If Britain leaves the EU without agreeing a deal, the
government will seek to end free movement as soon as
possible and has introduced an Immigration
Bill to achieve this. For a transitional
period only, EEA citizens and their family members,
including Swiss citizens, will still be able to come to
the UK for visits, work or study and they will be able
to enter the UK as they do now.
However, to stay longer than 3 months they will need to
apply for permission and receive European Temporary
Leave to Remain, which is valid for a further 3 years.
EU citizens wishing to stay for longer than 3 years
will need to make a further application under the new
skills-based future immigration system, which will
begin from 2021.
Home Secretary said:
If we leave the EU without a deal we will continue to
deliver on the referendum result and end free
movement once and for all – giving us full control of
our borders for the first time in decades.
However, we need to take a practical approach and
minimise disruption to ensure the UK stays open for
business. That is why we will introduce time-limited
transitional arrangements and grant EU citizens
coming after March 29 temporary leave.
Let me be clear. This policy does not apply to those
here before exit day, whose rights to live and work
will be protected by the EU Settlement Scheme. We
want them to stay and value them hugely.
The information set
out today also confirms that if there is no
deal:
- EU citizens arriving in the UK who wish to stay
longer than 3 months and apply for European Temporary
Leave to Remain will be subject to identity,
criminality and security checks before being granted
permission to stay for three years
- non-EU family members who wish to accompany an EU
citizen under these arrangements will need to apply in
advance for a family permit
- EU citizens will be able to enter and leave the UK
as they do now, using e-gates when travelling on a
biometric passport
- the initial 3 months’ leave to enter for EU
citizens will be free of charge but applications for
European Temporary Leave to Remain will be paid for.
Fees will be set out at a later date
- Irish citizens will not need to apply for European
Temporary Leave to Remain and will continue to have the
right to enter and live in the UK under the Common
Travel Area
The Home Secretary has set out plans for a new single
skills-based immigration system which will operate from
2021. It will enable employers to attract the skills
they need from around the world, while ensuring net
migration is reduced to sustainable levels.
