EU citizens in the UK may experience limited access after Brexit

Editor 02 October 2020

EU CITIZENS IN THE UK MAY EXPERIENCE LIMITED ACCESS AFTER BREXIT Once the Brexit transition ends, economically inactive people who do not hold private comprehensive health insurance will not be considered lawfully resident in the UK, until such time that they are granted a status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Last year the UK Home Office agreed to create a grace period of six months after the Brexit transition period ends on December 31st 2020, to allow European Economic Area and Swiss nationals more time to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, which guarantees their ongoing rights in the United Kingdom. This is now not necessarily going to be the case for everyone.

Online news portal Politico.eu reports the full story here.

British citizens who earn less than £18,600 a year currently cannot live in the UK with a partner from outside the European Economic Area because of a rule called the Minimum Income Requirement (MIR).

After 29 March, 2022, the Minimum Income Requirement will also apply to partners from the EEA (EU plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) and Switzerland. A survey by Oxford University found that 55% of women in the UK and 40% of UK citizens overall did not earn enough to meet the MiR.

British in Europe is collecting information about people in partnerships who will be affected. If you are a UK / Irish citizen living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland and have a non UK / Irish partner, that may include you. Your input is important so please complete the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/right-to-return?fbclid=IwAR141uAxQ9yR9GuSgCyJ

You may also find the latest ECREU (Expat Citizen Rights in EU) Newsletter of interest. Although it does not directly relate to Portugal, it gives us a taster of could be in the pipeline. CLICK HERE.