Since Brexit, UK citizens moving to the EU are treated like any other non-EU nationals. You need a visa or residence permit to stay longer than 90 days, your belongings go through customs, and your driving licence, healthcare and pension all need attention. This guide explains what changed, how the 90/180 rule works in practice, how to bring your household goods duty-free, and what the main destinations require.
Key Takeaways
- Without a residence permit you can stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Moving for longer needs a visa or residence permit; in France, Spain and Portugal you usually apply in the UK before you leave.
- UK nationals legally resident in an EU country before 1 January 2021 keep their rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
- Ireland is the exception: under the Common Travel Area, UK citizens can live and work there without a visa.
- Used household goods are normally duty- and VAT-free under Transfer of Residence relief, but every move needs a customs declaration and an itemised inventory.
What Changed for UK Citizens
The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 and the transition period ended on 31 December 2020. From 1 January 2021, freedom of movement stopped applying to new arrivals. In practice that means:
- No automatic right to live or work in the EU. Each country decides who gets a permit and on what conditions.
- Time limits on visits. Visa-free stays are capped by the 90/180 rule, and passports are checked and stamped (or registered electronically) at the Schengen border.
- Customs on belongings. Household goods moving from the UK to the EU are imports and need a customs declaration.
- Separate systems for driving licences, healthcare and pets, which used to follow you around the EU automatically.
If you already lived in the EU before 2021, the Withdrawal Agreement protects your right to stay, work and access healthcare, provided you hold the residence document your country issued to UK nationals. Keep it valid and carry it when you travel.
The 90/180 Rule in Practice
As a visitor you can spend up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country. On any given day, count back 180 days: the days you spent in Schengen in that window must not exceed 90. Since October 2025 the EU’s Entry/Exit System records your entries and exits electronically, so overstays are detected automatically. Three typical situations:
- Two long trips. You spend 60 days in Spain from 1 March to 29 April and return on 1 June. The spring days still count in the 180-day window, so you have 30 days left and must leave by 30 June.
- House-hunting before the move. You can view properties, sign a lease and open a bank account as a visitor, but you cannot work or stay beyond 90 days. In Germany UK nationals can enter visa-free and apply for a residence permit locally; in France, Spain and Portugal you normally need a long-stay visa from the consulate before you move, so plan the visa first.
- Owning a holiday home. Property in the EU does not give you a right to stay. If you want to spend more than 90 days in 180 at your French or Spanish home, you need a long-stay visa, for example France’s visitor visa or Spain’s non-lucrative visa.
Days you spend in Ireland do not count, and Cyprus applies its own separate 90-day limit. The EU also plans an online travel authorisation (ETIAS) for visa-free visitors; check its start date on the official EU website before you travel.
Visas and Residence Permits
Every country has its own routes, but most fall into the same groups:
- Work — a job offer and usually employer sponsorship. Highly skilled routes such as the EU Blue Card or the Dutch highly skilled migrant scheme have minimum salaries that change every year.
- Self-employment and remote work — freelance permits and digital nomad visas (Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia and others), based on proof of income from outside the country.
- Retirement and independent means — visas such as Spain’s non-lucrative visa or Portugal’s D7 require regular income and private health insurance.
- Study — a place at an accredited institution and proof of funds.
- Family — joining a spouse or partner who is an EU citizen or resident.
Start with the GOV.UK “Living in [country]” guide for your destination, then the official immigration authority. Income thresholds and fees change often, so treat figures in blogs, including older ones, as a starting point only.
Residence Rules for Popular Destinations
An overview for the countries we move to most often. It shows where to start, not every condition; check the official sources before you apply.
| Country | How UK nationals usually get residence | Register your address | Our removals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | Enter visa-free, apply for a temporary residence permit at the voivodeship office during your legal stay | Within 30 days | from £750 |
| Germany | Enter visa-free, apply for a residence permit at the local foreigners’ office (Ausländerbehörde) | Within 14 days (Anmeldung) | from £825 |
| France | Long-stay visa (VLS-TS) from the French consulate in the UK before moving | Validate the visa online within 3 months | from £825 |
| Netherlands | Residence permit through the IND, usually sponsored by an employer | Within 5 days at the municipality | from £825 |
| Belgium | Single permit (work and residence) or another basis such as family or self-employment | Within 8 working days at the commune | from £825 |
| Switzerland | Work permit within a quota for UK nationals, usually applied for by the employer | Within 14 days at the commune | from £1,125 |
| Portugal | Long-stay visa (D7, D8 or work) from the consulate in the UK, then a residence permit | Get a tax number (NIF) first | from £975 |
Removal prices are part-load fixed prices for 2.5 m³ with customs documentation included. Compare all volumes in our UK to Europe removal costs guide.
