eastern Berlin baggage checks and documents so no plants or meat sleep over night in the 20 minute walk Spanish marina 12.5 Euros a night