British expats in France and other EU countries

Our expat dd has claimed citizenship of her adopted european country (not France) whilst retaining her British citizenship as well. I understand it’s something which many are doing.

Jura I think you may be wrong about not being able to insure if you have a foreign driving licence, we insured our son who has an EU licence although we did have to call the insurance company as their documentation wasn't clear. It included the EU as we were in the EU.

TM is on the BBC atm. She's looking decidedly rattled. Snapping at journalists asking probing questions.

Having said that, I admire her ability to keep her head. I'd be stomping of the podium throwing all my toys out the proverbial pram

As a Brit living in Germany I am, indeed, in the process of applying for German nationality. As are many others who are in the same situation here. This was recommended by one of the Cabinet Ministers.

After what has been said about European driving licences, though, I am wondering if mine will become invalid. It was acquired in 1976 simply by being translated . I didn't do a test.

If European countries are as inept as we are at getting rid of illegal immigrants here, then I think the British ex-pats have nothing to worry about.

I'm reminded of the recent case of a Somali gang rapist who was (amazingly) being deported and on a plane to Turkey, when some idiots on board caused such a scene demanding he be released, that he was taken off the plane.

We are now stuck with this vile creature while his lawyers no doubt are preparing a case on his behalf.

There is a lot of scaremongering going on with expat publications in France, and possibly other countries. As far as I understand reciprocity seems to be needed.

It's interesting that you can have dual or triple nationality (not every country allows this but most do) but not two driving licences, one for each nationality.

We've had no problem adding overseas visitors who do not have British licences (they had to revoke them) to our car insurance - but, of course, we are the main insurers.

We add our Aussie DD and SiL to our car insurance, no problem.
My mum, whose license was awarded in HK could drive here on an international license for a year before taking a test here. Has that changed? It was a long time ago.
She drove herself to her test here, failed then drove herself home. If she had been staying here her license would have been cancelled but she was returning so she kept it, took some lessons on how to drive as a learner, and passed the second time!

The discussion on driving licences - I'm now in England, and have a french driving license which is supposed to be valid for 3 years after returning here. Insurance based on this.
So if and when we leave the EU the license and insurance will be void.
Personally I don't mind, I hardly drive at all now. But husband won't be too happy. He doesn't realise yet.

I wonder if France asks for tourist visas from the people who were/are living at Calais, and all the other places where people have set up camp.

Why is dual nationality not an answer to this problem?
The UK is generous in this respect. If you speak the language and know a bit about the country you are living in why not apply for that nationality. You don't have to give the UK one up.
I feel certain that UK citzens living in Germany have been assred by Fr Merkel that they can stay.

All my Brit friends have got a German ID already.

Why is dual nationality not an answer to this problem?
It would seem to be the logical answer MargaretX

And it would mean that people would retain their EU passport.

I just checked Margaret and, as far as European countries go:
Austria, Estonia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland* and Slovakia do not allow dual nationality
^ *Poland does not explicitly allow or recognise dual citizenship, yet it is tolerated by the government for a Polish person to hold two passports.^

Yes that's right maddy. France does indeed ask people fleeing hideous things we can't even begin to imagine, for tourist visas.

I think that’s right if they enter legally oldbatty, but if arriving from within the Schengen area, people can enter France for 90 days without a visa. Therefore it seems unlikely that if arriving through Italy, Spain, Germany etc that a visa is required, especially since we are told many people throw their documents away, so clearly wouldn’t have a visa. Of course, Britain has never been part of the Schengen area, but none the less, we have never been asked for anything other than a quick check of our passports to enter France. This includes our visit to Europe, including France, during 1973, which was prior to the Schengen area being established anyway. In fact, as students, we travelled through Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France during the summer of 1973, and were asked for nothing more than our passports as we entered each country. I do not believe that economic migrants are asked for a visa in order to enter France, any more than they are asked for one when they succeed in entering the U.K.

I do understand oldbatty, that many migrants are fleeing from a multitude of situations that are unimaginable to us, but I also understand that many others are economic migrants.

Clearly if British people wish to live in France after Brexit, it would seem obvious that they will need to apply for residency.

Illegal immigrants is appropriate as it also applies to people who once had leave to stay but continued to stay when that right expired.

Like people who outstay visas.

It does not just apply to people who enter illegally.

It does not just apply to people who enter illegally

Not illegal immigrants then?
What would you call them then?

Although my DS would be eligible for Spanish citizenship, I understand that Spain doesn’t allow dual nationality except for certain countries like the Spanish speaking Americans and Portugal etc. He has a Spanish wife and three children (two born in Spain) .

Sorry please ignore that, I missed the just in your original comment.

Maw immigrants can turn from legal to illegal once they are already in the country. They can have entered legally then become illegal.

This is the case for a lot of America's illegal immigrants: entered on visas but stayed after they expired or no longer applied or once they stopped meeting the visa requirements.

Sometimes people entered on an emplyer sponsored visa and ran away from abusive/exploitative employers and now work illegally. Others deliberately chose to stay on after student visas expired. There are lots of examples of now illegal immigrants who entered legally.

They are immigrants. They were legal at point of entry. They are now illegal.

Sorry cross posted with you there Maw

Yes notanan, that’s right.

A lot of people here are applying for nationality MargaretX and the delays are lengthy (about two years). You have to assemble a big dossier, have a visit from the gendarmes and an interview with the préfecture to demonstrate your understanding of French history and culture and the rights and responsibilities of French citizens. This requires reasonably fluent French (B1) and under 60s sit an exam. We have thought about it but I feel that younger people who are working and have families should go first, so we have stuck with permanent residence cards at the moment.
When we have been at the préfecture for this we have seen refugees and asylum seekers in the queues, so yes people have to register. Everyone has to carry a passport or identity card here and it would be impossible to access housing, schools and the health service (which is in itself a complicated process) without.