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Recent developments in Spain and France have brought encouraging news for British second-home owners and part-time residents. In France, the Senate has passed an amendment that could permit British property owners to stay beyond the current 90-day limit in every 180 days, pending approval from the Assemblée National in December. Meanwhile, in Spain, Hector Gómez, the acting minister for industry, trade, and tourism, engaged in discussions with Jennifer Anderson, the UK Foreign Office's director of consular affairs, focusing on the stay of British tourists and future collaborative projects.
This progress follows the post-Brexit regulations implemented on December 31, 2020, which restricted British tourists in the EU to a maximum 90-day stay within any 180-day period. Andrew Hesselden, founder of the '180 Days in Spain' campaign, expressed his pleasure with the French Senate's recognition of the challenges faced by British part-year residents since Brexit. He remains hopeful for similar recognition in Spain for the campaign's 7,000 members.
The French Senate's amendment, proposed by Senator Martine Berthet, suggests granting automatic long-stay visa rights to British second-home owners in France, simplifying their entry. This proposal aims to mitigate the current bureaucratic challenges faced by Britons wishing to spend extended periods in France.
Berthet emphasized the difficulties of the existing system for British citizens in a comment to the UK’s Daily Telegraph. Hesselden noted that the amendment acknowledges the unique circumstances of British part-year residents. If passed, it would allow these individuals to travel freely within the Schengen area, as their stay in France wouldn't count against the 90-day limit.
The campaign led by Hesselden also advocates for broader mobility rights for British visitors to Spain, mirroring the privileges enjoyed by Spanish citizens in the UK. He hopes for continued engagement with politicians from the UK, Spain, and France to find comprehensive solutions, stressing the importance of community integration for British residents in these countries post-Brexit.