British Ambassador to Luxembourg, John Marshall;
The British Embassy in Luxembourg has issued a press release, a reminder that free movement between the EU and the UK will end at 23:00 (UK time) on 31 December and EU citizens will no longer have the automatic right to live in the UK.
The UK will introduce a new, points-based immigration system that treats people from all parts of the world equally, prioritising skills and talent over where a person comes from.
EU Nationals will need to meet specific requirements and apply for a visa through the new immigration system in order to study or work in the UK.
Under the new rules, EU citizens will continue to be able to visit the UK without a visa for up to 6 months and undertake a range of activities, including tourism, visiting family and friends, short-term study and business-related activities.
EU citizens coming to the UK to study or work from 1 January 2021 can now apply for a visa. The new system will not apply to EU citizens currently living in the UK, or those living in the UK by 31 December 2020. They and their family members are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme and have until 30 June 2021 to apply.
EU nationals will be able to use our new ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app which will use a chip in their passport to verify their identity. If the chip is broken, or someone is unable to use the app then they will be directed to a Visa Application Centre to register biometrics instead.
British Ambassador John Marshall said “From 1 January 2021, EU citizens will still be able to visit the UK without a visa for up to 6 months and undertake a range of activities, including tourism, visiting family and friends, short term study and business-related activities. So those who like going to the UK for the theatre or shopping, to go to football matches or music festivals, or who like escaping to Scotland, or walking the Welsh coastline, or visiting Game of Thrones locations in Northern Ireland, will be able to do so as they do now. And they will also be able to still use the e-gates at airports in the UK”.
However EU nationals who wish to move to the UK to study or work will need to apply for a visa through the new immigration system. Britain want to continue to encourage top talent from around the world, including Luxembourg, to bring their skills to the UK. Britain also want to continue to welcome students from Luxembourg to study at its world class universities.
So EU Nationals wishing to move to the UK after 31 December 2020 are encouraged to visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-uks-points-based-immigration-system-information-for-eu-citizens or more information.
• Under the new system, EU citizens will be able to continue to visit the UK without applying for a visa and in most cases, will be able to stay for up to six months.
• Visitors may participate in a wide range of activities, including tourism, visiting family and friends, short term study and business-related activities
• Information on coming to the UK after January 1 2021 is available here GOV.UK/MovingToTheUK
• The changes apply to all 30 EU and EEA countries and Switzerland.
• Irish citizens will continue to be able to enter and live in the UK as they do now.
• The new Student Route and Child Student route opened on 5 October as planned. EU citizens coming to study to the UK from 1 January 2021 can now apply. EU citizens coming to work in the UK from 1 January 2021 will be able to apply from the 1 December 2020, when the majority of visa application routes will open.
