Brexit: EU Nationals Living in Limbo
March 2, 2017
By: Sara Fekete
EU nationals residing in the UK have been living in limbo, in the aftermath of the EU referendum. We had to wait almost half a year, until UK Prime Minister Theresa May's last speech on January 17, to see whether Brexit would be happening, and if so when and how. The vote of the House of Commons a few weeks later, in favour of triggering the Article 50 bill, reconfirmed that Brexit will indeed happen and we had better prepare for it.
But What will Brexit Look Like?
Since June 2016, EU nationals living in the UK, including myself, have been wondering what will Brexit mean in everyday practice. What Brexit will ultimately look like is a question that we still cannot answer with certainty. In her speech setting out the plan for Britain, the Prime Minister hinted she would support a hard, rather than soft Brexit, seeking a new and equal partnership with the EU, and not a partial membership or an associate membership. To achieve this, she is ready to re-negotiate the great principles forming the basis of Britain's EU membership, including the free movement of people across the borders. This deeply affects EU citizens’ right of free travel and right to live in the UK. Of course, these reforms will not take place immediately, but day after day we are getting closer to the actual exit.
Should We Fear Brexit?
Reforming Britain's immigration system is PM May's 5th priority (out of the 12 set out in her plan). Once Article 50 is triggered, and exit negotiations are completed, the UK's immigration system may be quite different from the one we know today. From my understanding, Brexit or not, the UK will continue to facilitate the flow of highly skilled individuals into the country to fill in the job shortage requiring both practical and theoretical experience. But what happens if you do not belong to the brightest and the best who would like to work or study in Britain?
Be Smart -- Secure Your Legal Stay!
As EU nationals, there is currently little we can do to demonstrate that we are legally residing in the UK.There are no compulsory town hall registrations to complete upon arrival in the UK, and we EU nationals end up wandering around with lots of council letters and utility bills, should we ever need to demonstrate our permanent address in the UK. We are so aware of our right to free movement that most of us do not even know that there is a way to formally prove our right to live in the UK.
The citizens of a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland are currently eligible for one of the following certificates, issued by the UK Government:
- Registration certificate if you have lived in the UK for less than 5 years
- Permanent residence document if you have lived in the UK for 5 years or more
By obtaining these documents, claiming certain benefits and services might be easier for eligible EU nationals, and most importantly, they can prove your right to live in the UK. With Brexit coming, registering yourself as a qualified EU national is one of the steps you can take today to prove the legal grounds of your status in an uncertain environment.
