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Guidance
UK nationals in the EU: what you need to know
- From:
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Department for Exiting the European Union
- Published:
- 11 July 2016
- Last updated:
- 26 June 2017, see all updates
Information on the rights and status of UK nationals living and travelling in the European Union (EU) following the triggering of Article 50.
There will be no change to the rights and status of UK nationals living in the EU while the UK remains in the EU.
This page will be updated with the latest information about the status of UK nationals in the European Union (EU) as the negotiations progress. You can sign-up for email alerts to receive updates to all Brexit pages on gov.uk
The UK government has been clear that we should always put citizens first. We want to strike an early agreement about the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, and UK citizens living in the EU. We want to give citizens as much certainty as possible, as early as possible.
On 26 June 2017, the Prime Minister announced her offer to EU nationals currently living in the UK. This is set out in ‘Safeguarding the position of EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU’. More information is in Status of EU nationals in the UK: what you need to know.
The UK government’s offer to EU citizens will give those people who have been living in the UK since before a specific cut-off date, equivalent status and entitlements to benefits and services on the day we leave the EU as they currently have. This cut-off date will be agreed during the negotiations but it won’t be earlier than 29 March 2017 (the date Article 50 was triggered) or later than the date the UK leaves the EU.
The UK government fully expects that the spirit of our offer will be reciprocated by the EU for UK nationals living in the EU.
The Prime Minister has been clear that UK nationals in the EU should see the same offer in return:
The UK fully expects that the EU and its member states will ensure, in a reciprocal way, that the rights set out above are similarly protected for UK nationals living across the EU before the specified date.
Firstly, UK nationals in the EU must be able to attain a right equivalent to settled status in the country in which they reside.
Secondly, they must be able to continue to access benefits and services across the member states akin to the way in which they do now.
When the UK government has an agreement with the EU, further information will be published on the status of UK nationals living in the EU.
Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. This means:
Travelling in the EU – passports and healthcare
-
UK nationals can continue to travel freely within the EU using a UK passport
-
there continue to be no visa requirements for UK nationals entering another EU country
-
UK nationals can continue to access healthcare during temporary visits to EU countries using the European Health Insurance Card
Living and working in the EU – property, pensions and healthcare
-
UK nationals retain their legal status as EU citizens and can continue to work and live in EU countries
-
UK nationals can continue to receive healthcare in EU countries
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UK nationals can continue to retire and collect their pensions in EU countries
More information
Document information
Published: 11 July 2016
Updated: 26 June 2017
- Updated on 26 June 2017 to reflect UK Government's offer on EU Citizens' Rights
- Updated information following the triggering of Article 50
- Updates to first and second paragraphs to reflect current situation
- Change to intro
- Amendment to introduction text and link added to Department for Exiting the EU
- First published.