What will happen to British citizens living and working in Europe?The UK government has three separate agreements with the 31 European countries that accept freedom of movement. Each agreement provides a strong level of protection for British citizens living or moving to Europe until the end of the transition period. The Withdrawal Agreement guarantees British citizens (who are lawfully resident in EU member states) broadly the same rights as they have now. They can continue to live, work and travel (although these rights would cease after a leave of absence of more than five years). The same would apply to British citizens moving to the EU during the transition period, which is expected to end on 31 December 2020. This is because freedom of movement would continue to apply during this time.A separate agreement with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein – three countries that are not in the EU but have freedom of movement as part of their membership of the European Economic Area (EEA). This agreement mirrors the offer in the Withdrawal Agreement.An agreement with Switzerland – not in the EEA but accepts freedom of movement. It also mirrors the offer in the Withdrawal Agreement.These agreements do not apply to British citizens who want to move to the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland after the transition has ended.
Source: British citizens in Europe after Brexit | The Institute for Government
