No-deal Brexit immigration rules ‘exacerbate concern’

The UK government’s plans for European Union nationals in the event of a no-deal Brexit only bring more uncertainty about the status of EU researchers and students, the head of the Russell Group of larger research-intensive universities has said.

The Home Office said in a policy paper published on 28 January that if the UK crashes out of the EU on 29 March without a deal, EU citizens moving to the UK after that date would need to apply for temporary leave to remain within three months of arrival. Then—subject to identity, criminality and security checks—leave to remain would be granted for three years.

Home secretary Sajid Javid said the rules would give the government the time it needed to roll out its settled-status scheme for citizens of countries in the European Economic Area and Switzerland who will be living in the UK by Brexit date.