Bringing Your Belongings: Transfer of Residence
Every household move from the UK to the EU now needs a customs declaration, whether you use a removal company or drive a van yourself. The good news is that personal belongings are normally imported free of duty and VAT under Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief. The main conditions are the same across the EU:
- You have lived outside the EU (for example in the UK) for at least 12 consecutive months.
- The goods are personal and household items you have owned and used for at least six months.
- You are moving your main residence to the destination country.
- You import the goods within 12 months of taking up residence.
- You do not sell, lend or rent out the goods for 12 months after import.
To claim relief you need an itemised inventory with estimated values, a copy of your passport, proof of your UK residence (council tax bill, tenancy agreement, utility bills) and proof of your new address. If ToR is refused, for example because items are new or you cannot prove residence, the goods are taxed as ordinary imports: customs duty where it applies, plus local VAT on their value. A clear inventory is the best protection. Read our UK to EU customs clearance guide and the list of items you cannot take across borders.
With Easy Move the customs declaration is included in the fixed price for every UK to EU and UK to Switzerland move.
Driving, Healthcare and Pensions
Driving licence and car
A UK photocard licence is fine for visits, but once you become resident most countries require you to exchange it for a local licence within a set period, for example six months in Spain and Germany and one year in France. Exchanging is usually possible without a test if you do it in time; miss the deadline and you may have to retake it. Check the GOV.UK “Living in [country]” guide for current rules.
A car you have owned for at least six months can come under ToR relief, but it must be re-registered in the new country and some countries charge a registration tax. For many people selling the car in the UK is cheaper than importing it.
Healthcare
The UK GHIC (or a valid EHIC) covers necessary treatment on temporary visits only. Once you live abroad you need to join the local system, through work or contributions, or take out private insurance, which many visas require anyway. UK state pensioners can usually register an S1 form in their new country to have healthcare paid for by the UK.
Pensions and benefits
Your UK State Pension can be paid into an EU bank account and is still increased every year if you live in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland. Check the double taxation agreement between the UK and your destination to see where your pension is taxed.
Pets
Dogs, cats and ferrets need a microchip, a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel and an animal health certificate issued by a vet no more than 10 days before you enter the EU. EU pet passports issued in Great Britain are no longer valid. More in our pet transport guide.
Planning Your Move: The Right Order
- Secure the right to stay — visa or residence permit route first, because it sets your earliest moving date.
- Find housing — a rental contract or deed is also proof of address for customs.
- Book the removal with a delivery date after you have keys, and start the itemised inventory.
- Close down the UK side — notice periods, council tax, utilities, HMRC, GP and Royal Mail redirection.
- Register on arrival — address, tax number, healthcare and, where needed, the licence exchange.
Our international moving checklist turns this into a week-by-week timeline.
Official Resources
- GOV.UK — living in another country (country guides)
- GOV.UK — moving or retiring abroad
- Your Europe — official EU guidance
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I stay in Europe without a visa?
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area. Days in Ireland do not count, and Cyprus has its own separate 90-day limit.
Can I move to the EU first and apply for residence later?
It depends on the country. In Germany and Poland UK nationals can enter visa-free and apply locally; in France, Spain and Portugal you normally need a long-stay visa from the consulate in the UK before you move.
Do I pay customs duty on my belongings after Brexit?
Not on used personal belongings you have owned for at least six months, if you are moving your main residence and claim Transfer of Residence relief. A customs declaration with an itemised inventory is still required.
Can I still use my UK driving licence in the EU?
Yes for visits. Once you are resident, most countries require an exchange for a local licence within a deadline, for example six months in Spain and Germany and one year in France.
Will Brexit affect my State Pension?
Your UK State Pension can be paid abroad and is still increased every year if you live in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland. Pensioners can usually use an S1 form for healthcare.