POST-BREXIT RIGHTS OF EU AND UK CITIZENS
21 December 2017
The EU and the UK have released a joint report outlining the post-Brexit rights of EU citizens in the UK and vice-versa. The main principles agreed on are as follows:
- Subject to additional checks, holders of a permanent residence document will have this converted into a new ‘settled status’ document at no cost.
- On cut-off date (in principle 29th March 2019), UK nationals and their family members who are resident of an EU Member State, and EU nationals and their family members who are UK resident, will have the right to stay on.
- Those who have resided in the host country for 5 continuous years before the cut-off date will be granted permanent residency status. Otherwise, they will be granted temporary residency status.
- A document evidencing residence rights will have to be obtained, but the application process is to be simple.
- Provided certain conditions are met, family members not residing in the host country on the cut-off date will have the right to join the resident member.
A new legal change is now in effect in Portugal: Decree-Law No. 85-B/2025 introduces key updates for foreign residents, including permit validity extensions.
Following Portugal's 18 May elections, the government announced plans to implement wide-ranging reforms to both citizenship and immigration laws.
