Brexit

Brexit: The UK is due to leave the European Union from 29 March 2019, having triggered Article 50 in March this year. With recent leaked Home Office documents, the UK’s initial detailed proposal to the EU and the Theresa May speech in Florence on 22 September, the future UK immigration landscape is starting to take shape. In Florence, the Prime Minister emphasised that freedom of movement will continue for a transitional/implementation period until at least 29 March 2021 and that EU nationals who arrive in the UK after the specified date will be subject to mandatory registration in some circumstances. The current indication from the UK is that EU nationals who enter the UK for 3-6 months will not need to do anything, but beyond that initial period the indication is they will need to apply for residence permits valid for up to 2 years, or 3-5 years if the applicant has a job offer in a sufficiently skilled role. The EU will no doubt be seeking to rein in the UK and aim for less onerous requirements on EU nationals. Hopefully, there will be more clarity on the UK’s proposals when the official version of the leaked Home Office document is released in “late Autumn” this year and as Brexit negotiations ramp up. Whilst much is still up in the air and the UK and EU continue negotiations in uncertain times, our advice to employers is there is much that they can be doing now to try and protect their and their EU national employees’ positions. Applications can include those for registration certificates and permanent residence and employers can seek to show support and updates/briefings to their EU workforce in these times of change.