Yesterday, the Prime Minister Theresa May pledged to trigger article 50 before the end of March 2017, which will begin the formal process of the UK’s exit from the EU. The triggering of article 50 is bound to affect the rights of the 3 million EU and EEA nationals and their family members currently residing and working in the UK.
In legal terms, Article 50 of the Treaty on the European Union establishes the procedures for a member state to withdraw from the EU. Under this Article, the UK must notify the EU of its withdrawal and the EU will then be obliged to try to negotiate a withdrawal agreement with the UK. The results of the vote in itself do not provide the EU with notification – this must be done formally and in accordance to procedures put in place by the Treaty on the European Union.
Over the next few weeks, British and European leaders will begin negotiating the terms of Britain’s departure and it goes without saying that Britain’s exit from the European Union will affect the British economy and immigration policy. It is unlikely we will know the true consequences for at least a few years but it is likely that whilst terms of withdrawal are being negotiated, there would be no immediate changes to the immigration rules. This is because of the significant impact it would have on UK employers and employees.
Once Britain invokes Article 50, it will have 2 years in which to negotiate a new treaty to replace the terms of EU membership. This means that there will be no immediate consequences for EU nationals in the UK and free movement of people will continue. EEA nationals who have been residing in the UK for at least 5 years and have been exercising their Treaty Rights (by working, being self-employed or studying) may wish to consider their options for applying for a Permanent Residence Card. This would be equivalent to “Indefinite Leave to Remain” under the UK Immigration Rules and may allow them to naturalise as a British citizen after a year.
In terms of the near future, it is possible that Britain will negotiate an agreement which would continue to allow free movement between the UK and the EU (and it would certainly be in its interests too) but if this fails, it is likely EU nationals would face the same migration criteria which applies to non EU nationals wishing to live and work in the UK. The current immigration rules are restrictive and due to government policy over the years, change regularly.
There are currently 3 million EU migrants in the UK and the vast majority of them hold EEA Permanent Residence Cards. It is likely now, that EU migrants who are eligible, will be able to apply for naturalisation and become British citizens. Those who do not have a Permanent Residence Card will be making applications to do so and it will be interesting to see how the Home Office cope with the pressure of processing these applications within the 6 month statutory requirement period.
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