Examining the impact of Brexit on employees relocating to the UK from the EU or to the EU from the UK.
The last day of 2020 marked the end of the UK’s Brexit transition period. The country is no longer a member of the European Union (EU), and UK nationals no longer benefit from Freedom of Movement in the EU (and likewise, EU nationals no longer benefit from the same in the UK). Aires has released a white paper and a podcast digging deeper into some of the issues this raises. Below, we will examine the impact of Brexit on local hires in the EU and the UK.
UK National Local Hires in the EU: UK Nationals working and residing in the EU prior to January 1, 2021, will typically need to register or apply for residence status. Those who have resided in the host country for at least five years will typically be granted a new residence document with a longer validity period than those who have been in country for fewer than five years. Those arriving after January 1, 2021 must apply for a work permit.
EU National Local Hires in the UK: The EU Settlement Scheme allows those who resided in the UK prior to January 1, 2021, to register for settlement status before June 30, 2021. Those who have resided in the UK for at least five years will receive “settled status,” and those who have resided for fewer than five years will receive “pre-settled status,” which may lead to a settled status later. Those EU nationals arriving in the UK after January 1 must apply for work permission under the new UK immigration system, which is points-based and features options for both intra-company transferees and skilled workers. A Sponsor License will be required, and it is recommended that the process be started as early as possible.
BREXIT PODCAST AND WHITE PAPER
The above topics are just a sampling of the information we have gathered related to Brexit. For a more in-depth overview, please listen to our podcast on the subject, featuring Bobby Bartle, General Counsel at Aires, and Sophy King, Managing Director at Owl Immigration.
Additionally, please contact your Aires representative for a copy of Aires’ Brexit white paper, which covers the issues described above as well as assignees/posted workers, cross-border (“frontier”) workers, business travelers, and the COVID-19 impact.