Illustrative stock photo (source: AP/TASR)
Slovaks living in the United Kingdom do not have to fear the change of their legal status in the country after it leaves the European Unionit starts withdrawal negotiations with the European Union, the country’s embassy in London informed.
The transitional period will start as soon as the British government officially announces its decision to leave the EU, i.e. when Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is activated. It is expected that this will happen in late March 2017. The period will then last two years.
For now, the UK remains a proper member of the EU, with all the rights and duties, the SITA newswire reported.
“The subsequent arrangement of relations and the legal status of EU citizens in the UK and British citizens in other EU countries will depend on mutual negotiations between the EU and the UK, and citizens will receive information before it becomes valid,” the Slovak embassy said, as quoted by SITA.
Regarding the potential stricter immigration rules and access to the UK labour market, the situation of Slovaks may be better if they are able to prove their current and previous legal stay in the country. The embassy thus recommends those who plan to stay in the UK to register their stay, SITA reported. They can find more information at Gov.uk website.
The embassy also recommends them to turn directly to the UK Home Office for more information on conditions and granting a residence permit.
