Information and advice for EU citizens

Scotland's Citizens Advice network will provide a new advice service to European citizens in Scotland affected by changes in the immigration rules as a result of Brexit.

Funded by £800,000 over three years by the Scottish Government, Citizens Advice Bureaux will begin increasing capacity to offer advice and support immediately, with a view to the full service being live at the beginning of March 2019.

Citizens Advice Bureaux will advise on rights, entitlements and requirements, many of which are devolved, which are affected by an individual's immigration status. As an additional support to advisers, a solicitor-led helpline will also be established for difficult and complex cases.

In March, the UK Government will introduce a settlement scheme where EU citizens and their family members will be required to apply to secure their rights through an online system.

Visiting Leith Citizens Advice Bureau in Edinburgh on International Migrants Day, Scottish Government Migration Minister Ben Macpherson said:

"The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to doing all it can to speak up for and in support of EU citizens at this uncertain and anxious time. Scotland is a welcoming and progressive nation and we deeply value the huge contribution of all those who have chosen to make their home here. We passionately want relatives, friends, neighbours and colleagues from other EU countries to stay in Scotland - and that is why this funding will help to give people reassurances about their rights and access advice about how to secure settled status through the UK Government's immigration system.

"This new Scottish Government funded advice service will be over and above what the UK Government is proposing. By providing additional help, as well as being accessible at Citizens Advice Bureaux across Scotland, our service will have a particular focus on vulnerable and hard to reach groups who may find it difficult, or are unable or unwilling, to apply online without assistance, including people living in remote and rural areas.

"The Citizens Advice network is highly trusted and I am delighted to be partnering with them on this service. I hope that providing this additional service will help to ensure that EU citizens in Scotland - who are relatives, friends, neighbours and colleagues - feel welcome, supported and valued during this uncertain time.

"The Scottish Government is clear that EU citizens should not be being asked to apply to retain the rights that they already have, and that they certainly should not be charged a fee for that application. We will continue to make the case that the UK Government should scrap their unfair fee for settled status applications."

Citizens Advice Scotland CEO Derek Mitchell said:

"Brexit has left many people in Scotland feeling uncertain about their rights, and all the signs are that these uncertainties could continue for some time. It is essential that people have a trusted source of advice and support which is completely confidential, free and independent of government. The Scottish CAB network is proud to fit that description and stands ready to help EU citizens with all the advice they need."

Background

The Programme for Government committed to establish a service to provide information and support on immigration and citizenship matters for EU citizens.

The UK Government settlement scheme will open fully by 30 March 2019 and the deadline for applying will be 30 June 2021.

Scotland's population needs and migration policy: discussion paper. EU migration has fallen, evidenced by the most recent ONS statistics. EU nationals in Scotland previously numbered 235,000 but this has fallen to 223,000.

Economic contribution of EU Citizens to Scotland: Scottish Government analysis submitted to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) found that the average EU citizen in Scotland adds £10,400 to government revenue and £34,400 to GDP each year. Furthermore, the MAC report, at paragraph 18, reconfirmed the following in September 2018: "Our commissioned research found that EEA migrants pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits."

Scottish Government modelling estimates that real GDP in Scotland will be 4.5% lower by 2040 than it would have been otherwise, as a result of the Brexit-driven reduction in migration. This is equivalent to a fall of almost £5 billion per year in GDP by 2040.