UK to offer EU citizens 3-year visas

London: Britain’s government on Wednesday announced a three-year immigration scheme to cover most European citizens wanting to come to Britain after a no deal Brexit, in a move aimed at reassuring business they will still be able to recruit the staff they need. The new policy will allow immigrants and their close family members from the European Economic Area (EEA) — which comprises EU nations, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway — and Switzerland to apply to live and work in Britain for up to three years.

Britain’s Interior Ministry said the move, to run until the end of 2020, signalled “the end of free movement in its current



form” from EEA member states. “Citizens of those states moving to the UK after we have left the EU and up until the end of 2020 will be able to obtain a temporary immigration status lasting three years,” it said.

“This will give businesses certainty that they will be able to recruit and retain staff after Brexit.” The Ministry said Europeans could still visit Britain on short trips after Brexit without applying for the scheme. It added “a tougher criminality threshold” would also be applied post-Brexit for Europeans citizens “in order to keep out and deport those who commit crimes”.