Due to Britain’s close relationships with much of the world, including the European Union, a British passport will allow you to visit over 180 countries with no visa. However, the nations you can live and work in without a visa are far more limited.
This article answers the question: Where can I live with a British passport? It also deals with how Britain’s departure from the European Union has limited the number of nations you can live in visa-free with a British passport.
The Changes BREXIT Has Caused
Before the UK left the European Union at the end of January 2021, British passport holders had fantastic rights to live and work within EU nations. In return, EU citizens could also usually live and work in the UK without needing a visa.
Things have not been the same since Britain left the EU. Now, British passport holders can only remain in the EU for 90 days within any 180-day period. They are also not allowed to work in the EU unless they have a suitable permit or visa.
Without these rights as an EU member nation, the places where British passport holders can still live and work without a long-term visa are severely limited. Examples include the following:
- Gibraltar.
- Paraguay.
- Belize
- The Common Travel Area (CTA), which includes the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Crown Dependencies.
The Crown Dependencies refer to Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.
Living and Working in Ireland
Since 1922, British citizens have had the right to live and work in Ireland due to bilateral agreements. The same rights exist for Irish citizens who want to live and work in Britain. They have been preserved despite the complexities of dealing with the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after BREXIT.
Due to these rights, which are now over a century old, British passport holders can do the following:
- Enter Ireland with no visa.
- Travel freely between the UK and Ireland.
- Work in most jobs without needing an employment permit.
- Access the Irish public healthcare system.
- Vote in general elections while a resident in Ireland.
Please note that these rights only extend to British and European Economic Area (EEA) passport holders. If you have family members with a different type of nationality, they’ll need to arrange a suitable visa to live with you in Ireland, unless you have been living with them in Ireland before 31 December 2020.
Moving to Belize Visa-Free
The furthest afield nations where British passport holders can live and work without a long-term visa are Belize and Paraguay. British citizens can enter Belize visa-free for up to 30 days. They can then contact the Belize Immigration Department to extend this period. A small fee will usually need to be paid.
Having achieved five years of continuous residence in Belize, you’ll be able to apply for permanent residency. Getting permanent residency in Belize will give you complete freedom to work and remain in Belize without needing to worry about updating your permission. Permanent residency is also a pathway to becoming a naturalised citizen, giving you full rights in Belize, such as the ability to vote.
Even before you get permanent residency or citizenship, British passport holders still have fantastic rights in Belize. For example, you’ll be able to buy property and land with the same rights and protections as Belize citizens.
Moving to Paraguay Visa-Free
British passport holders could find it even easier to move to Paraguay without a visa. You can enter the country visa-free with an initial validity period of 90 days. You won’t need to make any investments or bank deposits to access this benefit. Paraguay’s territorial tax system could also allow qualifying UK-source income, such as your pension, to be taxed at 0% in Paraguay.
While visiting Paraguay, you can apply for residency, giving you the chance to live and work in Paraguay without having to worry about maintaining your visa status. This process is easier to apply for than most visas. However, you’ll need to provide an ACRO Police Certificate from the UK to prove you are of good character. This usually costs £65 and takes 20 working days from when you ask for one.
As with Belize, you’ll have a good ability to buy property. Only a valid passport is needed to access this right, which is on the same level as Paraguay’s citizens.
Permanent residency is available more quickly than in Belize, as you can access it in just three years. However, you’ll need to show
Living and Working in the Common Travel Area
Holding a British passport gives you full rights to live and work in any territory in the Common Travel Area, which includes the Crown Dependencies. You’ll also be able to start a business and access education, healthcare, welfare and more. Your full voting rights will also be transferred to wherever you move in the Common Travel Area.
Please note that you’ll need to provide photo ID when travelling between these territories. This could include a valid passport or driver’s license.
Moving to Gibraltar as a UK Passport Holder
Another British territory you can move to as a passport holder is Gibraltar, on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. Gibraltar is popular because it offers a warm Mediterranean climate in a familiar and English-speaking environment. You can also use residency in Gibraltar as a way to avoid having to pay VAT and capital gains tax.
Although you won’t need a visa, Gibraltar requires UK passport holders to obtain residency permission to move to the territory. This is due to the territory’s incredibly limited space and resources. You’ll need to show self-sufficiency through a pension, employed or self-employed income. British passport holders also need to get private healthcare cover if they are not working locally.
Another consideration when moving to Gibraltar is that they use the Gibraltar Pound (GIP). However, it is pegged to the British Pound (GBP) and you can freely transfer between the currencies.