On I January 2021 the UK will either have an agreed new deal in place with the EU for their trading relationship going forward or they will have no agreed deal in place. To that extent there is uncertainty. What is certain is what is going to happen with EU nationals coming to live and work in the UK.
For those EU nationals who are in the UK already or arrive on 31 December 2020 or sooner, they can take advantage of the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). They can live and work visa free provided they have registered with the EUSS. They have until 30 June 2021 to do so. More than 3.6 million EU nationals have done so already. It is a process made simple that the UK government can feel proud of.
For those EU nationals arriving from 1 January 2021, they will have to apply for work visas in the same way that people from all other countries in the world do. There are some exceptions: a) Irish nationals can live and work visa free; b) Turkish nationals have a special visa based on EU Treaty rights, but that seems likely to be stopped on 31 December 2020; c) Hong Kong nationals who have British National status.
Just imagine an EU national who puts off arriving in the UK till 1 January 2021 to live and work in the UK! Don’t put it off. Arrive before 1 January 2021 if you possibly can.
We can help you as an EU national and your family to take advantage of the EUSS.
Tom Redfern
tredfern@redfernlegal.com
