Andy
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If (and only if) you have a British Passport that shows you are a "British Citizen" AND you are not such a citizen solely by reason of a connection with the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man or the Falklands, then you are a "European Citizen" and have the right of establishment (i.e., to visit or live throughout the EU, EEA and Switzerland (certain restrictions may apply to Switzerland and to the ten new EU member states)).
That means that you can buy property (some restrictions apply in Denmark and Switzerland), work (restrictions apply in Switzerland), open a business, look for work, invest and do any of the usual economic activities people do. Retirement is not yet an absolute right, but in practice this is almost always allowed if you are economically self-sufficient (indeed there is a web of totalization agreements for social security/national insurance pensions) and you can be required to have health insurance (you are covered for up to a year under form E-111 or E-106 and then under local systems -- but you may have to pay insurance premiums).
If you are native to Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm or the Isle of Man or the Falklands, then you must have lived in Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Irish Republic for six months before having ordinary EU right of establishment. That's because those locations are considered outside the EU. (Gibraltar is inside the EU for some purposes.)
Most (not all) EU/EEA/Swiss countries require you to register with the town hall, the commune or the police as soon as you settle there and certainly within 3 months. Failure to register promptly (sometimes within 10 days) can subject you to a small fine. You also need to go to the social services office and get their version of a national insurance number and register for tax.
Some countries have a "wealth tax" (France, Switzerland . . .) There may be other surprises. You may need to carry your passport, or at least a photocopy, or a local ID card, at all times (Belgium, Netherlands etc.)
NOTIFY your Inland Revenue tax inspector when you leave. Also, I recommend that you pay voluntary (class 2 or class 3) contributions, £2.10 or £7.35 per week respectively. These are a bargain compared to the state pension you will be eligible for at age 65. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/osc.htm
The European Union site has all the info you need: http://www.europa.eu.int
You do NOT need to exchange your driving license. It's good throughout the EU as long as it's valid. http://ec.europa.eu/transport/home/drivinglicence/legislation/community_8_en.htm
Much of what the other answers say is rubbish. The EU doesn't issue passports to citizens. The EU model passport is a matter of "recommendation" not of law; passports are issued by member states. |
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