Expats in Thailand ‘May Have Bank Accounts Investigated’ In late March, the Pattaya Times reported that UK banks may have to pass customers’ information over to the Department of Work and Pensions, as part of the data protection and digital information bill. The DWP says that there is a history of overpayments to British pensioners … Read more
Spanish Hospitals ‘Crackdown’ After Painkiller Scandal In Spain, the National Court’s Prosecutor’s Office plans to investigate potential adverse effects of the painkiller Nolotil, following several deaths among Brits and other Northern Europeans, who appear particularly susceptible to its side effects. Health Minister Mónica García described the situation as a “pharmacovigilance issue” to the press and … Read more
HMRC Complains About ‘Stealth Expats’ Although there has been a steep decline recently in the number of expats contacting HMRC with news of their move out of the UK, tax experts remain sceptical. The volume of P85 forms received by HMRC in 2019-2023 (these tell the tax authorities that someone has left the country for … Read more
Further Developments in the Nolotil Scandal Spain’s High Court has agreed to hear a lawsuit brought by campaigners on behalf of families bereaved by the controversial analgesic Nolotil. We’ve reported on this extensively in recent months, following the deaths of a number of British and Irish expats. At the end of last year, a lawsuit … Read more
InterNations: Expat Age Report As part of the annual Expat Insider survey, InterNations has recently released statistics relating to the average age of expats in 2023. The highest percentage – 18% – consists of expats over the age of 61, with those aged 36-40 in the next bracket at 14% (the average age of an … Read more
New ISA for Expats Investment and wealth management platform, Novia Global, announced at the end of January that it will be offering a new ISA to expats, particularly Brits in a state of ‘suspended animation’ with their current ISAs who are unable to add any funds to their existing schemes. The new product will not … Read more
Finland: Changes to Schengen Visa Regulations Finland has recently increased the minimum daily amount that you will need to remain in the country under a Schengen visa, from €30 to €50. You’ll also need a sponsorship form if you’ve been invited to Finland, and if your expenses will be covered by the organisation or person … Read more
Germany’s Health Insurance Costs to Rise in 2024 If you’re a resident in Germany, your health insurance costs (Zusatzbeitrag) will be rising by 0.1% in 2024 to a maximum of 1.7%, split equally between yourself and your employer. The rise will allow patients to access medical care which is not currently covered by statutory health insurance, … Read more
Medical Authorities Warn of New Health Concern in Europe Recent reports of a pneumonia outbreak in China, primarily affecting children, have raised concerns among European health authorities regarding a potential future epidemic in the EU. The Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL) has observed a higher-than-expected number of patients seeking medical attention for pneumonia, … Read more
Banking for UK Expats We have reported extensively on the closure of UK expat bank accounts post-Brexit and the situation is still ongoing. If you have been affected by your bank’s decision but still require a UK bank account, what options are available to you? A report by ‘Which’ in November 2023 unveiled several choices. … Read more