With the possibility of a “no deal” Brexit, this plan will secure the rights of Portuguese citizens living and working in the UK, as well as companies that export predominantly to the UK.

In case Theresa May’s transition plan gets rejected, the Portuguese government announced it will be reinforcing consular assistance for Portuguese citizens in the UK.

In addition it will also provide financial support for Portuguese companies that export mainly to the UK, to help expand their export channels.

For Portuguese emigrants, March 29 will be the date the UK becomes a third party country, therefore only those who have entered the UK prior to that date will be able to obtain residency.

“They [the Portuguese in the UK] must secure their rights by 29 March and those that have done so before that date will have their rights respected,” said Portuguese Foreign Affairs Minister Augusto Santos Silva.

In this situation, after arriving before this date with the intention of working and living in the UK, they will have until the 31^st of December 2020 to register formally.

For British citizens living in Portugal, the Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa has assured they will still be able to live in Portugal and benefit from several rights, including the Social Security rights established in the 1978 between the two countries.

In case this contingency plan is set in motion, António Costa revealed additional measures for British tourists, such as the creation of exclusive lanes in the Faro and Funchal airports, seeing that 80% of UK citizens enter Portugal through them.

Source: Essential Business e Rádio Comercial