Brexit information

On October 17, 2019 by Dutch Umbrella Company

From 29th of April 2019 the Dutch government stopped sending the Brexit newsletters for British citizens in the Netherlands. Instead, the government launched a new webpage where you can find new developments regarding Brexit and how the Brexit affects you as a British expat in the Netherlands. The latest Brexit update concerns the approval of the withdrawal agreement by the European Union and the United Kingdom. However, the withdrawal agreement still needs to be approved by the UK parliament and the European Parliament.

Where do we stand?

As you all know, the United Kingdom will leave the European Union. In 2018 the UK and EU thought they reached an agreement on the conditions for the Brexit process.

Because the UK parliament has not approved the conditions of the Brexit, the 27 remaining EU countries and the British government have decided to postpone Brexit until 31 October 2019 at the latest. If the UK parliament approves the agreement earlier, the date will still be moved forward.

You, as a citizen of the United Kingdom, will stay a member of the EU during this period. This means that all EU legislation will continue to apply to the UK until a final agreement is reached. There are two possible scenarios:

  • No agreement (‘No deal’ scenario)
    There is still the possibility that no agreement will be reached on Brexit.
  • Transition period (agreement approved)
    If the UK parliament votes in favour of the Brexit agreement before 31 October 2019, the UK will leave the EU on the first day of the next calendar month. The transition period that follows will last until 31 December 2020. During the transition period all EU rules and regulations will continue to apply to the UK. It is possible to extend the transition period once by two years, meaning it could last until 31 December 2022.

Both UK and EU Parliament need to approve the agreement. Only than the EU and the UK are able to implement the terms of the agreement.

Transition period for British citizens in the Netherlands

In the event that the UK leaves the EU without an agreement in place, the Dutch government announced a 15 month transition period for all British nationals who are lawfully resident in the Netherlands. During this period you can live, work and study in the Netherlands for at least another 15 months.

Those 15 months will also be used to apply for a permanent residence permit, which will be required after the transition period. You probably already received an invitation from the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) to apply for this permit and to arrange your future stay in the Netherlands.

Because the UK and EU are still negotiating Brexit it is not yet clear what you should do to be able to stay after Brexit.

Impact of Brexit on the rights of British citizens in the Netherlands

When living in the Netherlands as a British citizen your rights will remain more or less the same after Brexit.

The European Commission has published a Q&A about the rights of UK citizens in the EU after Brexit. The UK government and the 27 remaining EU member states have approved this agreement.

Brexit timeline

  • 31 October 2019: possible Brexit date
  • 31 December 2020: transition period ends

Brexit newsletters and future updates

In case you want to re-read the Brexit newsletters send to you by the Dutch government, we published them on our website to make sure you will not miss any information sent to you.

In the coming months we will also post Brexit information on our website so you are able to prepare for October 31th. And in case you have any questions regarding Brexit or your situation in the coming months, please do not hesitate to contact us.