Will I be able to live in an EU country after Brexit?

If you were living in an EU country prior to the end of the transition period at the end of 2020, the Withdrawal Agreement means you can continue to live in that country with broadly the same rights as before.

In thirteen EU countries, you will need to apply for permanent residence before the national deadline (which varies between June, September or December 2021) to have those rights guaranteed in future. In other EU countries (except Ireland, which remains part of a Common Travel Area with the UK) those who were legally resident by 31 December 2020 will have their rights automatically recognised.

However, the ability of British citizens to move between EU countries to live, work or study in future will be more restricted even if they have the right to live in one EU country. All other UK citizens will no longer have the automatic right to live, work or study in the EU. Instead, they will have to comply with the visa and work permit requirements of individual member states, though they will be able to visit the EU visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but not for the purposes of paid work.

This fact was first published on 24 Sep 2020. It was updated on 25 Jun 2021.