The British Embassy in Luxembourg has outlined the impact of a no-deal Brexit on British citizens in Luxembourg Shutterstock

The British Embassy in Luxembourg has outlined the impact of a no-deal Brexit on British citizens in Luxembourg Shutterstock

On Saturday, the embassy published on Facebook clear guidelines regarding British Citizens’ rights in the event the withdrawal agreement is approved and not approved.

If approved by both parties, citizens included in it will keep the same rights to remain in Luxembourg after the end of the implementation period.

They may apply for permanent residency after five years. Anyone not covered by the withdrawal agreement will receive a new residency card before the end of the transition period. No steps will be required to replace existing documents.

And in a no-deal

However, changes will be incurred in the event of a no-deal. Then, British nationals, regardless of whether they arrived before or after 29 March 2019, will be considered as third-country nationals (unless they meet specific exceptions).

Existing residents can continue to use their current residency card until 30 March 2020, after which they must apply for a “titre de séjour” (before the deadline of 31 December 2019). New residents arriving after 29 March 2019 must follow the third-country national registation procedure for a residency permit.

In the event of a no-deal, the social security rights of British nationals will be set out by the Luxembourg social security legislation.

British nationals working in Luxembourg on 29 March 2019 will retain access rights to the Luxembourg job market. They will no longer be eligible to apply for employment by the Luxembourg state, except via some exceptions and those already employed by the Luxembourg state.

British nationals who are cross-border workers in Luxembourg will need a specific permit, further information on which is expected to follow, the embassy said.

To have professional and academic qualifications recognised, British nationals must have a residence permit.

Student aid will be limited to British national students with long-term residency status.

Further information about the rights of citizens can be found on the state-run website guichet.lu

Heading one way

Last week, UK prime minister Theresa May failed to secure parliamentary support in a vote on the withdrawal deal. It has prompted administrative bodies like the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce to begin informing businesses and stakeholders of the implications of a no-deal Brexit, as reported by Delano on 16 January.