How Brexit will affect Australians with UK passports
On Friday, the world was rocked by the news that Britain voted in favour (52 per cent) of leaving the European Union. While only time will tell the full repercussions of this decision, many Australians are fearful as to how Brexit will affect the validity of their UK passports and ancestry visas.
As it turns out, the decision shouldn’t have a large impact on our ability to travel, live and work in Britain. UK passports with “European Union” written on the cover will remain valid until the date of expiration, after which time it will be redesigned to remove any mention of the EU.
Given that Brits and Aussies were already able to visit Europe without visas, border crossing should be no more difficult than previously. For those Australians living and working in the EU on their UK passport, however, the future is less certain. As part of the EU, owners of UK passports were able to live and work freely in EU member states without visas, but it is likely this will change.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has urged Australians not to panic at the result, claiming there is “no cause” for alarm. “I have no doubt that our relations with the United Kingdom, which are as close as any two nations’ relations could be, will continue as positively and intimately as ever,” he said. “Equally, with Europe, we have been negotiating a European free trade agreement, and built strong ties with the countries of continental Europe, in particular France and Germany, and I’m confident that our negotiations towards a free-trade agreement with the European Union will continue.”
What do you think of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.
Related links:
UK votes to leave the European Union
Polls predict result of EU referendum
13 photographs of Britain preparing for historic EU referendum