British citizen working in EU countries

[desperado]

Dear all,

I've recently become a british citizen and planning to do contracting work in EU countries like germany, ireland etc. Do I have to apply for a work visa in EU country or as being a british citizen I can work without any work visa?

Can I live in EU country as long as I want? can buy property and stay in a EU country indefinetly?

any suggestions or advice please?

[John]

You have an absolute right to work and live in any other EEA country (subject to transitional rules still affecting some of the 10 new countries). However in some countries you will need to register but under EEA/EU regulations the Government of that country cannot refuse to register you. Look upon that as akin to someone from Italy, Portugal etc etc, coming to the UK, needing to register in the UK for a national insurance number.

You also have a right to visit any EEA country for up to three months, and indeed to live there longer, for example to retire, as long as you can support yourself financially.

[desperado]

You have an absolute right to work and live in any other EEA country (subject to transitional rules still affecting some of the 10 new countries). However in some countries you will need to register but under EEA/EU regulations the Government of that country cannot refuse to register you. Look upon that as akin to someone from Italy, Portugal etc etc, coming to the UK, needing to register in the UK for a national insurance number.

You also have a right to visit any EEA country for up to three months, and indeed to live there longer, for example to retire, as long as you can support yourself financially.

Cool. So if I get a contracting job in Ireland then I could go do a 3 mths or 6 mths contracting job and return back to UK. Wowww the job market just got bigger Its brilliant.

[Kayalami]

Can I live in EU country as long as I want? can buy property and stay in a EU country indefinetly?

Only a citizen/ national of any designated country has the complete right to live there indefinitley. EEA nationals who are in a member state of which they are not a citizen can be removed/ deported if their presence is not conducive to the public good. Such is often on the basis of severe criminal sanctions (murder, sexual violence, drug trafficking etc) but may also include acute medical cases (e.g. leprosy).

Cool. So if I get a contracting job in Ireland then I could go do a 3 mths or 6 mths contracting job and return back to UK. Wowww the job market just got bigger Its brilliant.

Treaty laws prevent discrimination of any member state national for employment purposes but one must consider:

1. The employment situation in the relevant job market (the UK currently has the most dynamic EEA economy so this is the place to be jobwise). Yes you have more opportunities but then you correspondingly have a larger labour pool.

2. The trend of the relevant industry vis a vis globalisation e.g. outsourcing.

3. The fact that in any country preference is given to those with local experience given factors such as cultural behaviour/ understanding.

4. The matter of linguistic ability in the rest of the EEA - French, German etc.

5. The matter of income tax across multiple regimes.

6. The matter of relevant registration where such is a pre-requisite to employment in the relevant profession e.g. law, medicine etc.

I hope that helps.

[desperado]

Thanks for the info. Yes it always helps to know more details. After UK, Ireland and Germany are the biggest IT job market. But again as you said, language is a barrier in countries like germany.