Prove your right
to live in the UK
as an EEA citizen
11 July 2016
The vote to exit the European Union has left many EEA (European Economic Area) nationals feeling uncertain about their future in the UK.
There are, however, various immigration options which these individuals can consider, in order to bolster their status in the UK.
If you have lived in the UK for a continuous period of five years or more, you can apply for for confirmation of permanent residence rights, or British citizenship.
If you have lived in the UK for less than five years, however, do not despair. There is another option which will go some way to assuaging your concerns, and this is to apply for a registration certificate.
What is a registration certificate?
A registration certificate is a document which proves your right to live and work in the UK by verifying that you are in the UK exercising your treaty rights. It is valid for up to five years.
Am I eligible to apply for a registration certificate?
EEA nationals are able to apply for a registration certificate if they live in the UK and wish to prove that they have a right to do so. As an EEA national, you are able to apply for a registration certificate as soon as you are in the UK, which is why this is the often best immigration option for those who have been in the UK for fewer than five years.
What are the benefits of having a registration certificate?
Under normal circumstances, there is no legal need to apply for a registration certificate as an EEA national. In light of Brexit however, a registration certificate would confirm that you are in the UK exercising your treaty rights prior to any change in the country’s immigration rules and stand you in good stead should freedom of movement be curtailed in any way.
Unfortunately, it will be some time before we can expect an official statement on the status of EEA nationals once the UK formally leaves the EU.
The UK is required to give notice of its intention to exit the EU before it is officially able to leave and only then can negotiations over the conditions of an exit from the EU begin.
For now, however, EEA nationals in the UK should remember that they can continue to exercise their free movement rights by living and working in the UK until any withdrawal from the EU is complete.
Contact us now for advice and support on your immigration options as an EEA citizen living in the UK. Smith Stone Walters is a UK immigration practice which can help you and your family to secure your status in the UK.
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