Prepare for Brexit: The ultimate checklist for Brits in Germany

February 18, 2019

We’ve compiled information on how you should prepare for Brexit, whatever the scenario. There is a list of helpful websites at the end of the text and links throughout the story which you should also consult.

British people already living in Germany

If you’re living in Germany then you will have likely registered (angemeldet) already. If not you should do so immediately at your Einwohnermeldeamt. All citizens are required to do this within 14 days of arriving in Germany if they are staying longer than three months.

In some places the Einwohnermeldeamt is known as the Kreisverwaltungsreferat (KVR), Bürgerbüro or Bürgeramt. When you change addresses in Germany you must deregister from your old address and register at your new one.

An overview of all Einwohnermeldeämter is available here.

What happens if there is a deal?

If a withdrawal agreement is in place by March 29th then a 21-month transitional period will begin after the UK leaves the EU on March 29th.

An anti-Brexit campaigner in London. Photo: DPA

That transitional period, unless extended, will end on December 31st 2020. During the transitional period the UK will be treated like a member state of the EU. EU rules on freedom of movement will continue to apply during this period.

What happens if the UK leaves without a deal?

In the event of Britain leaving the EU without a deal (which seems quite likely given the current climate), no British citizen will be required to immediately leave Germany, according to the German Federal Government.

The German government says it is planning to launch a three-month transitional period, which may be extended. During this period all British citizens within the EU will be able to continue to live and work in Germany as before without a residence permit.

Register for a residence permit

But to be able to stay in Germany long-term, British citizens are required, before the end of the three-month transitional period, to apply for a residence permit. They have permission to stay in Germany while their application is being processed, authorities say.

As Germany is a federal country, states differ on how they are implementing the residence permit process. Some states are already asking people to register and apply for a permit voluntarily before March 29th. Some states have issued letters asking residents to book an appointment with the immigration office, while others are asking British people to fill in a form online.

If you’ve not already done so, get in touch with your local authority. Find your relevant Foreigners Authority here. Note that you need a valid passport to be able to apply for a permit.

Renew your UK passport if needed

The rules for travel to most countries in Europe will change if the UK leaves the EU with no deal. You should have at least 6 months left on your passport from your date of arrival. If not, you should get your UK passport renewed. You can check a passport for travel to Europe by clicking here.

Change your driving licence

Holders of UK driving licences who live in Germany and want to continue driving in Germany after Brexit should exchange their UK licence for a German driving licence before March 29th.

Photo: DPA

Think about your qualifications

The European Commission has published guidance on professional qualifications. Where UK nationals have already been recognized by an EU country as holding valid professional qualifications this will remain valid after the UK leaves the EU.

If you hold a UK qualification which has not yet been recognized in Germany, you might want to consider requesting a recognition of your qualification before March 29th. Through this website, you can check if it is recognized in Germany or if you should take action. You can also contact the governmental organization through the website if you have any questions.

Make sure you have health insurance

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal on March 29th, your access to healthcare is likely to change. The NHS has more information about healthcare for UK nationals living in and visiting Germany.

The UK government has or is seeking agreements with countries on healthcare arrangements for UK nationals after Brexit.

If you are resident in Germany, you must register with a Krankenkasse (health insurance provider) – through your employer or get in touch with healthcare providers if you’re freelance – to access healthcare. German residents are either state insured (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) or privately insured (private Krankenversicherung).

The Federal Ministry Labour and Social Affairs has detailed information about German social security, including health insurance. This document details out the different health insurance systems, who is insured and for which treatment.

Top up on medication

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, your S1 healthcare form, which some people are entitled to may no longer be recognized. The German government has prepared a Brexit social security law, which would come into effect in this case. However, campaign group British in Germany recommends making sure you have a good supply of regular medication (if you need it) in case there is short-term chaos during the changeover.

“Making sure that you have the permitted 3 months of long-term medication would mean that you’d avoid having to pay full whack for your meds while the situation was resolved,” BiG wrote on their website.

Think about your pension

BiG also recommends that if you have a personal pension in the UK (this doesn’t apply to state or public service/occupational pensions) and have not yet retired, think about getting advice about how to deal with this.

You should write to your private pension company in the UK to ask them what plans they have for post-Brexit scenarios.

Think about applying for citizenship

Applicants who file an application for German citizenship before the date on which the UK leaves the EU but who do not receive a decision until after Brexit are to retain their previous German or British nationality, that is if they have fulfilled all the other criteria before the Brexit date, the German government says.

After any transitional periods in future it is likely that British people applying for German citizenship will not be able to retain their dual citizenship.

Think about changing your driving licence. Photo: DPA

Think about limiting your travel time around March 29th

Everyone is of course allowed to go about their lives but keep in mind that things might be up in the air come Brexit day, quite literally. In the event of a no-deal, the UK will automatically leave the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA). Discussions are currently being held on what measures can be taken to avoid the resulting disruption to air traffic.

Consultations on the proposal are still ongoing in the EU, reports the German government.

Studying in Germany or the UK

At the moment, it is still not possible to say whether the UK will stay in the Erasmus+ Programme and what the UK’s future status will be in the Erasmus+ Programme, according to authorities. That will all depend on the outcome of the withdrawal negotiations between the EU and the UK, says the German government.

Useful websites:

The British embassy recommends reading UK nationals in the EU: essential information, attending one of the embassy’s citizens outreach meeting and following your local British Embassy on Facebook and Twitter.

You should also check out the German Federal Government’s website with answers to frequently asked Brexit questions, this Living in Germany guide by the UK Government and British in Germany’s no-deal checklist.

Article source: https://www.thelocal.de/20190218/preparing-for-brexit-a-guide-for-brits-in-germany