Letter from Ambassador Knott to UK nationals in Poland
Ambassador Jonathan Knott wrote a letter to UK nationals in Poland updating them about the UK exit from the EU.
Ambassador Jonathan Knott
Dear UK nationals in Poland,
Following the agreement between the EU and UK last week on extending the date of the UK’s exit, I wanted to update you on the situation and remind you of actions you can take to ensure that you are prepared for when the UK does leave the EU.
As you will know, we and the EU27 have agreed to a flexible extension of the Article 50 period for six months to 31 October. This means that the UK is set to leave the EU on that date, or earlier if the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified by both sides before then. Further talks are now taking place between the Government and the Opposition to seek a way forward.
Ultimately, the potential outcomes remain the same and while we do not want or expect a no deal situation, it is important that we are prepared for all potential scenarios. The Polish government have passed legislation which protects the rights of UK nationals in the case of both a deal or no deal scenario but there are things that you can do to prepare now.
If you have not done so already, you should use this time to register as a resident in Poland. You can find more information on the application process on the Office for Foreigners website.
You should also exchange your UK driving licence for a Polish one to ensure that it remains valid once the UK leaves the EU. If you still have a paper licence, you should exchange this for a photocard with the DVLA as you may not be able to exchange a paper licence for a Polish licence.
The Living In Poland guide provides important information on what you should do to remain resident in Poland after the UK leaves the EU and gives advice on how you can do this.
We will keep you updated with new information as and when it becomes available- please sign up to email alerts from the British Embassy Warsaw to ensure you receive this.