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Will Brexit provoke ‘travel tax’ for UK residents?

The EU Commission said the system of security checks is necessary to prevent terrorists entering the open-borders area, but UK Brexit critics warned it is further evidence of the hidden cost of quitting the Union.  Under the system, countries from outside the EU which do not require a full visa to travel to the bloc, will now pay a five Euro fee and must complete an online form.  The EU’s security commissioner has attempted to justify the charge by saying that it is an anti-terrorism measure.  What is not clear is what effect this will have on ex-pats travelling back and forth to the UK.

MPs have latched on to the potential charge as another hidden cost of Brexit and an example of how Brits could be disadvantaged compared to other EU residents.  Citing the move as a hidden tax and extra paperwork adding to the impact of the poor exchange rate on British travellers.  The proposals were to be discussed last Friday and the Home Secretary is seeking clarity on how Brits can continue to enjoy free and easy travel within the EU.

This appears to be another piece of evidence of the negative effect of leaving the EU for UK people in Spain. The adverse exchange rate prompted by the Brexit vote is still causing hardship amongst ex-pats coupled with the appalling returns on savings. 

This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.

Other News

British expats in the Netherlands could do with more financial help

French FlagWe all need a little bit of extra help from time to time.

For instance, in one popular expat destination, the Netherlands, research was recently published to suggest that many expats could do with more financial help.

The survey, carried out by the International Community Advisory Panel (ICAP), an independent foundation hoping to strengthen the connection between the Netherlands’ international community and the Dutch government, has shown that the majority of expats living in the Netherlands do not receive enough help from the Dutch government when it comes to several key matters, including finding affordable housing and integrating their children into the school system.

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In the Absence of the Investing Golden Goose Play the Long Game

CoinsOn many occasions, lay investors have a tendency to confuse banking and property revenues as useful gauges of the overall strength of the investment economy. But, however healthy (or unhealthy) these two sectors appear, this should not be allowed to cloud the investment opportunity available to you via your expat financial services manager.

This is why we should not be overly concerned that returns in banking investments currently sit below historical averages – what this potentially marks is simply the residual impact of the 2008 financial crisis and the fact that banking and the wider investment economy have evolved with the advent of new and disruptive players in the finance sector.

For example, a new piece of research by Accenture showed that in 2005 there were 24,000 firms operating in the worldwide banking industry; today this stands at around 15,000. But this alone cannot be seen as a true reflection of the current climate because during the same period we have witnessed the dawn of 600 FinTech firms, 1,900 payment institutions, 700 new banks, and 400 subsidiaries of existing banks – there has also been some consolidation in the area.

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