British Nationality Law - Citizenship of The European Union

Citizenship of The European Union

British nationals who are "United Kingdom nationals for European Union purposes" are also citizens of the European Union and thus enjoy rights of free movement and have the right to vote in elections for the European Parliament.

British nationals who are "United Kingdom nationals for European Union purposes", namely:

  • British citizens;
  • British subjects with the right of abode; and
  • British Overseas Territories citizens connected to Gibraltar

are European Union citizens under European Union law.

However, by virtue of a special provision in the UK Accession Treaty, British citizens who are connected with the Channel Islands and Isle of Man (i.e. considered "Channel Islanders and Manxmen") do not have the right to live in other European Union countries (except the Republic of Ireland, through the long-established Common Travel Area) unless they have connections through descent or residence in the United Kingdom.

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