Tourism, business trips, higher education: citizens accustomed to movement without obstacle for more than 45 years between the United Kingdom and the European Union will have to adapt to the reality of Brexit from this… Friday.
From this date, the British will be considered in the EU as the nationals of a third country, no longer enjoying the freedom of movement to work, study or retire in the territory of the Union and associated States. (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland).
Britain, on the other hand, will treat EU citizens like most ‘non-Britons’.
With the difference that those who can prove a residence in the country before the end of 2020 will retain their rights, in accordance with the withdrawal agreement concluded at the end of 2019.
And the reverse is true for British citizens domiciled in the EU.
+ READ ALSO | Post-Brexit deal signed by Boris Johson and EU leaders
Tourists
British tourists will undoubtedly have to be patient when it comes to entering the EU, even if the two parties have agreed on the principle of a reciprocal visa exemption.
Their stay in the EU will be limited to a maximum of 90 days over a period of 180 days.
They will have to prove that they are covered by insurance, have sufficient resources or have a return ticket.
Europeans, for their part, will be able to enter British soil with a simple identity card until October 2021, when a passport will be required, for stays of up to six months.
But there will be exceptions. Some non-European companions of an EU citizen will need a visa.
Irish and UK nationals will continue to enjoy full freedom of movement under an old bilateral agreement.
What about pets?
Britons wishing to travel with their dog or cat will need to obtain an international health certificate no later than ten days before their stay in the EU. But the converse does not apply for Europeans, who will be able to continue to take their animals to the United Kingdom without further formalities.
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Business travel
The post-Brexit agreement provides that a work permit may be required depending on the activities carried out.
As a general rule, while participants in meetings, conferences, seminars, fairs, exhibitions or research work are exempt from a permit, the latter is required for activities involving the sale of goods or services to the public. However, some EU countries have additional restrictions for certain activities.
EU nationals with a job offer in the UK will need to prove some fluency in the language of Shakespeare, with a salary level set by law.
Students
No more Erasmus exchanges with Great Britain: the European program is too expensive, Judge Boris Johnson. Instead, UK students will be offered a global program, named after mathematician Alan Turing.
From now on, European students will be required to obtain a visa for any university stay of more than six months, and will have to pay higher tuition fees – – up to four times more in medicine or for certain prestigious postgraduate degrees.
According to a study by the British Parliament, the country had 143,000 EU students in its universities during the year 2018-2019.
In 2015, international students injected 25.8 billion pounds (29 billion euros) into the economy of the United Kingdom, considered the second preferred university destination in the world after the United States.
Immigration
Some 1.3 million Britons currently reside in the EU. In the UK, more than 4.2 million EU citizens had applied for residence status by the end of October. Their rights are protected if they were installed before December 31, 2020.
But it will be quite different for those who wish to emigrate after January 1.
Great Britain will introduce a points system which will make settling in for Europeans much more difficult. Age, knowledge of English, financial resources will be taken into account.
And the British who want to settle in France, Spain, or Germany (their favorite destinations to work or retire) will face the same constraints as third-country nationals … Whether it is health insurance , income conditions or language requirements.
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