Thread by @jamesmb

INFORMATION FOR UK CITIZENS OWNING A HOLIDAY HOME IN THE EU SCHENGEN AREA

It's probably useful for you to understand what will happen in the event of a #NoDealBrexit so that you can plan the use of your property accordingly. If you have any actual questions, feel free to ask.

In the event of a #NoDealBrexit, the UK would become a 'third country' - that is a country that is not a member state and one without any agreement in place with the EU as regards access. This is accepted by both sides.

There are currently rules in place for third country nationals, their access to the EU and, in particular, in relation to the Schengen states. In this thread, I am particularly looking at the Schengen states.

The simple reason for focusing on those is that most holiday homes owned by Brits are located in Schengen countries (particularly France, Spain and Italy). They also have common rules of access.

In the event of a #NoDealBrexit, based on current rules, as a third country national, you will be able to spend a maximum of 90 days in the Schengen area in any 180 day period. The 180 day countdown begins on the day you arrive in another Schengen country.

So, if you drive from Calais down to Alicante, for example, the clock starts ticking when you arrive in Calais. And, yes, your passport will be stamped and logged for those purposes.

Having spent your 90 days in your holiday home, you will them have to leave the Schengen area. Travel time back (if you are driving back through France, for example) is included in your 90 days. You must be OUT of the Schengen area within 90 days.

You are then not allowed to re-enter the Schengen area for 90 days - so no holidays or visits or anything during that 90 day period. Obviously, you can break up these days but I'm keeping them in blocks for simplicity's sake - it's 90 days maximum in any 180 day period.

This is probably a good moment to point out that if you overstay your 90 days, you're going to have a hell of a time trying to get back in the next time.

So, if you spend (roughly) January, February and March in your holiday home, you will then have to leave and not be allowed to re-enter any country in the Schengen zone until July at the earliest. There's no way to make that into 6 straight months.

Now, there will be some who say 'well, they won't stop us at the border and tell us to go back!' To them I say this:

1 - Entitlement isn't a great look. The UK is just a country. It gets treated like all the others now.

2 - Yes they will - that's what borders are about.

For years, people in the UK have built lives on their being free access and movement. Well, it looks like that's going and that has consequences - one of which is for people who have a property (or share of a property) in the EU.

On the upside, you'll be showing a blue passport when you get refused entry. Sovereignty has never smelled so weird.

#StopBrexit #PeoplesVote