Goans working/residing in UK on Portuguese passport need not worry over Brexit

PANJIM: Thousand of Goans, who have migrated to the United Kingdom, are concerned about their future after the new Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the Brexit deal by January 31, 2020.

Needless to say, thousands of our brothers and sisters working in UK after they migrated on Portuguese passport are concerned and so are their families back home, who are staring at a grim future.

But there seems to be no need to worry for those Goans who have been working in UK on Portuguese passport.

The Brexit deal renegotiated between London and Brussels in October 2019 and approved by EU27 countries outlines the future rights of EU citizens currently living the UK, as well as Britons living in the continent.

According to Euronews, under the deal, EU nationals in the UK and Britons in the EU – plus family members – would retain residency and social security rights after Brexit. 

Freedom to move and live within the EU and UK would continue during a planned transition period. People would be allowed to stay when it ends and apply for permanent residence after five years.

The news website says the UK is now due to depart the EU on January 31, 2020. These rules will be applicable if Britain leaves with a ratified agreement -- but not if there is no deal. The British government has published separate advice for a "no deal" scenario and you can read our explanation.

As per the Brexit deal, the rights of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU are protected by the agreement. 

“If you are from the EU and have lived in the UK permanently for five years by the end of the transition period (currently December 31, 2020) then you will be able to continue to reside in the UK permanently,” the news website says.

Further it says that even if you will still be able to acquire the right to permanent residency by completing five years living in the UK, as long as you are legally resident by the end of the transition period. “This right can only be lost if you leave the country for a period of more than five years,” it says.

To get the permanent resident status, the website says, the EU citizens will have to apply for new residence status. 

“Government guidelines say the deadline is 30 June 2021 -- six months after the end of the transition period. Exceptions are Irish citizens and people with indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK,” Euronews says.

The permanent residency will be free of charge, it says.

“The government announced in January that it was scrapping plans for a fee of £65 for over-16s, £32.50 for under-16s. Its guidance to EU citizens says it's free to apply to the scheme, and anyone who has paid to apply will get a refund,” it says.

Further, the agreement says applications should still be allowed within a reasonable time period, if there are reasonable grounds for missing the deadline. Reuters has reported that the Conservative government plans only to grant leniency in exceptional circumstances, and EU citizens may be deported if they fail to apply on time.

The Brexit deal also allows close family - partners (married, civil and unmarried), dependent children and dependent parents or grandparents. 

“However, the agreement does say that there are conditions attached to those who are defined as close family members or partners,” the website states.