Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what are the financial costs for a British citizen to become a citizen of each European Union member state.
Answered by Robin Walker
Rules surrounding the acquisition of citizenship in each European Union Member State, including cost, is a matter for that Member State’s authorities. Country-specific information on the cost of citizenship, where available, is given via the ‘Living in Guides’ which you can find at: https://bit.ly/2PJAHjx. For instance, currently the cost of citizenship in Germany is €255 per person or, for children who are naturalised together with their parents, it is €51 per child.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what the financial costs are for a British citizen to acquire a permanent resident permit or the equivalent of such document in each European Union member state.
Answered by Robin Walker
Each Member State implements the permanent residence requirements of the Free Movement Directive (2004/38/EC) differently and information is not held centrally on the fees charged for equivalent documents. For example, the Netherlands currently charge €51 for permanent residency, and this charge will remain the same for obtaining a status under the Withdrawal Agreement.
Country-specific information, where available, is detailed in the ‘Living in Guides’ which you can find at:
The Free Movement Directive sets out the registration requirements and the rules of charging for permanent residence that Member States must follow in their processes.
Under this Directive, a Member State can require a person living there for more than three months to register within a time frame, which should be no less than three months from the date of their arrival. The Directive also states that a citizen’s possession of such registration documents cannot be a precondition for exercising their Treaty rights. It provides that all documents, including registration certificates and permanent residence documents, shall be issued free of charge or for a charge that is no more than that which nationals of the Member State pay for a similar documents.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, in which European Union member states do British citizens have to register their details with the Government upon moving to that country.
Answered by Robin Walker
Each Member State implements the permanent residence requirements of the Free Movement Directive (2004/38/EC) differently and information is not held centrally on the fees charged for equivalent documents. For example, the Netherlands currently charge €51 for permanent residency, and this charge will remain the same for obtaining a status under the Withdrawal Agreement.
Country-specific information, where available, is detailed in the ‘Living in Guides’ which you can find at:
The Free Movement Directive sets out the registration requirements and the rules of charging for permanent residence that Member States must follow in their processes.
Under this Directive, a Member State can require a person living there for more than three months to register within a time frame, which should be no less than three months from the date of their arrival. The Directive also states that a citizen’s possession of such registration documents cannot be a precondition for exercising their Treaty rights. It provides that all documents, including registration certificates and permanent residence documents, shall be issued free of charge or for a charge that is no more than that which nationals of the Member State pay for a similar documents.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the ability of UK boats to enter EU waters after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robin Walker
Maritime transport is liberalised at a global level. For the most part, it is the rules and regulations of coastal states that apply rather than EU legislation. Therefore, the Government sees no reason why there should be a change in the ability for UK boats to access EU water after the UK leaves the EU.
The Government has set out that the future relationship between the UK and EU will provide for maritime connectivity, underpinned by the applicable international legal framework. These arrangements will be supported by cooperation between the UK and the EU on maritime safety and security.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with EU counterparts on whether UK boaters will require visas to sail into EU waters after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
We have now agreed in principle a draft Withdrawal Agreement with the other 27 EU nations. To ensure that citizens and businesses in the UK and across the EU can plan for life after our withdrawal with confidence, this sets out the terms of an implementation period during which EU citizens and UK nationals will be able to sail into EU waters as they do now.
The UK Government sees no reason why UK boaters should see any change as a result of the UK’s exit from the EU. For the most part, it is the rules and regulations of coastal states that apply rather than visas or EU legislation, and maritime transport is liberalised at the international level.
The Political Declaration on the Framework for the Future Relationship between the EU and the UK Government is clear that connectivity in the maritime transport sector will be underpinned by the international legal framework. The future relationship should also facilitate cooperation on maritime safety and security.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment his Department has made of the areas in EU waters in which UK boats will be able to sail after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Robin Walker
Negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and the UK are ongoing. To ensure that citizens and businesses in the UK and across the EU can plan for life after our withdrawal with confidence. We have agreed an implementation period that will last for 21 months beginning on exit day until 31 December 2020. During the implementation period, UK boats will have the same access to EU waters as they do now.
The UK Government sees no reason why pleasure vessels used for recreational purposes should see any change as a result of the UK’s exit from the EU. For the most part, it is the rules and regulations of coastal states that apply rather than EU legislation, and maritime transport is liberalised at the international level.
We understand that other matters will be relevant to the owners of boats such as the right to the land, dock and refuel and these will be covered by our negotiations on the future relationship.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the rights of UK citizens to own boats in EU member states of the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
We understand the concerns of UK citizens in regards to their rights to own boats in EU member states after the UK leaves the EU.
To ensure that citizens and businesses in the UK and across the EU can plan for life after our withdrawal with confidence, we have agreed an implementation period that will last for 21 months beginning on exit day until 31 December 2020. During the implementation period, UK nationals will be able to continue to own boats in the EU as they do now.
Looking beyond the implementation period, the exact rights of UK citizens to own boats within an EU member state are a matter for future negotiation.