Lyndsa

My son has lived and worked in Germany for approx 12 years but int German Citizen. He has a German partner and a child aged 1 year. If we leave EU can he still love and work there or does everything change?
Thanks for any help

calman014

Nothing will change. Before UK was a full member of EU it was just a case of having a valid residence permit, which will likely be re-introduced if there is a Brexit. If he is living and working on the German economy then that's about all that should change. There are other laws and rules outside EU influence that protect his rights anyway. Germany is unlikely to attempt to kick out the Brits.

Pulaski

It is highly unlikely your son will be affected. It is possible that it might become a little barder for British citizens to immigrate to Germany, but the chances of existing British residents of Germany being rounded up and deported is approximately zero.

Assanah

Why does he not apply for German citizenship. As long as the UK is still a member of the European Union he can keep his British citizenship. Should the UK leave the Union that will not be possible anymore. Also German citizenship will secure him access to all other EU countries. If he likes to move to Spain or France he will still be able to do it. If he is only British that will only be possible if he is able to get a visa.

BritInParis

The honest answer is no-one has any idea what will happen as there will be an period of negotiation between the EU and the UK about what our post-Brexit relationship will look like. If he is eligible to apply for German citizenship then this would be the ultimate safety net. As already mentioned he does not need to renounce his British citizenship in order to do this so long as the UK remains an EU member.

Richard8655

How about UK citizens yet planning to live in Germany and Brexit occurs? This may be the big unknown.

BritInParis

It would depend on whether a post-Brexit deal would still include Freedom of Movement as currently enjoyed by all EU/EEA citizens. A lot of this would be determined by the post-vote fallout amongst the Conservative Party and whether Cameron or a new Prime Minster would be leading the Brexit negotiations.

Richard8655

Yes, that sounds like a possible scenario. Also to consider is how miffed EU countries would be. They may question why give freedom of movement which came with membership, but now they want it without membership responsibilities. Could be a bit psychological tit for tat.

BritInParis

Another possibility is that following on from the Eurozone and migration crises, Brexit may fatally wound the EU and lead to a stampede for the exit before the negotiations are even completed. Simply too many variables are involved for anyone to make even a vaguely accurate prediction of the political fallout.

Richard8655

Exactly. To follow on this, the Swedish foreign minister just warned that Brexit may in fact lead to total break up.

Pulaski

I predicted dramatic changes for the EU here on BE a couple of weeks ago, if Britain leaves.

The fact that other countries are now talking openly about it dramatically strengthens the Brexit camp IMO - it likely isn't a question of the EU "leaving the UK behind", Britain leaving is just going to pull the whole house of cards down!

Richard8655

I think that's right. We already have EU skeptic governments elected in some Eastern European countries (Hungary, Poland, maybe others) who want to distance themselves. The migrant crises certainly didn't help. Greece is still financially in trouble and getting cozy with Russia. House of cards is right.

calman014

All these doom and gloom scenarios for Brits abroad after a "Brexit" are almost as bad as the scaremongering of the remain camp. As for requiring a VISA..I could only chuckle at that. There were very good arrangements in place long before the UK joined the EEC, mainly because Germany was always welcoming to skilled people regardless of nationality, and the very reason I became an expat. Listening to vindictive old "geezers" like Schauble and Juncker is really not going to help. Sure there will be some attempts to sabotage attempts by UK to negotiate specific deals if there is a Brexit..but what's new? Besides Germany would shoot itself in the foot..the UK is too important a trading partner, regardless of the EU. The world is our (The UK's) Oyster and always has been. Lots of good trade deals in place before EEC membership were (and still are) restricted by EU membership..no reason why they can't be reestablished at prior levels. There is a large amount of frustration within other established EU members which of course is barely mentioned in the press, mainly because there are like minded countries wanting to readjust some of the silly policies from Brussels.
Let's just wait a few days and we will know for sure!!

mikelincs

I've got a VISA, and use it to buy things in shops, perhaps you were thinking Visa?? All the comments etc by people on here, in the media etc. all all simple guesses, the only way we will find out is in the two years after the vote if the vote goes to the leave lot.
Every thing else is pure speculation and all it does is to cause arguments and fallings out everywhere.
If there is a leave vote, then expect Cameron to resign and Boris to take his place, what will that mean, again who the hell knows.

calman014

And the big joke is, Boris is actually of German extraction if you follow his bloodline back, and related to the Royal Family too...