UK-Iceland Expats’ Resident Statuses Secure On Both Sides, Says UK Ambassador

The UK Ambassador to Iceland, Michael Nevin, has announced on Facebook that negotiations have been completed to secure the residential status of UK citizens living in Iceland, and Icelandic citizens living the UK. This issue had been something of an open question due to the renegotiation of Britain’s relationship with other Europe countries surrounding Brexit.

“Over 15,000 nationals from Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein who live in the UK and approximately 17,000 UK nationals living in these countries are covered by this agreement,” he said, in the statement. “It means that UK and Icelandic citizens living in each other’s countries at the end of the implementation period in December 2020 will be able to continue on with their lives. The agreement includes continuity arrangements on residency, healthcare, pensions and education, social security coordination and mutual recognition of defined professional qualifications. It will enable families who have built their lives together in the UK or Iceland to stay together.”

Fans of dense legal language can check out the full agreement here. And happy Christmas to anyone this affects.