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Summary of British Embassy Sofia's autumn UK nationals outreach

Embassy representatives met with UK nationals living in Bulgaria and responded to questions about living in the country and the UK's exit from the EU.

• From: British Embassy Sofia
• Published: 7 December 2018

The British Embassy's outreach event in Yambol

British Embassy Sofia has recently concluded another round of outreach events for UK nationals living in Bulgaria. In November and December, Her Majesty’s Ambassador Emma Hopkins and Deputy Head of Mission Lynne Charles held meetings in Veliko Tarnovo, Varna, Burgas, Yambol and Sofia.

The purpose of these events was to update UK Nationals on the latest information regarding the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU, and what preparations they could make before 29 March 2019. Below is a summary of the questions UK nationals in Bulgaria raised over the past month and how we responded during the meetings.

Contents

What has been agreed so far between the UK and the EU and what are the next steps?

The Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration were endorsed by the leaders of all 27 EU Member States at the November European Council on 25 November. The Prime Minister has been clear that the agreement reached is a decisive step which enables us to move on and finalise the deal in the days ahead.

Before the Withdrawal Agreement becomes law, the UK Parliament will have a vote on the ‘final deal’, comprising the Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration. UK Parliament will have the choice to accept or reject that deal on the 11 December 2018.

Under the Withdrawal Agreement (if finally agreed), the UK and the EU have agreed an Implementation Period (29 March 2019 to 31 December 2020), during which UK nationals will be able to visit, live and work in the EU broadly as they do now.

Therefore, if you are a UK national who legally resides in any EU Member State, e.g. Bulgaria before the end of 2020, you will be able to continue doing so afterwards in broadly the same way. So, if you are living, working, studying or retired in Bulgaria, you can keep on doing those things. You should also be able to access healthcare and social security, just as you do now.

As set out in the EU (Withdrawal) Act, if the UK Parliament chooses to reject the deal, the Government will be unable to ratify the Withdrawal Agreement. Although we remain hopeful for a deal, a responsible government should prepare for all potential outcomes. As such, we are preparing options, (as other EU countries and the Commission are doing), for an unlikely no deal scenario. The UK Government has released a number of technical notifications to set out what UK Nationals and businesses need to do in a no deal scenario.

Read more about how to prepare if the UK leaves the EU with no deal here.

What steps should I take before 29 March 2019?

Make sure your Bulgarian documentation is up to date.

• we strongly advise that you register with the local authorities in Bulgaria and obtain Bulgarian residency to ensure your status in Bulgaria. Only those legally resident in Bulgaria will be covered by any deal

• if you encounter difficulties registering from your local authority, please, report this to the embassy as this may be unlawful. We will contact the relevant Bulgarian authorities at the Ministry of Interior

How can I stay informed about the latest developments?

We strongly advise you to follow the British embassy social media accounts, particularly Facebook. This is the best way to stay up to date on the latest news, as we get closer to March 2019 and the volume and intensity of information increases.

• please read our Living in Bulgaria Guide. This guide is for you, our UK nationals, and is updated regularly. It provides accurate information about living in and moving to Bulgaria, including residency, healthcare and driving

• for updates on the negotiations, sign up for Brexit updates on GOV.UK.

How will the UK’s departure from the EU affect my rights as a UK national living in Bulgaria?

Under the Withdrawal Agreement, it is up to each EU Member State to implement the Withdrawal Agreement and whether to introduce a process for registering UK nationals. Following the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement, the Bulgarian authorities will decide on how they want to proceed so that UK nationals in Bulgaria can confirm their legal residence status.

Although the Bulgarian Government has not yet issued information publicly, we have been in regular contact with them on this question. They have stressed the following points to us:

• they have committed to ensuring any new processes will be transparent, smooth and streamlined. Both sides are keen to work together on explaining any changes to the public and keeping them informed and up to date

• UK nationals in Bulgaria are valued members of society and will continue to be welcome following the UK’s departure from the EU

Will UK nationals be eligible for Bulgarian dual citizenship?

Bulgaria does allow for dual citizenship if you meet the following criteria:

• married to a Bulgarian national

• citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

• citizens of countries with which Bulgaria has reciprocal agreements

Those who want to obtain Bulgarian nationality have to meet some requirements including holding a long term residence permit, having a good command of Bulgarian language and no prior criminal convictions (or ongoing criminal investigations) in Bulgaria.

Will I be able to move to another EU Member State in the future?

Until the end of the Implementation Period, there is no change to your ability to move to other EU Member States. Onward movement beyond 2020, is one of the points where we have not yet reached agreement with the EU. We will continue to pursue this, and other outstanding issues, as part of our negotiations.

Will I continue to receive my UK state pension in Bulgaria after EU Exit?

Yes. If you are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement then you will continue to receive an uprated – and aggregated, if applicable – UK state pension. The same is true for those covered by the Withdrawal Agreement who reach state pension age after the implementation period.

If you are a pensioner in Bulgaria, we suggest you open a UK bank account. This will ensure that you will be able to obtain your pension regardless of the outcome of negotiations.

In accordance with current regulations, nine UK banks allow UK nationals to open basic accounts from overseas. Those banks are: Barclays, Clydesdale & Yorkshire Bank, HSBC, Lloyds, RBS, Santander, TSB, Co-operative Bank, Nationwide.

