Within Brexit EU and UK have chosen to end the free movement of people as of January 1^st 2021.

As included in the agreement signed between the EU and the UK on December 24^th 2020, managers and senior company executives moving from an EU country to the UK, or the other way around, will have a privileged status, which will allow them to move from one place to another without restrictions for three years with no other requirement than a valid passport.

For the UK, the mobility of businessmen is crucial, especially to maintain the City of London as financial center and preserve its activity.

In other UK trade agreements with other countries, such as Japan, privileged status with business executives has also been included.

“Trainees”, interns in companies, are granted a leave of up to one year. 

UK short-term business visitors can travel to the EU for 90 days in any 180-day month period. The Parties have also agreed not to impose work permits on business visitors for establishment purposes.

Intra-corporate transferees can be accompanied by their partners and dependents when placed abroad, with minimal administrative burdens.

A generic rule will apply on both sides, all citizens will be allowed short-term visits to the other territory without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

In the case of British citizens, those 90 days can be spent by visiting one country first and then another as long as they are consumed within a 180-day period.

After 90 days, if a citizen wants to stay longer, they must comply with current legislation. Depending on the status: self-employed worker, employee, temporary worker, student, etc., different rules will apply, although visas, permanent residence or, where appropriate, nationality will always have to be requested.

The UK and the EU are going to monitor each other to make these rules effective reciprocally.

Therefore, it is conditional to provide equivalent visa-free for short-term visits for all Member States and without discrimination. If EU or UK introduces a visa requirement, the reciprocity mechanism will apply immediately, suspending the ‘visa-free’ status.