61 Unirii Boulevard, Bl. F3, Entrance 4, 2nd floor, Apt. 208, Bucharest
61 Unirii Boulevard, Bl. F3, Entrance 4, 2nd floor, Apt. 208, Bucharest
At the present moment, until the Brexit takes effect, UK citizens that reside in Romania must apply for a Registration Certificate, this certificate is issued on the day of the request. The process is easy and fast in order to protect British citizens’ rights while living in Romania even after the Brexit, and even though a no-deal scenario might take place.
A British citizen relocating to Romania after Brexit will need a long-term stay visa to remain in the country for more than 90 days in any given period of 180 days. For this purpose, the UK national will also apply for a residence permit in Romania, by personally submitting a set of documents to the General Inspectorate for Immigration. Our team can assist you during this step.
The intention is, for British citizens that got their Romanian residence before UK has decided to withdraw from the European Union, to have the right to keep their residence and working rights in Romania for a period of time. British citizens that came to Romania after the Brexit will be treated as non-EU citizens and will need to apply for a Residence Permit. This type of immigration to Romania process is much more complex and can last for 4 or even 6 months, since there are a lot of documents that must be obtained before the issuance of the permit of residence (visa, work permit, study permit, etc.).
If there will be a no-deal scenario regarding the UK leaving the European Union, UK citizens assigned to Romania and Romanian citizens assigned to UK will be subject for social security contributions in both countries. The UK Government has already started to prepare a guide in order to protect UK citizens in case of a no-deal scenarios by trying to sign reciprocal agreements with other EU countries (Romania included) in order to be able to keep the existing social security provisions until the end of 2020. Therefor, individuals will only pay social security in one country at a time, not both. In order to do that, employers must contact the country in which their employees are assigned and ask for guidance for social security payments. In the end, if the transitional period will be approved until the end of 2020, UK citizens assigned to Romania will continue to pay social security only to UK, being exempted in Romania. After the end of 2020, if there will not be any reciprocal agreement concluded, individuals will need to pay social security to both countries.
The no-deal Brexit means that UK will be leaving the European Union without any agreements. This also means that UK will be immediately leaving all EU institutions, have no access to the benefits of EU regarding medicines, trade-marks, checks eliminations or taxes on imports. But also, UK will no longer contribute to the EU budget.
The first effect will be on the pound, if it falls abruptly there will be delays at ports and some foods prices and availability will also be affected. Additionally, the main concern is regarding medicines shortage.
UK citizens that live and work in an EU country, including Romania, are advised to register as residents in the country they live in, but a no-deal Brexit will still make it harder for them to move across borders.
Also, if you wish to travel with pets, it will be much more expensive and complicated and European Health Insurance Cards will become invalid.
UK citizens who have entered the country based on a long-term stay visa (which can be issued for various purposes), can reach out to us for more information about how and when they are required to apply for a resident permit for Romania. This document is mandatory for all foreign nationals who remain in the country for long-term purposes and it is obtained from the immigration authorities that govern the area in which one has his or her declared domicile.
UK citizens who relocate to Romania and remain in the country for at least eight years can qualify for citizenship in Romania. For those who have married a Romanian citizen during this time, the application period will be shorter. Our team can give you complete details about the naturalization process which is based not only on a minimum stay, but also on adequate Romanian language knowledge, among others.
If you are an UK immigrant to Romania, do not hesitate to contact our Lawyers in Bucharest in order to help you be prepared for the worst scenario case.