Brit Expats In Malta Meet With Lawmakers Over Continuing Brexit Uncertainty

The expatriate community in Malta is becoming ever more concerned about its government’s unanswered Brexit questions.

Even although the Maltese government’s take on post-Brexit expat rights gives unequivocal reassurance about expats’ futures on the island, the community as a whole is fearing the devil is in the detail. Concerns along with a host of unanswered questions prompted a 200-strong British expat group[ to attend a recent conference about Malta’s position in a post-Brexit EU. Issues brought up included changing a British passport to its Maltese equivalent and the need for property owners to apply for AIP permits as must third country nationals.

A good number of expat attendees were clearly not happy about the further implications of Brexit and its; effect on their lives. One huge cause for concern was the ending of the European Health Insurance Card scheme, as many expat retirees rely on its guarantee of free healthcare and are not in a position to be able to afford private health insurance. Another is the post-Brexit position of British expats living with but not married to third country nationals not covered by ‘settled status’ and whose partners would then need to seek legal residence.

Tax was another issue dominating the meeting, with technical advice required as regards the financial benefits of the island’s various residency plans and the possibility of more benefits should expats consider a different status. A comment by the British High Commissioner that a new British PM might well wish to renegotiate May’s Brexit agreement in the hope of flexibility from EU leaders caused disbelief from many expats who’d kept up to date with Boris Johnson’s ideas to the contrary. Many were also aware that the EU has unequivocally refused further negotiations, a point subsequently made by Malta’s PM.