Brits in the Netherlands will be able to stay for a least 15 months in the result of a no-deal Brexit

The British can stay! (for now)

Good news for us British folk, as the IND is preparing for a no-deal Brexit (so we aren’t left in the dark). With the vote on the deal being cast next week, it’s looking likely that a no-deal can happen. That leaves Brits abroad and vice versa in a difficult position.

The Netherlands wants to try and help ease the worries by allowing us to stay with a permit, Minister Blok says.

Finally the news we have been waiting for 

So, what will happen?

At this present moment in time, the UK is still leaving the EU, so after the 29th there is no legal obligation to let us stay – hence this permit. In the result of a no-deal, Brits in the Netherlands (and also family members of British citizens who may not have EU nationality) will not have to leave immediately on the 29th March (thank god). They can continue to live, work and/or study as normal for 15 months afterwards.

During this period you will be able to apply for a definitive residence permit from the IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service). A letter will be sent out with more information on this and to ask for you to sort the permit. Blok confirms that these letters will serve as proof of your temporary residency until permits are sorted. These will be sent out within the next few days.

If you have been here for over 5 years, you can remain with a permanent residency document and you will not have to take the usual language and integration tests to get it. Anyone under 5 years will get a regular residency permit (and can work), without any requirements. Students who started before Brexit won’t be affected and neither will employers (everything remains as normal).

Ongoing worry

Many surveys have been carried out about the worry surrounding Brexit and it’s no surprise that most of us have had some kind of worry about the whole situation (me included).

Literally me when staying up to watch the vote

Closely followed by

Then followed by

Okay, I’ll stop now. 

Pensions, jobs, livelihood and family crops up a lot when it comes to these worries. And with 45,000 Brits out here, that’s a lot of worried people. So hopefully now, we can at least feel a little more rest assured that know where we stand.

Saying this, we still have to wait until next week to see what happens with the vote in parliament, so not all in set-in-stone yet *insert fed-up emoji here*

All this info and more on the IND website here.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!