The United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union
The United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union
A referendum was held on 23 June 2016 on whether the UK should leave or remain in the European Union. The majority voted to leave and the Prime Minister Theresa May has now formally notified Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, of the UK's intention of leaving the EU, thereby triggering Article 50 of the Treaty on the European Union. Negotiations on the terms of the UK's departure from the EU will commence and may take up to two years or longer.
The UK remains a member of the EU until the negotiations are completed and there are no immediate changes to the rights, obligations and free movement of EU/EEA nationals.
The Embassy receives many questions from Icelandic citizens on what the UK leaving the EU will mean for them. At this point, we can neither confirm whether a visa will be required in the future to live, work and study in the UK, nor state under which conditions EU/EEA citizens may be allowed to reside permanently in the UK.
Registering the right to live in the UK:
Icelandic nationals may wish to apply for a registration certificate or permanent residence document, which confirms their right to live in the UK: https://www.gov.uk/eea-registration-certificate/overview
Applications can be submitted by paper or online. Those applying by paper must send their passports to the Home Office for a number of months. Those applying online can use the European Passport Return Service of their local council, which will take a copy of their passport and send to the Home Office. This allows applicants to keep their passport while their application is being processed: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/european-passport-return-service
Note that the Embassy will not issue emergency or second passports for citizens who apply by paper. We encourage applicants to apply online and use the European Passport Return Service.
Should you have further questions, feel welcome to contact us.
Further reading:
- Icelandic Government's reaction to the UK's decision to leave the EU
- UK Government Statement on the Status of EU/EEA nationals
- UK Prime Minister's Letter to Donald Tusk
- News on Brexit from the Department for Exiting the EU
- The UK Government's negotiating objectives for exiting the EU
- The UK's exit from and new partnership with the EU White Paper