Everyday Impact of Brexit on UK Citizens' ability to work, travel and live in Europe; for some, there may be a Solution

It is still unknown whether the UK will crash out of the EU or whether there will be a well-managed exit. What is certain is that regardless of whether there is a hard or soft Brexit there will be an impact on the UK and on British citizens. In particular, British citizens that have business interests in Europe, those who have investments in Europe and those who work for international or European companies. Much will depend on reciprocity.

If you are working for a company that requires its staff to travel frequently across Europe and may also need its staff to be seconded to European offices for periods of time, British citizenship may be an issue. As we inch slowly towards what appears to be a cliff edge at the moment there are many issues that do not appear to have been touched on, let alone resolved. 

Key industries are almost certainly looking carefully at the flexibility of their employees and business decisions will be made regarding the value of an employee that has limited capacity to travel and stay in the countries in which they do business. It may well be that the proposed 90-day travel and stay period in any given 180 days after the transition period will be sufficient for most business needs. 

Conversely, British businesses in sectors that rely on European workers will keenly feel the impact of the new rules which are optimistically aimed at allowing skilled workers only from Europe with a high salary threshold and hoping that the vast numbers of unskilled workers that are key in the hospitality industry, the NHS and in agriculture will be filled by British workers, who, it has to be said have hitherto shown no appetite for this work.

British businesses that do business in European countries may have the hardest task as they will have to navigate an as yet unknown course to continue to operate.

For Britons who have investments in Europe, often in the form of a holiday home, the ability to travel as frequently may be limited. Due to the terrorist threat the EU has introduced the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is expected to be fully operational by late 2023. British citizens will have to apply for this document to enable travel across Europe. If the holiday home was purchased with a view to letting out the property to UK tourists Brexit may have an impact on the ability to attract business.

There may be a solution for people who have Italian heritage or have married an Italian. Giambrone’s immigration lawyers suggest that dual nationality would considerable assist an individual to navigate Europe. Italy has one of the most flexible regimes allowing people to rely on their Italian heritage going back more than just one generation and also permits dual nationality, nobody has to give up their original citizenship. Our immigration lawyers, both in Italy and in the UK can advise in all aspects of Italian immigration and assist you to present your documentation in the best possible way to ensure the passage of your application is as speedy as possible. 

Giambrone’s immigration lawyers can also advise businesses on how to assist their employees with regard to applying for Italian citizenship should they be eligible.

For more information on Italian immigration please click here.