|
Post by crojoe on Jun 26, 2016 19:46:47 GMT 1
I had someone yesterday become furious with me when I asked why they were talking of having to move back to the UK when they could just get a visa instead. They told me that the visa process is so difficult and I didn't know what I talking about. First Mr/Mrs Frustrated has two years before they will most likely have to get a visa of some sorts (unless the Parliament toss out the referendum, there is another referendum or we all become political refugees from the UK). The frustrating thing about getting a visa in Croatia is the crappy MUP office in Zagreb and the time it takes to get your visa (but then what's new... I once waited 8 months for the visa to come through so had to go back to the office 4 months later to start the process all over again... still able to work in that time). At least now you can take a bingo number and wait your turn sitting or standing. Before we had to stand in line for hours waiting like sheep to the slaughter. I've noticed they also put another row of seats in (next to the 3 Kuna coffee machine), so things are getting better and I hear the ladies behind the counter are now willing to speak in English. So, for Mr/Mrs furious they have two years to setup a business, buy a property or marry a local or get picked by the Croatian sports federation to represent Croatia in some sport discipline. If all else fails they could always try to claim to be a political refugee!
|
|
|
Post by Ribaric on Jun 26, 2016 20:32:40 GMT 1
Does the "buy a property" option still work if you buy via a d.o.o?
|
|
|
Post by Carol on Jun 27, 2016 8:44:24 GMT 1
It didn't in the past (pre-2013), as far as I remember. You'd think that a solution for the 1.7m Brits who live abroad, and the 3m EU citizens in the UK would be part of the Brexit settlement though, wouldn't you? And Croatia will have to fall in line, as they have so few expats, surely they have bigger battles to fight?
That is, IF the EU is still worth being in two years from now.
|
|
|
Post by Ribaric on Jun 27, 2016 11:03:33 GMT 1
I also think not. Not a good time to be in property sales if your main customer base is in the UK. It's time to focus on suburban properties methinks.
|
|
|
Post by Carol on Jun 27, 2016 11:29:59 GMT 1
I typed out a long reply, but on second thoughts, I'll send it privately.
|
|
|
Post by crojoe on Jun 27, 2016 19:28:52 GMT 1
Owning property via a d.o.o. probably won't get one a visa, unless you can show a good income from it. Happily, two years to go unless of course the UK parliament toss the referendum out.
By the way, it ain't 3 million EU citizens in the UK, it is way more then that. Those numbers where gathered from entry at airports, and we all know many came by bus or car. It also does not include dependents. As they are EU citizens they don't have as stringent passport checks.
I believe only from this year has the border agency started keeping tabs on numbers leaving the UK, so that shows how loose the EU border is. I've been through the border via road/ferry and hardly got looked at. Just a quick scan to make sure I wasn't on some wanted list. My son went into the UK once on his HR ID card, to which they just glanced at it. So, I believe numbers are greater then we think (since we are not allowed to discriminate against anyone).
Poland has 4,300 UK citizens living there. Only two claim benefits in 2015. Most Brits live in Spain and are retired, plus some own businesses. France and Belgium have a quite a few. I would be surprised if there are more then 200 Brits living in Croatia full-time.
|
|
|
Post by Carol on Jun 27, 2016 20:12:04 GMT 1
unless of course the UK parliament toss the referendum out. They won't. Not unless they want a revolution. We all know that the British people export to the EU tend to be retirees or people who are otherwise investing in the local economy, whereas the incoming emigres are mostly people who are employees or their dependants. Plus the numbers are more heavily weighted towards the incomers than the outgoers. So, it all points at the EU accepting our existing emigres in return for us accepting theirs who are much greater in number and with less money to spend. The issue will be when people have to start buying health insurance once their EHIC cards no longer work. For anyone over 70, that's going to be expensive, particularly when paid out of a reduced pension. Another thought ... will people living in Spain after 2018 still be able to draw their UK govt pension (not a private one)?
|
|
|
Post by crojoe on Jun 28, 2016 8:19:25 GMT 1
The UK has a reciprocal agreement (urgent or immediate medical treatment) with all EU countries (Croatia included) then non-EU countries like: Anguilla, Australia, Barbados, Bosnia, British Virgin Islands, Falklands, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Jersey, Macedonia, Montenegro, Montserrat, New Zealand, St. Helen, Serbia, Turks & Caicos Island.
The part about gov. pension might depend on if a person has an address in the UK still. Maybe someone who is on a pension and lived here in HR prior to joining the EU can shed some light on this matter? I'm still paying into my pension and years away from retirement!
|
|
|
Post by Carol on Jun 28, 2016 9:16:54 GMT 1
But that's supposed to cover things like a broken leg on holiday, not diagnostic tests like Ct scans or long term cancer treatment (for example)
|
|
|
Post by crojoe on Jun 28, 2016 12:39:08 GMT 1
Ur right Zena, so don't try to break a leg... although I hear this is how one collects debts in Croatia.
|
|
|
Post by MartinM on Jul 5, 2016 12:46:58 GMT 1
Interesting piece from BBC - link
|
|