The Government has published a policy paper to make clear the UK’s ‘fair and serious offer’ to maintain EU citizens’ rights, which will be enshrined in UK law. Our Brexit Briefing stresses that there are significant numbers of non-UK EU citizens that work in the heritage sector in England in a variety of capacities, and also UK companies and citizens who work in heritage in other EU countries. This two way exchange of expertise and labour is extremely important to the sector.
The paper confirms the creation of a new ‘settled status’ for EU citizens who arrive before a cut-off date, which is yet to be specified, and will be agreed as part of the negotiations with the EU. Applicants who already have 5 years’ continuous residence in the UK will be immediately eligible for settled status. Those who arrived before the specified date but do not yet meet the 5 year threshold by exit day will be allowed to stay until they reach that milestone and can also secure settled status.
Those EU citizens who are granted settled status will be treated like a comparable UK national, entitled to broadly the same rights and benefits. A grace period of up to 2 years will be in place for all EU citizens, including those who arrive after the cut-off date, allowing them to regularise their status to remain in the country.