29/01/2020
BREXIT UPDATE
After the electoral results in the UK on 12 December 2019, it is almost certain that Brexit will take place. The planned Brexit date is set for January 31, 2020. A transition period will be in place until December 31, 2020. During this transition period it will still be possible for British citizens to preferentially immigrate to The Netherlands. Whether it will ultimately end in a so-called No-Deal Brexit or a Brexit with a deal remains to be seen in the coming months.
In the event of a No-Deal Brexit, the Dutch government has announced that British nationals who are legal residents of The Netherlands prior to Brexit would be allowed to continue their legal stay in The Netherlands. First by a notification letter, they will be granted a temporary right of residence after which they will be invited by the IND to start a residence permit application procedure. This application will be assessed against the backdrop of Directive 2004/38/EU, the directive which governs the right of residence of EU-citizens. This implies that little will change for those British citizens who were already living in The Netherlands prior to December 31, 2020. The same procedure and rules apply to family members of a British citizen who have legally resided in The Netherlands before 31 December 2020.
For British nationals who would like to immigrate to The Netherlands after the transition period, the standard and substantially more restrictive residence and work permit requirements under the Dutch Immigration Act, will be applicable. British nationals who temporarily leave The Netherlands after 31 December 2020, for example due to work obligations abroad, should inquire in advance of the consequences of their departure and their possibilities of returning to The Netherlands.