UK to only accept highly-paid and skilled EU citizens

Theresa May said at the Conservative Party conference today that the UK will end special access to living in the UK for people from the EU. The UK will prioritise skilled and highly-paid workers, as it does currently for those outside the EU, she said.

Those wanting to live and work in the UK long-term would need to meet a minimum salary and could not automatically bring their family unless sponsored by employers for this.

This would be likely therefore to exclude low-skilled or modestly-paid people (such as nurses) or those seeking to retire and not be economically active.

There are many kinds of visa for non-EU citizens who want to live in the UK, depending on category, though Connexion has not so far identified one that would suit someone coming in retirement for anything other than a short, six-month visit (the list is here) and a tool for people to find out there options according to category can be found here. The visa kinds include entrepreneur ones for those with substantial sums to invest in starting a business and who meet other criteria such as speaking English and who can support themselves while in the UK; an ‘exceptional talent’ one for people who are well-known in fields like science or the arts; or a general visa for which you should have a job offer of at least £30,000.

Mrs May’s comments appear to already rule out negotiating a ‘future relationship’ with the EU including maintaining special treatment for Europeans. If this is reciprocated then, logically, Britons wanting to come to France would also have to apply for one various kinds of ordinary ‘third country’ national visas and residency cards (each of which has different requirements, related to skill, income, French language, family living in France etc).

Most retirees seeking to come to France would need a 'visitor' visa, which costs €269 and requires proof of income of at least €1,185/month and a promise not to do any work. It is renewable annually, though after five years it is possible to apply for a long-term resident visa lasting 10 years, on conditions including a language test and income of at least the Smic minimum wage (€1,499/month).

Under EU rules EU citizens can live in another EU country as long as they work, or if they come to seek a job they can stay at least three months. Staying more than three months may require people to be self-sufficient so as not to be a ‘burden on the social welfare system’ in the first five years and to have healthcare. However retirees benefit from such assistance as the S1 scheme so the home country pays their healthcare, and the right to continue to claim certain benefits from the home country. EU citizens living in an EU state have full rights to bring their close family such as spouse and children, whether European or not.