1. POST-REFERENDUM INFORMATION FOR EUROPEAN COLLEAGUES
12 November 2018

2. INTRODUCTION
Almost one thousand members of our staff and two thousand students are from Europe and form an integral part of the future success of our University. The result of the EU referendum leaves us with some significant questions to answer but also a need to work even more closely together to navigate our way successfully through. This information is being provided as part of our commitment to work closely with colleagues to ensure that they are supported through this process.

3. WHO IS THIS FOR?
EU nationals (27 countries) - Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
EEA nationals – Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Swiss nationals
Family members of the above.

4. WHAT IS MY STATUS? On 23 June 2016 – the UK voted to leave the EU.
The UK is still a full member state of the European Union and as such there is freedom of movement of workers and the right of EU citizens and their family members to move and reside freely within member states.
The UK government will invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty by the end of March 2017.
The UK will then have two years to exit the EU.
During that period the legal status of European nationals living and working in Britain will be made clear.

5. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? Part 1
This depends on what you think the outcome of the Brexit negotiations will be, how long you have resided in the UK and your status.
You may decide not to do anything. Wait and hear the outcome over the next couple of years. OR
You may decide you want a more formal status:
If you are a suitably qualified person i.e.
an EEA national and
in the UK as a: worker, jobseeker, self-employed, self-sufficient person or student
Your next step depends upon how long you have resided in the UK.

6. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? Part 2
If you have resided in the UK for less than 5 yrs
Apply for an EU Registration Certificate
It proves your right to live and work in the UK and documents the official date (for Permanent Residence purposes).
If you have resided in the UK for more than 5 yrs
Apply for Permanent Residence
This gives the right to live and work in the UK permanently, without any conditions and is a pathway to British citizenship.

7. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? Part 3
Permanent Residence puts you on a pathway to become a naturalised British citizen.
But, if you have certain types of UK heritage, you may be able to Register as a UK citizen.

8. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? Part 4
EEA spouse of a British citizen
An EEA national in the UK who is married to a British citizen may have options open to them as a spouse, but only if they do not already have rights under the Regulations:
you can’t pick and choose EEA or non EEA at will
if you have EEA rights it may be best to stick with those and reserve the spouse route as a second option
if EEA rights are in doubt then explore the spouse route
if EEA rights are engaged now, but were in doubt in the past, it may be best to stay with the EEA route and keep the spouse route as a second option.

9. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? Part 4
Children born in the UK
If either parent has Permanent Residence, a child born in the UK is automatically a British citizen.
If only one parent acquired Permanent Residence after the child was born in the UK, then you need to apply for their registration as a British citizen before age 18.
Irish Nationals in the UK
Nothing changes for now.
Future is uncertain since UK and Republic of Ireland enjoy unique Common Travel Area arrangements.

10. THE FUTURE
The details of Brexit and the outcome of negotiations are still uncertain.
The University of Southampton will continue to update European colleagues where possible as confirmed changes become clear.
Hyperlinks in this presentation go relevant pages on to provide more detailed information.