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How long can you stay ?

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How long can you stay ?

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Message posted by jedi (Avatar Admin) on 08�March�2005 at 9:41pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

jedi

How long can a visitor stay in an EU Country before they are classified as resident?
Example, if I went to Corfu for an undetermined period of time and just rented a property, how long before the Greeks tell me I'm a resident?
How often, and for what period of time, do you have to return to the UK to retain National Health entitlements etc.
I'm thinking about selling up and becoming a nomad sharing my time between the UK and Corfu.
Any observations, comments or pitfalls gratefully accepted.
Thanks
Jedi

Message posted by Sailor on 08�March�2005 at 10:55pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

Sailor

Hi Jedi,

Well theres a turn up for the books mate. As you know, you can stay in Corfu for as long as you like, being part of the EU, but you must claim residency after 3 months. There has been many topics on this for the details of what to do, most recently from Debbie as she is moving out next month.

As far as National Insurance, whats wrong with paying it yourself direct from your own funds. I did this when I was unemployed. I was entitled to any benefits because I get a Naval Pension, so I could not be bothered to got to the Job Centre every week or so, so I contacted the appropriate offices and they said I could pay myself through DD. I did this until I started work again. I think you will find that you have to have 44 years paid NI to get the full pension, if one is behind, you can play catch up to meet your contributions. I do not see any reason why you cannot do that from abroad. We have seen and heard people talking of having their OAPs paid into their UK banks, and drawing it from ATMs or have so much transferred to their Greek Bank.

Basically, upto to 3 months, no problems, 3 months and more you need a residency permit to remain in Corfu.

No doubt someone more in the know will add to this.

Cheers mate.

Message posted by jedi (Avatar Admin) on 08�March�2005 at 11:04pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

jedi

Thanks for that Sailor.
Contributions no problem - I'm pretty sure I've paid my share already (and half of someone else's), but it was more along the medical side of things that concerned me the most - drugs and treatment etc.
I've got 3 pensions coming in and was thinking of spending 9 or 10 months in Corfu with the reminder in the UK over Christmas. Just wondered if I can do it or if it is just a pipe dream?
LOL
Jedi

Message posted by billiz on 08�March�2005 at 11:16pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

billiz

Corfu

we did it --live your dream you won`t be sorry. Summer is great but winter is very different. Live your life as the locals do and you will have no problems

We rent and our landlord can`t do enough for us. In summer we have olive oil,eggs,fruit,veg left on our balcony--who leaves it there -who knows they,are all very kind.

Message posted by Amoussa on 08�March�2005 at 11:31pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

Amoussa

Corfu

I think it would be possible to stay longer in Greece, I doubt if it's legal though. When you enter Greece they do not, for example put a stamp with a date in your passport. There is nothing that says how long you're in Greece. So you could stay longer than 3 months without becoming a resident.

We are going to live in Greece in a few years, but stay official residents in Holland, pay tax etc. Maybe you can't rent a house without getting the government involved or if you have to pay tax etc. if you rent.

As for healtcare we are going to change our insurance to an insurance for expats or globe-trotters or so, so we can get healthcare, drugs and a simple doctersvisit in Greece.

Message posted by jedi (Avatar Admin) on 09�March�2005 at 12:14am - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

jedi

Billiz - thanks for the encouragement. I assume you've moved and live there permanently now and I'm sure we could settle without any difficulty. But this is not what we want due to elderly parents, children etc. We are selling our house during the summer, want to get out of the 'rat-race' and saw this temporary settlement idea as a distinct possibility.
I have now read that any stay over three months requires a residency permit. To qualify for that the information inferred you need to be employed but surely it must be possible without working if you have a certain amount in the bank or a provable source of income from the UK. Does anyone know?
LOL..........Jedi

Message posted by Terry and Julia on 09�March�2005 at 9:58am - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

Terry and Julia

Corfu

Hi Mike

Lots of people live between the two countries but usually with a more equal balance. You will need a resident's permit wherever your main residence is if you want too buy a car here.

Terry has kept the UK as his main residence but spends more time here, whereas the children and I have Greece as our main residence. We are entitled to basic level health care here (or would be if I filled out the forms) because I get longterm incapacity benefit. Terry still works and pays tax/NI in the uk and is entitled to use the NHS there but the rest of us aren't.

If you wish to keep your UK residency but spend most of the time over here you will need to at least nominally maintain a place of residence in the uk but this could be with one of your children. You would not be entitled to any health care here as a pensioner unless you gave up your entitlement to it in the Uk which basically means giving up your uk residency in favour of Greece. It is very easy and not that expensive to see a doctor here. It is also usually a simple matter to get some medications only available on prescription in the Uk, over the counter here.

I am not sure of the legal position of any of this so you may be best advised to speak to the DSS (especially with regard to whether you could still use the E111). Possibly the British Consulate in Corfu Town might be worth contacting to see if they could clarify things for you.

Julia

Message posted by jedi (Avatar Admin) on 09�March�2005 at 11:09am - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

jedi

Thanks very much Julia - muddy waters indeed.
I see that it may not be as simple or straightforward as first thought and I must embark on some serious research to clarify several issues.
I'm not in a desparate hurry so this will become my projest over the next couple of months.
Thanks again
Jedi.

Message posted by Sailor on 09�March�2005 at 2:29pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

Sailor

Hi Jedi.

With regards to the E111. The E111 is only valid for the duration of a stay in another EU Country, and if you have a valid residency in the UK or Country you come from. If you take up residency, then the E111 is no longer valid, and other type of medica insurance would be needed. However, as Julia said, getting treatment and medication is reasonable in Corfu.

Probably one of the best people to talk to would be Graham TA, as you Graham and Angela take long stay visits and then return to the UK.

Message posted by greeceishome on 09�March�2005 at 2:35pm - IP Logged Legal Disclaimer

greeceishome

Corfu

I understood that residency was only required if you were planning to work, study or collect a pension here. Work in this case means entering the tax system here (i.e. not, I understand, working for example from home).

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