Relief For British Expats In Germany As New No-deal Brexit Guarantees Are Introduced

Germany is now preparing to secure the futures of all British expats living and working in the country via a new law.

The draft law, to be known in English as the Brexit Residence Transition Act gives full guarantees that all British expat residents as well as their families are to receive residence permits should a no-deal Brexit be the final result. The announcement follows previous verbal reassurances by the German government that no Briton will be forced to leave the country as a result of Britain’s leaving the EU.

The news is being welcomed by leaders of the protest group British in Germany as well as by British expats, although legal experts are recommending caution over the law’s exact wording as full details aren’t at present available. According to Germany’s foreign office spokesperson, the new law will also guarantee access to the country’s jobs market. British in Germany has also highlighted other potentially catastrophic effects of a no-deal exit, especially noting the risk of losing access to free healthcare, a lifeline for many older British expats no longer entitled to NHS services unless they’ve permanently returned to the UK and been in residence for at least six months.

Once the new law passes the German parliament, it’s understood it will only be used in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Expats living and working in Germany are experiencing difficulties with individual residence permit applications as the 16 German states all seem to have different requirements. As a result, some 8,000 have either not applied or given up in desperation.