The United Kingdom is intending to leave the European Union at midnight on 31 January 2020 the latest. Currently there are still two options, the UK will leave the EU with a withdrawal agreement, the so called deal scenario, or they will leave without a withdrawal agreement, the no deal scenario.
On 17 October 2019 the EU and the UK reached an agreement on the conditions for the Brexit, including a transition period. Currently this agreement is awaiting approval by the UK parliament as well as the European Parliament. Only upon approval the agreement can enter into force.
With the general election victory of UK Minister Boris Johnson on 12 December 2019 it is expected that the agreement will be approved by the UK parliament this month, meaning the UK will be leaving the EU with a withdrawal agreement on 31 January 2020. A transition period, until 31 December 2020 will follow. During the transition period all EU rules and regulations will continue to apply to the UK. It is possible that this transition period will be extended once by two years, meaning it could remain in place until 31 December 2022. Prime Minister Johnson however said that he will not seek an extension.
In case of a deal scenario, new agreements will have to be agreed upon during the transition period. New agreements will only enter in to force after the transition period. These new agreements will have to be approved by the individual member states, the UK parliament and the European Parliament. Should there be no agreement reached during the transition period, the UK will be leaving the EU without an agreement after the transition period.
While it is highly likely that the UK will leave the EU end of January 2020 with a withdrawal agreement, there is still the possibility that no agreement will be reached.
When the UK will leave the EU, it will have consequences for both UK nationals in the Netherlands as well as Dutch citizens currently in the UK. UK nationals and their family members residing in the Netherlands will retain their right of residence up to Brexit. Question is, what is required after Brexit?
- Deal scenario:
During the transition period: Valid passport
After transition period: Valid residence permit - No deal scenario:
During the transition period: Valid temporary residence permit
After transition period: Valid residence permit
ExpatPro will continue to monitor the situation closely and will keep you informed about the Brexit developments and in particular the consequences for UK nationals and their family members in the Netherlands.