Friday 08 March 2019
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens resident in the Bailiwick will need to apply under a "settlement scheme" in order to ensure their rights are recognised after the UK has left the EU.
The scheme opens on 30 March 2019, the day after the UK is scheduled to leave the EU - it is free and will be open for enough time to allow all residents to apply in the months following the UK's exit.
Under the draft UK/EU Withdrawal Agreement, the UK and the EU have agreed that the current rights of those EU/EEA/Swiss citizen's resident in the Bailiwick of Guernsey will continue until 31 December 2020. If those affected want to stay in the Bailiwick of Guernsey beyond then, they will need to apply under the new EU/EEA/Swiss Settlement Scheme. This will be a quick, easy and free process that will be administered by the Guernsey Border Agency which comes into effect on 30 March 2019. They will need to fill in a short application form and provide some basic information and provide a valid passport or national ID card. This will allow them and their family members to continue to live and work in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. It means they will continue to have ongoing rights to healthcare, work arrangements and access to benefits and public services as they do now. There may be different arrangements for those arriving after 29 March 2019. The Settlement Scheme will open regardless of whether the UK and the EU approve the Withdrawal Agreement.
There are two different status in the scheme. Those that have been living in the Bailiwick of Guernsey for less than five years may be granted "Limited Leave (Permission) to Remain". Those that have been living in the Bailiwick for more than five years may be granted "Indefinite Leave (Permission) to Remain". Years spent in the UK will be taken into account when calculating the years spent.
Committee for Home Affairs President Mary Lowe said:
"The States are committed to ensuring that those from the EU who currently call Guernsey home are easily able to remain here following Brexit. The process is free, easy and forms part of our commitment to respecting the rights of EU citizen's resident in Guernsey when the UK leaves the EU and helps to ensure that we support the local economy and population."
It is important to note that the EU/EEA/Swiss Settlement Scheme will be operated under immigration legislation and is therefore entirely separate to the Population Management Law which operates in Guernsey, and any domestic laws controlling employment and residence in place in Alderney and Sark, which will continue to apply as now.
The implementation period will run from the date the UK leave the EU on 29 March until 31 December 2020. This will enable the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the EU, businesses and public services to put in place the new arrangements required.
The EU/EEA/Swiss Settlement Scheme will be operating from 30 March 2019 with the Guernsey Border Agency accepting applications from Monday 01 April 2019. Applications will be open until 30 June 2021. Applications must be made in person to;
Guernsey Immigration and Nationality, Guernsey Border Agency, New Jetty, White Rock, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 2LL 01481 741420 immigration@gba.gov.gg
Alderney States of Alderney
Sark Constable's Office
Please direct any enquiries to the Immigration and Nationality department in Guernsey.
