Brexit Relocations – How Has Brexit Impacted European Relocations?
It is fair to say that we at Matthew James Global Relocations, as with many other companies, were extremely concerned about the impact that Brexit would have on our European operations.
As of the beginning of the year, Brexit has put an end to the free movement of people between the United Kingdom and other EU countries. This, of course, left European removal companies with a great deal of uncertainty as to whether we could continue to move our clients with as much ease as we did before the UK’s departure from the European Union.
Continue reading as we outline how Brexit will affect your ability to move to and from the UK and EU states and the impact we have seen on the removals process.
Can I still move to an EU country after Brexit?
Following the end of the transition period on 31st December 2020, UK citizens no longer have an automatic right to live and work in EU. People wishing to emigrate to an EU member country (or stay for more than 90 days in any 180-day period) are therefore advised to check the country’s individual immigration rules beforehand. Generally speaking, permanent moves from the UK to countries within the EU can still take place, but citizens will have to apply for a visa following each individual country’s immigration rules.
If you were already residing in an EU country before the deadline, you will be able to continue living or working there, but will have to register as a resident in the country before 30th June 2021.
Some UK citizens may be able to apply for the EU Blue Card, which enables highly-qualified workers to live and work within an EU country. This will depend on factors, such as professional qualifications, employment contracts or job offers, and salary.
People who have acquired any professional qualifications in the UK should also verify that they will still be recognised in the EU countries after Brexit.
Can I study in an EU country after Brexit?
Prior to Brexit, the Erasmus scheme allowed UK students to attend universities in EU countries. As the UK has opted out of this scheme, going forward, British students will not be able to take part in an exchange program with an EU university.
However, the UK government has announced the new “Turning scheme” for university students, which will begin in September 2021. This will allow 35,000 students from the UK to work or study overseas. Details will become more apparent later in the year.
Can I retire in an EU country after Brexit?
Yes, if you were already living in an EU country by 31st December 2020 and have registered as a resident by 30th June 2021, you will be able to retire there hassle-free.
If you are not yet living in the country, the process will become more complicated, and you will need to obtain a visa in order to retire there. If you are a UK citizen wishing to retire in the EU, we advise keeping up-to-date with the latest guidance on pensions and benefits.
If you are planning to retire in Spain, you can also read our handy guide on moving to Spain post-Brexit.
How has Brexit impacted Matthew James Removals so far?
The picture opposite shows a comparison of our crews’ activity as they clocked in and out on their journeys in both January 2020 and January 2021.
We think you will agree that it is evident that our initial fears were completely unfounded, and we have so far this year processed 12 trips without any issues whatsoever.
We do not wish to infer that the process of moving our clients to Europe is straightforward, because it is clearly not. There is a significant amount of paperwork to clear with the relevant agents and customs.
However, thanks to the outstanding work of our Operations team of Paul, Kellie, Katie and Tony, who have put considerable effort into ensuring we had everything in place for the transition, we have managed to move all the clients that were able to supply the required paperwork.
It has been a massive team effort and they have also been supported by Graham.
Not even Brexit can slow us down at Matthew James Global Relocations!
Moving to the EU post-Brexit?
If you are planning to move from the UK to an EU country after Brexit, then it is vital to choose an international removals company that you can trust. Matthew James Relocations is a well-known, reliable removals expert that has been in the business for many years.
Although Brexit poses a greater number of hurdles for both UK citizens looking to emigrate and the relocation companies handling the move, it is still possible to move to your dream country in Europe!
We closely follow and keep up-to-date with all the latest news, guidelines and paperwork needed to ensure your post-Brexit move from the UK to Europe is as stress-free as it can be.
To find out more, call us on 01322 251000 or request a free, no-obligation European removals quote now.