Should the UK return to EU free movement?

[EEexpat]

Advantages and disadvantages?

I know quite a few people from the Uk who are studying and working In Europe. What is preventing people from doing it now barring a bit more paperwork?

Ridiculous argument. It’s not this easy. Have you ever tried to get a visa? It can be an absolute nightmare.

There are 31 million non-EU citizens living within the EU member states. If you want bureaucracy, high taxes, constant striking then go apply for the visa to live in the EU.

You can travel in Europe. Visa on arrival/visit visas are usually quite generous for UK citizens. If you want to,live you just go through the process for a resident visa. It used to be called carte de sejour in France before free movement.

Wanting to remove unnecessary bureaucracy isn’t laziness.

Defending it just because it exists is hardly genius. 🙄

Yep keep going with that. More flowing to here v the EU with heavier regulation.

OK, so a big problem if you're a slave to the Apple corporation then. And if you like to use smart glasses for nefarious purposes. And if you think self driving technology is good enough yet. And if you want more AI taking over - despite AI companies themselves now warning of the risks and recommending a slowdown. You're not selling it.

Meanwhile, how about those benefits you mentioned? What can you get in the UK that's so great and that you can't get in the EU?

I know people who've moved all over the world. Have friends who've went for work in America. Close family members have moved to the ME.

So many young people moving to Australia. And know a lovely lady who has done a company transfer to SG.

There's opportunities across the globe. If you really really want to move somewhere, apply for the correct work permit and do it the correct way.

What’s your sector @GintyMcGinty? There’s a lot of parents with dc deciding on courses on here.

Ease of studying abroad in their 3rd year seems to be be the main reason that the English students at my DC’s Scottish university say attracted them to come to Scotland for a 4 year degree.

I just mentioned them. People do use iPhones you know. People use the apple products and find them useful for their lives and business. You can still use smart glasses in the EU for video recording which people say is nefarious. All the helpful stuff that could benefit you, removed. Self driving vehicles are the future and will be increasingly more common. AI is going to happen whether we like it or not (I like it) and we can use it as a force for good.

In the first half of 2026 alone, UK startups raised $18.6 billion. London remains firmly ranked as the #1 tech ecosystem in Europe and #3 globally (behind only Silicon Valley and New York). I want the UK tech industry to thrive and prosper. Don't you?

No.

So many of the world can't even go on holiday visa free to the EU. They need to apply for Schengen visas and have to submit forms and do biometrics. They still do it though and go through the process.

You want to impose unnecessary bureaucracy to the rest of the UK and impose burdensome EU regulations on all firms and businesses (even those that don't trade with the EU).

I’m laughing at the people who think moving within EU and working ( or not working) is simply full a bit of paperwork in — the hoop jumping involved is enormous for most places if at all - France is the easiest but even then it’s not that simple- those saying it’s easy invariably moved pre Brexit or haven’t done it or are on company relocates

No it doesn’t work like that - try moving to Germany, Sweden, Denmark , Netherlands etc based on this !! The criteria is incredibly complicated and not particularly secure either if working for an employer- no chance if you want to move to retire or work for yourself - even remotely

Students have the easiest option by far - many have a 9 month ‘look for a job option’ - however getting someone to take you on for a proper job if non EU isn’t so straight forward as they have to prove they can’t get someone from within the EU through job adverts etc

@Crikeyalmighty

I conducted business in the Netherlands from January 2020 to December 2025. I worked hybrid between UK and the Netherlands. My time in the Netherlands never exceeded the 90/180 Schengen guideline.

This was done by:

Fly in Monday and fly out Thursday. Add public holidays and annual leave, I never got near the 90/180 guideline

There's a process to go through. Go through it. An American moving to the EU would face the same thing.

@Crikeyalmighty

they have to prove they can’t get someone from within the EU through job adverts etc

That’s easily done. Client uses the CV of the non-EU person they want as the job description.

I don't want to move to the EU, although I love NW Spain and would love to live there, can afford property there and speak the language better every day. I would happily take a 90 day let for spring or autumn to comply with the 90/180 day rule. The landlord would not want me as a tenant in summer, and the winter is as gloomy and wet as the SW UK, if fractionally milder.

Yes please

I would love the freedom to move back and forth between Galicia and the West Midlands, smoothly. That is my ideal version of retirement. We could afford it, as things stand now, but the increasing intrusiveness of the bureaucracy makes me hesitate. With a GE in Spain at the end of November, who would make an expensive property bet?

There is a retirement visa. You can apply for it if you really want to.

So your whole bit is that you want freedom of movement just with added admin? Right.