Without a post-Brexit agreement signed on the matter, up to 3,000 people could lose their driving licences after the French government announced all British expats must exchange their UK licence with a French one. This means some commuters risk losing their jobs while some expats who live in France may be forced to move back to the UK. Although some expats have applied to exchange their licence, the French system has rejected them on the grounds no post-Brexit agreement has been confirmed.
France failed to agree a post-Brexit licence agreement and has been hit by an overload of applications, meaning some may lose their driving licence in the next few months.
Amid the pressure on UK expats, the Government has indicated it is working to agree a deal with France, The Guardian reports.
Without a valid licence, drivers could face a £12,808 fine, while if forced to take a driving test in the country, the theory must be done in French.
In a Facebook group for expats living in France, Kim Cranstoun described the situation which is affecting British nationals as a nightmare.
She said: “I’d say there are 3,000 who are seriously worried – for whom this has really become nightmarish,
“Commuters risk losing their jobs, tradespeople can’t work, elderly people have missed medical appointments.
“Many British people in France live in quite remote, rural areas, with little or no public transport.
“Some are thinking of moving back to the UK. It’s quite desperate.”
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8.14am update: Desperate Spain seeks to calm Brexodus fears as UK expats face being ousted from homes
Spain has attempted to calm Brexodus fears after British tourists and second-home owners were warned they are not allowed to spend more than 90 days in the country post-Brexit.
Hundreds of unregistered British citizens in Spain could be hit by new EU rules limiting visa-free visits to just six months.
However, reports Spain was planning a mass deportation of unregistered Britons were squashed by the Spanish interior ministry.
He said: “Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, and in accordance with the Brexit agreement with EU countries and international conventions, British citizens are subject to the same rules as citizens of other third-party countries.
“Like any other third-country citizens, the maximum period they can stay in Spain is three months – unless they have a work, study or another kind of visa that allows them to stay longer.”
7.21am update: British expats now at risk of losing driving licences in France
British nationals living in France may lose their driving licences due to the lack of a post-Brexit agreement.
Prior to the UK’s exit, Emmanuel Macron’s government revealed all British residents must exchange their licence for a French one.
Some UK nationals had attempted to do so but have been rejected by the French ANTS system on the grounds there is no reciprocal agreement.
Amid this threat, up to 3,000 nationals could now be affected in what was described as a nightmarish scenario.
Kim Cranstoun, who is part of a Facebook group for nationals living in France, said: “I’d say there are 3,000 who are seriously worried – for whom this has really become nightmarish.
“Commuters risk losing their jobs, tradespeople can’t work, elderly people have missed medical appointments.
“Many British people in France live in quite remote, rural areas, with little or no public transport. Some are thinking of moving back to the UK. It’s quite desperate.”
A Government source told The Guardian that an agreement was close to being confirmed.
