Citizenship exam mock tests — CIPLE, DELE, DELF, CELI, DTZCIPLE A2 mock test online — Portuguese citizenship and residencyDELE A2 mock test online — Spanish citizenship and nationalityInburgering A2 (Netherlands) mock test online — eligible Dutch civic-integration and naturalisation routesEllinomatheia A2 (Cyprus) mock test online — Cyprus residency and naturalisation pathways requiring Ellinomatheia A2CCE A2 (Czech) mock test online — Czech permanent-residence language equivalence (CCE A2+) and general A2 certification — citizenship language proof starts at CCE B1 on ÚJOPDTZ B1 (Germany) mock test online — German permanent residence and citizenshipDELF B2 (France) mock test online — French citizenship and residencyCELI 2 (B1) mock test online — Italian citizenship and residencyCAPLE — Portuguese language certificationInstituto Cervantes — DELE Spanish examsContact Prep2go — support@prep2go.study
Prep2Go.study
View plans
All news
FlashSpainSeptember 21, 2026

920,000 Britons Expected to Hold EU Residency by End of 2025

PublishedEditorial policy

By the end of 2025, an estimated 920,000 UK citizens are projected to hold residency permits across the European Union, with the majority concentrated in just three member states. This trend highlights post-Brexit adaptation.

EU ResidencyBritish CitizensPost-BrexitSpainImmigrationResidency Permits

Key takeaways

  • The projection of 920,000 British residents underscores that obtaining an EU residency permit has become a mandatory, not optional, step for UK citizens wishing to live in the bloc post-Brexit.
  • The preference for three specific countries suggests that other 27 EU member states may be less appealing or have more complex residency processes for British applicants. Prospective residents should investigate the reasons behind these popular choices.
  • For British citizens planning to relocate to the EU, securing a residency permit in advance of arrival is essential. The experience of these 920,000 individuals serves as a guide for navigating the new requirements.

Post-Brexit Residency Trends: 920,000 Britons in the EU

An estimated 920,000 British citizens are projected to hold residency permits across the European Union by the end of 2025. A significant majority of these individuals have chosen to settle in just three EU member states.

This concentration is attributed to factors such as climate, language, tax considerations, and proximity to the UK.

Following the UK's departure from the EU, British citizens now require formal legal status to reside in the bloc. This includes obtaining documents like the NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) and TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero) in Spain, a specific visa in France, or a resident status in Portugal, with each country having distinct application rules and documentation requirements.

The numbers indicate that post-Brexit relocation to the EU has not ceased but has rather evolved. Instead of scattering across the continent, Britons are opting for a few strategically convenient locations to formalize their residency. While observing these popular choices can be informative, it's crucial for applicants to research thoroughly and ensure a location aligns with their individual needs rather than blindly following trends.

Sources

Based on Emigro corridor reporting. Primary links below.

Was this brief helpful?

Turn policy news into a study plan

Browse language decks

Keep vocabulary moving while your residence or citizenship timeline changes.

Start here