Before Brexit, UK was not in Schengen (if I'm right). Ireland is not in Schengen either.
Yet a lot of British and Irish people live (now the British have to get a residency card because of Brexit) in France / Spain / Italy under the European regulations.
We need an European law expert at Tattle !
As a citizen of a the European Economic Area, or if you are Swiss, you have the right to stay in France for more than 3 months. You do not have to have a residence permit, but you can apply for one. You must meet certain conditions during the first 5 years of your stay. After 5 years spent in France, legally and continuously, you have a permanent right of residence (without conditions).
Entry into France
To enter the UK:
- you must have a valid identity document or passport,
- and you must not pose a threat to public order.
Conditions of stay
To have a right to stay as a worker, you must be able to justify the exercise of a professional activity in France.
However, even if you are no longer active, you can retain your right to stay in certain situations, such as:
- temporary incapacity in the event of illness or accident,
- or involuntary unemployment.
FYI : you may engage in any activity as an employed or self-employed person (except certain public jobs and, subject to conditions, for regulated professions).
Application for residence card
You do not have to have a residence permit.
However, you have the right to request a
residence card EU/EEA/Switzerland Citizen - All professional activities..
Right to permanent residence
After 5 years of legal and uninterrupted residence in France, you get a right to permanent residence. You can prove your right to stay over the previous 5 years by any means (employment contract, unemployment certificate, registration in the register of trade and companies, etc.). You no longer need to justify the conditions of your stay (whether you are a worker or not). You may remain permanently in France, provided that you do not pose a serious threat to public order.
You can request a
EU/EEA/Switzerland citizen's residence card - Permanent stay - All professional activities, but it is not mandatory.
You can prove the continuity of your stay over the 5 years by any means (e.g. documents from administrations or private organizations).
You lose your right to permanent residence if you are absent from France for more than 2 consecutive years.
Some absences are allowed:
- temporary absences not exceeding 6 months per year,
- absences for the performance of military obligations,
- or an absence of up to 12 consecutive months for an important reason such as a serious illness, studies or a professional posting abroad for example.
Please note : in certain situations, you can obtain a right to permanent residence before the 5-year period. This is the case, under certain conditions, if you are a frontier worker or if you cease to work as a result of permanent incapacity for work or to collect your pension.
Espace économique européen (EEE)
Définition mise à jour le 03 février 2020
Allemagne, Autriche, Belgique, Bulgarie, Chypre, Croatie, Danemark, Espagne, Estonie, Finlande, France, Grèce, Hongrie, Irlande, Islande, Italie, Lettonie, Liechtenstein, Lituanie, Luxembourg, Malte, Norvège, Pays-Bas, Pologne, Portugal, République tchèque, Roumanie, Slovaquie, Slovénie, Suède
What must a British person do to stay in France after Brexit?
Verified 15 octobre 2020 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement shall apply to British nationals and members of their families residing in France or coming to settle in France before 31 December 2020.
Although the UK withdrew on 1to In February 2020, the withdrawal agreement provides for a transitional period until 31 December 2020. During this transitional period, all rights of British nationals acquired as European nationals are maintained.
Pursuant to the withdrawal agreement, you will have to apply for specific residence permits "UK Withdrawal Agreement". You will need to complete your request before
1to July 2021..
You will only be required to hold a residence permit as from 1to October 2021.
You must complete the online process:
Brexit: application for residence permit
Ministry of the Interior
Go to online service
Warning : if you have already applied for a residence permit on this website in the framework of a
Brexit without an agreement, between october 9, 2019 and january 31, 2020, you do not need to reapply online. Your request has been taken into account and will be processed by the prefecture before the obligation to hold a title.
