Destitute in Spain

brodev

English man in Spain trying to turn his life around. He is totally destitute with no home , job or money, living on handouts. He has no supportive family in Spain nor England. His passport has expired and he wants to return to England. He says he will hitch hike to Calais but he doesn't know what will happen there with no current passport. Does anybody know?

19lottie82

I guess it would be more sensible to visit the British Embassy first?

Caz3121

brodev wrote: »

He has no supportive family in Spain nor England. His passport has expired and he wants to return to England.

Does he have somewhere to stay when he comes to England? has be kept bank account etc in UK? Is he able to work?
He will not be able to claim benefits immediately and will need to pass the Habitual Residence test - there have been cases of people in similar situations not passing the test
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/coming-from-abroad-and-claiming-benefits-the-habitual-residence-test/british-and-irish-citizens-claiming-benefits/

asparagus1968

I'd second the idea of going to the embassy.

FBaby

He should claim benefits in Spain as a Spaniard resident.

missbiggles1

Did he ever work in Spain, paying tax and social charges?

andrewmp

Go to the embassy, they'll help. Or just turn up at the border with his expired passport, he'll get in.

missbiggles1

andrewmp wrote: »

Go to the embassy, they'll help. Or just turn up at the border with his expired passport, he'll get in.

Even if that were true - what happens then?

andrewmp

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Even if that were true - what happens then?

He enters his home country and claims benefits.

duchy

A lot will depend how long he has lived away from the UK

andrewmp

duchy wrote: »

A lot will depend how long he has lived away from the UK

If he wants to get back to the UK, the lack of a valid passport shouldn't make any difference as long as he shows his expired passport to British border officials in designated ports in France.

Paris Garde du Nord would probably be the closest for him.

If he has a national identity card for Spain, then I imagine he could use that to board a flight/boat/train to the UK from wherever too.

Or go to the nearest embassy and explain the situation and they'll sort out an emergency passport (for a fee of course). I would think there will be emergency repatriation procedures too in this instance for people with no access to funds.