Bruno Manteigas, agency Lusa
Today at 10:06–
For tourism, study or work, for 45 years European and British citizens have been used to traveling without obstacles between the United Kingdom and the European Union, but as of January 1, Brexit becomes a reality.
As of next month, Britons in the EU will be considered nationals of a third country, no longer enjoying freedom of movement to work, study or retire in the territory of the Union and Associated States (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland), and the United Kingdom will now treat European citizens like most “non-Britons”.
UK and EU agreed on the principle of reciprocal visa waiver, but to enter European space, British citizens will have to prove that they are covered by a visa. travel insurance with health coverage, which has sufficient resources for the stay and a return ticket.
The stay in the EU will be limited to a maximum of 90 days over a period of 180 days, which can have an impact on people with second homes in European countries.
The passport needs to have at least more six months of validity from the date of travel and be less than 10 years old from the date of issue and in the future, the document will no longer be dark red and will be dark blue.
In some countries it will be necessary to international driving license and to travel with pets, the British will have to ask for their passport at least four months in advance. Mobile phone use in the EU and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein is no longer automatically free, but some operators have promised to continue to not charge the cost for calls, messages and data usage. A new British law provides for a maximum limit of 45 pounds (50 euros) when roaming.
Europeans, in turn, can enter and stay on British soil for up to six months without a visa, but they will have to enter the borders through the international arrivals queue. National identity cards, such as the Citizen’s Card, will be accepted until September 30, 2021. Biometric passport holders will be able to use the automatic “eGate” doors. Irish citizens will continue to enjoy full freedom of movement under an old bilateral agreement.
There are no restrictions on the food or drink you carry, unlike other third countries.
The European Health Card will no longer be accepted, so travel insurance with medical expenses coverage is required.
Both will be able to benefit from duty free tax on airport purchases of products such as beverages, tobacco and cosmeticsexcept for electronics and clothing, but the UK will no longer offer VAT refunds on purchases made by foreign visitors.
Border control for workers is among the unresolved issues between Europeans and the British.
On the British side, Europeans will start to be treated like all foreign citizens, that is, pneed a work visa that can cost between 610 and 1,408 pounds (676 and 1,561 euros), unless it is an area with a lack of professionals, and a £ 624 (692 euros) surcharge for accessing health services.
To settle in the UK for a long time, need a job offer and prove some fluency in Shakespeare’s language, with a minimum wage level defined by law.
For the British, a paid work may require a visa and / or a work permit, depending on the legislation in force in the EU country concerned.
Students
The British students will no longer be entitled to Erasmus, the program that allowed millions of young people to cross borders to study in another European country, although the British government has expressed an interest in extending membership in the program. The requirements will depend on each country, but it will almost certainly involve a visa and health insurance.
To study at reputable British universities, European students will pay 345 pounds (383 euros) for a visa, health surcharge and pay higher tuition, up to four times more in medicine or for some graduate degrees.
According to a study by the British Parliament, the country received 143,000 EU students at its universities during the 2018-2019 school year. Foreign students are an important source of university funding, having injected £ 25.8 billion (€ 29 billion) into the UK economy in 2015.
Immigration
Currently, about 1.3 million Britons live in the EU, while 3.6 million European citizens live in the UK.
Rights are protected if they are installed in the country of residence before December 31, 2020. After January 1, Britons who wish to settle in France, Spain or Germany, the current favorite destinations for work and retirement, will have comply with the same requirements as for third-country nationals, such as health insurance, means of subsistence or knowledge of the local language.
The United Kingdom, for its part, will introduce a points system from 2021 onwards, which will make the establishment of Europeans more difficult, taking into account age, qualifications, knowledge of English and financial resources.
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