Poland and Czech Republic to allow Britons to stay if UK crashes out

Two more European Union states, Poland and the Czech Republic, have said they are preparing emergency laws to allow Britons to stay to work in their countries legally in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The Czechs say their draft law will mean the estimated 8,000 Britons living in the country are exempt from normal immigration laws until the end of the December 2020. With a 21-month exemption period, it appears to be the most generous of proposals made so far by any member state for Britons settled in the bloc. However, it will only become effective if the UK reciprocates and guarantees the rights of about 40,000 Czech citizens living in Britain. The Polish government is drafting a similar law which will give the estimated 6,000 Britons in the country a year without having to change their status to immigrants from a third country. The proposed legislation will offer relief to Britons in Poland and the Czech Republic – although they only represent around 14,000 of the estimated 1 million Britons settled on the continent. The Polish have said they will offer permanent residency covering the right to work to those who have been in the country for more than five years and a three-year temporary residence permit to those who have been there for fewer than five years.