There are different types of accounts but the key ones are: i) basic bank accounts and ii) standard UK current accounts. Basic accounts are fee-free and provide functions such as making, and receiving payments, cash withdrawals, money storage. Under current regulations, these nine banks in the UK are required to offer these accounts to EU residents if they meet certain eligibility criteria. You can open a basic bank account in the above 9 major UK banks, while current EU rules are still in place, that is end of March 2019.

The banks all have different criteria on requirements for opening new accounts and so you would need to contact them directly in order to obtain their terms. However, the majority, if not all, may need to see you in person in order to validate your identity.

What about healthcare cover and benefit export?

These are covered by the social security coordination section of the Withdrawal Agreement. Retirees will continue to receive associated healthcare – what are known as reciprocal healthcare rights (S1, EHIC and S2 rights) – once they export their state pension.

The rights to equal treatment for healthcare of those employed in Bulgaria are also protected on the same basis as a comparable Bulgarian national.

If you are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, you will also continue to have the right to export relevant benefits - basically as under current EU social security coordination rules – and any associated reciprocal healthcare cover.

In advance of the UK’s departure from the EU, we recommend you register with the Bulgarian National Health Insurance Fund in order to access the local healthcare system.

Will I be able to drive using my UK driving licence post-EU Exit?

The treatment of driving licences will depend on the outcome of the negotiations. If you reside in Bulgaria though, you can currently exchange your UK licence for the equivalent Bulgarian one.

You do not need to sit for the national exam (theory or driving), but you will need to prove that you are a resident and that you meet the conditions for having a driving licence, (e.g. you have reached the minimum age, your state of health permits you to drive, etc.). You then submit this at the traffic police unit in the area where you have your permanent address.

In the event of a no deal, your UK driving licence may no longer be valid by itself when driving in the EU and you may not be able to exchange your licence after the UK has left the EU. You can avoid this potential problem by exchanging your UK driving licence for the Bulgarian one before 29 March 2019. UK licence holders who do this will be able to re-exchange for a UK licence if they return to live in the UK.

You may also wish to consider applying for an International Drivers Permit (IDP) in the case of a no deal in order to drive in the EU. An IDP is a document which, when carried with your driving licence, means you are able to drive outside of the UK, including in EU countries. There are different types of IDP. Which one you need depends on which country you are driving in, and you should also keep your national driving licence with your IDP.

Read more about driving licences here, and what to do regarding driving licencing if the UK leaves the EU in a no deal scenario here.

Will the Pet Travel Scheme still work post-EU Exit?

Current rules set out in the Pet Travel Scheme will remain in place during the implementation period. There will be no changes to the current health requirements for entry into the UK. For more information on the health requirements and documents required to travel to the UK, visit GOV.UK.

Your pet will need one of the following documents when returning to the UK:

• an existing EU pet passport (both for UK and EU Nationals)
• the EU health certificate issued in the UK used to travel to the EU
• a UK pet health certificate (for travel into the UK only)

Pet owners should speak to their vet about the documentation they will need to travel to and from the EU.

Read more about pet travel to Europe following the UK exit from the EU here.

I have residence rights. Under the Withdrawal Agreement, will I be able to enter Bulgaria/EU on a British passport?

The Withdrawal Agreement (Article 14) provides for a right of entry and exit with a valid passport for UK Nationals with the right to reside or work in a member state.

Read more about travelling to the EU with a UK passport following the UK’s departure here.

I live in Bulgaria. Will I be able to vote in UK elections following the UK’s departure from the EU?

If you are a UK national living abroad, you may be eligible to vote in UK Parliamentary general elections and can apply to be an overseas voter. The Overseas Electors Bill, subject to securing the necessary Parliamentary approval, will remove the requirement that UK nationals must have been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years.

What about my rights as a UK National to vote in municipal and local elections in Bulgaria?

The ability for UK nationals to continue to be able to vote in these elections will depend on the electoral rules of the Member State in which they live. Over the coming months, we will seek to discuss this issue bilaterally with the Bulgarian government with a view to protect the rights of UK nationals resident in Bulgaria.

I own property in Bulgaria. Will my property ownership rights be protected after the UK has left the EU?

UK nationals are bound and protected by Bulgaria’s domestic law when purchasing and selling property in Bulgaria, in the same way that UK law protects property rights in the UK. The UK’s exit from the EU will not change this.

Read more about owning property in Bulgaria here.

What is the British embassy doing for UK nationals in Bulgaria in the lead-up to the UK’s departure from the EU?

Our first goal is to engage regularly with UK nationals who are living in Bulgaria by publishing information online and by organising face-to-face meetings across the country. It is important for us to share information with you, to hear your views, and, of course, to do our best to answer your questions.

We have now completed two rounds of outreach events across Bulgaria, and we are planning further meetings in the New Year. We endeavour to host meetings wherever there are UK communities, so please do let us know if you would like us to visit your area. We cannot guarantee we can travel everywhere, as we do have to prioritise, taking into account the number of UK nationals we can reach in any particular area and staff resourcing.

The second thing we are doing is engaging with the Bulgarian government. We meet regularly to talk about citizens’ rights as well as other aspects of the UK’s departure from the EU. We explain our position and we seek information about their views. We will continue to discuss these issues with them, in order to help facilitate an orderly transition for our UK nationals living in Bulgaria.

Published 7 December 2018