Home Office rule change adds to febrile atmosphere for EU nationals in Britain

The United Kingdom's Home Office hardened its position in February 2017 on EU citizens who are living in the UK but who do not have a 'right of residence' under Directive 2004/38/EC. New regulations were introduced on 1 February 2017.

Author comments on these changes and their implications for EU / EEA citizens living in the United Kingdom.

+ See related url hyperlinks below for further background and analysis information regarding the position of EU citizens residing in the UK in the context of Brexit.

The Guardian reported on the 7 March 2017 that a Home Office spokesperson had subsequently said 'EU citizens will not be removed from the UK or refused entry solely because they do not have comprehensive sickness insurance'.

• Primary Source

Blog: Free Movement: Briefing, 27.02.17: The legal status of EU citizens in the UK https://www.freemovement.org.uk/briefing-legal-status-eu-citizens-uk/

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill: Government vows to overturn EU citizens vote following Lords defeat http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-union-notification-of-withdrawal-bill-lords-urge-tories-to-back-brexit-bill-amendment-on-eu-citizens-uk-lords-demand-power-to-reject-final-brexit-terms-parliament-passes-brexit-bill-a/

The Conversation, 10.02.17: Four ways Britain could guarantee the right to remain for EU citizens after Brexit http://www.europeansources.info/record/four-ways-britain-could-guarantee-the-right-to-remain-for-eu-citizens-after-brexit/

Blog: Free Movement: Tag: Brexit https://www.freemovement.org.uk/tag/brexit/

UK: Home Office: Visas and Immigration: Prove your right to live in the UK as an EU citizen https://www.gov.uk/eea-registration-certificate/overview

the3million: Research: Permanent residence https://www.the3million.org.uk/research

The Guardian, 07.03.17: EU students told health insurance 'a technicality' after German woman threatened with removal https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/07/uk-tells-eu-students-it-will-not-deport-them-for-lacking-health-insurance

Blog: Free Movement: Briefing, 08.03.17: Home Office now says health insurance ‘just a technicality’ https://www.freemovement.org.uk/home-office-now-says-health-insurance-just-a-technicality/

Blog: EuroppBlog, 13.03.17: Abused in the street, invited to a Brexit BBQ: the limbo of being German in the UK http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/03/13/the-limbo-of-being-german-in-the-uk/

Blog: The UK in a Changing Europe, 28.03.17: Citizens of somewhere? Article 50 and expat’s rights http://ukandeu.ac.uk/citizens-of-somewhere-article-50-and-expats-rights/

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