Brexit agreement: What awaits British workers in Germany
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It's now official – Great Britain is finally leaving the European Union. Brexit actually took place on January 31, 2020. This date marked the beginning of a transition period that is scheduled to last until the end of December 2020, during which British citizens will continue to enjoy freedom of movement like other EU citizens. In any case, from then on, at the latest, British nationals will require a residence permit or other proof of their right of residence to stay in Germany.
So what exactly does this mean for British workers here in Germany? Britons will be treated like other third-country nationals, i.e. citizens from countries outside the EU. This presents the challenge that after the transition period, they will need a visa (multiple entry visa) for each trip to EU countries, including Germany. However, with the now agreed Brexit, those who have resided in Germany for at least five years can apply for a (permanent) settlement permit. Those who have previously resided in Germany for less than five years can apply for a (limited) residence permit, based, for example, on employment or family reunification.
This means that not only those affected themselves, but also companies that employ employees from Great Britain, are faced with the challenge of weighing all the conditions and initiating the necessary steps with the relevant authorities in a timely manner to avoid being caught off guard by negative consequences. However, there is no reason to worry: No British citizen needs to leave Germany immediately in order to re-enter with a newly applied-for visa – it is possible to obtain a residence permit during the transition period by registering with the relevant immigration authority in a timely manner – or, if desired, to apply for German citizenship.
Request here for free our info sheet “Consequences of Brexit on UK citizens residing and working in Germany”. We explain step by step what British citizens who already live and work in Germany can do to obtain a residence permit or naturalization.
Do you have specific questions? We would be happy to support you with comprehensive advice. We also offer this for companies – and, if desired, we can also handle the registration of your employees with the relevant immigration authorities. Please feel free to contact us.
Brexit – consequences for companies
This means that not only those affected themselves, but also companies that employ employees from Great Britain, are faced with the challenge of weighing all the conditions and initiating the necessary steps with the relevant authorities in a timely manner to avoid being caught off guard by negative consequences. But there's no reason to worry: No British citizen needs to leave Germany immediately to re-enter with a newly applied-for visa – it's possible to obtain a residence permit during the transition period by registering with the relevant immigration authority in a timely manner – or, if desired, to apply for German citizenship.
Do you have any questions? We would be happy to support you with comprehensive consulting. We also offer this service to companies – and, if desired, we can also handle the registration of your employees with the relevant immigration authorities.
We’ll keep you informed – register now.