There has been no change to the rights and status of EU nationals in the UK, and UK nationals in the EU, as a result of the referendum.
The decision about when to trigger Article 50 and start the formal process of leaving the EU will be for the new Prime Minister. The UK remains a member of the EU throughout this process, and until Article 50 negotiations have concluded.
When we do leave the EU, we fully expect that the legal status of EU nationals living in the UK, and that of UK nationals in EU member states, will be properly protected.
The government recognises and values the important contribution made by EU and other non-UK citizens who work, study and live in the UK.
I have lived in the UK for more than 5 years. What does the vote to leave the EU mean for me?
• EU nationals who have lived continuously and lawfully in the UK for at least 5 years automatically have a permanent right to reside. This means that they have a right to live in the UK permanently, in accordance with EU law. There is no requirement to register for documentation to confirm this status.
• EU nationals who have lived continuously and lawfully in the UK for at least 6 years are eligible to apply for British citizenship if they would like to do so. The eligibility requirements can be found here.
What if I have lived in the UK for less than 5 years?
• EU nationals continue to have a right to reside in the UK in accordance with EU law. EU nationals do not need to register for any documentation in order to enjoy their free movement rights and responsibilities. For those that decide to apply for a registration certificate, there has been no change to government policy or processes.
Applications will continue to be processed as usual.
• Non-EU family members of EU nationals must continue to apply for a family permit if they wish to enter the UK under EU law, and they do not have a residence card issued by a member state. There has been no change to government policy or processes, and applications will continue to be processed as usual.
• Extended family members of EU nationals must continue to apply for a registration certificate (if they are an EU national) or residence card (if they are a non-EU national) if they wish to reside in the UK. There has been no change to government policy or processes, and applications will continue to be processed as usual.
• Irish nationals enjoy separate rights, under various pieces of legislation, which allow Irish nationals residing in the UK to be treated in the same way as British nationals in most circumstances. There is no change to this position.
• Croatian nationals might continue to need to apply for a registration certificate to be allowed to work in the UK under the transitional arrangements that were put in place when Croatia joined the EU in 2013. The type of registration certificate that they might need will depend on whether they need permission to work in the UK, and what they will be doing. There has been no change to government policy or processes, and applications will continue to be processed as usual.
Does the government plan to remove EU nationals from the UK?
There has been no change to the right of EU nationals to reside in the UK and therefore no change to the circumstances in which someone could be removed from the UK.
As was the case before the referendum, EU nationals can only be removed from the UK if they are considered to pose a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat to the public, if they are not lawfully resident or are abusing their free movement rights.
Please note that there may be changes to the above arrangement in future after Negotiations between the UK And EU.
Source@gov.uk
Related: What Does Brexit Mean for UK Immigration?
- February 18 2026
Immigration Rules - Appendix Skilled Occupations 2026 lists eligible SOC (Standard Occupation Classification) 2020 occupation codes and going ...
- February 12 2026
You can apply to get a faster decision on certain UK visa applications, applications to extend your permission to stay in the UK, and applicat...
- February 4 2026
Most UK visas provide a pathway to settlement in the UK. Some UK visas permit extensions, but do not lead to settlement, for example, a UK Exp...
- January 27 2026
Since the rules for the Skilled Worker route have been tightened by the Labour government and the government’s focus is on reducing the number...
- January 19 2026
As UK start-ups grow, many find that recruiting internationally is essential to securing the skills needed to scale. To lawfully employ overse...
- January 12 2026
An organisation usually needs a sponsor licence to employ someone to work for them from outside or inside the UK, including citizens of the EU...
- January 2 2026
In UK immigration law, dependants usually refer to partners and children. They can apply as dependants of a lead applicant on an immigration r...
TBXH Sunley House, 4 Bedford Park, Croydon, CR0 2AP