European Migration to the United Kingdom: The Belief in Free Movement Post-Brexit

After the UK left the EU in January 2021, the concept of free movement changed for Europeans. The ability to travel cross-border the European nations has been limited between the borders of the UK and mainland Europe. Although Europeans are still allowed to enter as tourists for six months, they must now apply for visas for a more extended stay. This thesis uses interview data to examine the different experiences and beliefs of European citizens’ right to free movement after Brexit. Ten participants have shared their migration experience from an EU country to the UK. Reasons for migration are relationships, job or study opportunities. This thesis includes my migration story from the Netherlands to the UK in a semi-autoethnographic methodology. The main finding of this thesis is the different experiences and beliefs around the post-Brexit free movement. There is a hierarchical structure of visa procedures, and within every level, there are layers of factors based on individual privileges. Although every person has a right to apply for a visa, an individual’s position and, therefore, privileges impact the accessibility of means and the challenges in procedures.