The UK Government has given assurance to all EU citizens who have been living in the UK for five years will be able to remain and keep rights equivalent to those of the Britons.


Anybody who moves to Britain before a cut-off date - set to be between March 29 2017 and March 29, 2019 - will be permitted to stay and gain 'settled status' following five years.

But after UK Officially leaves the bloc, the EU citizens Will face the very same rules as Britons that want to bring in spouses - meaning that they will need to be earning over £18,600 and demonstrate the spouses can speak English.

European nationals also face a system of ID cards so they can access public services in the future.


Theresa May has told EU citizens they have to bring family members to Britain before Brexit or would be subject to the same rules as those joining British citizens. 


The Government rejected calls from the EU that the rights of citizens to be upheld by the European Court of Justice.


Following the PM's statement, the European Commission's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier tweeted: "EU goal on #citizensrights: same level of protection as in EU law. More ambition, clarity and guarantees needed than in today's UK position."


Meanwhile, the European Parliament's Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt wrote: "A number of limitations remain worrisome and will have to be carefully assessed."

 


Key points in the Govt’s offer for EU Citizens:

  1. EU citizens applying for "settled status" will have to bring over dependants prior to the UK's exit from the EU. Post Brexit, dependents will be subject to the normal UK immigration laws.

  2. EU citizens having "settled status" will continue to have access to UK benefits identical UK national.

  1. EU citizens who don't have five years' residence at the time of UK’s exit from the UK, but are on "pathway" to settled status will be able to access the same benefits as now - equal access for those in work and limited benefit access for unemployed.

  1. The Government will make new rights in UK law for qualifying EU citizens resident here or before exit. This will be enforced by UK courts. The European Court of Justice will not have jurisdiction in the UK.

  1. EU citizens will no longer have the right to vote in the local elections.

  1. EU nationals will be allowed to keep sending their UK benefits to other EU nations, for example child benefit - if they were already doing so before the "cutoff date".

  1. The UK will continue to pay out state pension within the EU to qualifying EU nationals.

  1. The UK will protect healthcare arrangements for EU citizens who arrive in the UK before the "cut-off date" for UK nationals living in the EU.

  1. The UK will continue to protect UK, European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) so that British citizens may continue to gain from complimentary temporary health care whilst in the EU.

  1. EU citizens who arrived before the "cut-off Date" will continue to be eligible for student loans, and also "house Fee" status identical to persons with settled status in the United Kingdom.