Almost 35,000 Britons in limbo as Portugal fails to issue post-Brexit ID cards

A street in Lisbon. Under the Brexit deal, British citizens in the country were guaranteed their social and employment rights would be protected. Photograph: Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

British nationals living in Portugal are unable to access healthcare, change jobs, or travel in and out of the country as its ministers have not issued them with post-Brexit residency cards, it has emerged.

The UK government has raised the issue at ministerial level and urged Portugal to implement fully the withdrawal agreement and protect the rights of the 34,500 Britons who made the country their home before Brexit.