There are only a few weeks until the planned Brexit. Still there is no agreement, due to the uncertainty of many, to establish whether British or otherwise European. And for many of the approximately 18,000 British, who are registered in Berlin, officially, are the scenarios from your home country oppressive.
so Far, a third of Britons have applied for a residence title for Germany: According to the Interior Department for Berlin have been reported since January, almost 6000 for a right to stay.
The foreigners authority had begun at the beginning of the year an Online method in which Berlin-based British report, in order to obtain a residence permit. This is an official permission for foreigners to work here in Germany and to live. Such a certificate is not for EU-foreigners is necessary, which is why it no Brit has used. Now but might.
2017 have 558 British in Berlin, naturalised
Since the Brexit Referendum in 2016, the number of applications for citizenship of British, have risen strongly: in 2015, had, according to data of the statistical office for Berlin-Brandenburg is only a 45-British in Berlin, naturalised, in the year 2017 there were, however, 558 acquisition of citizenship. Thus, the British were the second largest group of the population which had successfully acquired a German passport.
Rachel More, a 27-year-old Scot, who now lives in Germany in 2014, may not be naturalised: they live not long enough. She was gone in 2012 for an Erasmus Semester to Dresden, where she met her current fiancé, and was determined to stay. Also Rachel More has registered with the foreigners ‘ authority in Berlin. “The System, the form that was surprisingly easy. I’m not of German bureaucracy used to,“ she says.
But in spite of the relief she had felt after the registry, don’t know still what will actually happen. And as you want it too, know not even the British government. “I know only that I must at least stay for so long, until I was talking to the foreigners’ authority,” says More.
“In this toxic atmosphere of British society, I don’t want to live”
she loves Berlin, even if not everything is perfect. You and your fiance live in Moabit, they lived before that in Dresden. “I was already in front of the Brexit to leave Germany. But now I’m even more determined. In this toxic atmosphere of British society, I don’t want to live,“ she says. “Germany is my home.”
you will try as soon as possible to get a German passport, even if you must give up your British. You and your fiance don’t even think about now, whether it would be useful if you would sooner than planned to get married. “Maybe I’m here as a wife of an EU citizen have more rights,” she explains. This is for you the worst part: knowing that your rights will be revoked.
Rachel More comes from Scotland and has lived since in Germany in 2014. She hopes to be able to stay in Berlin.Photo: private
There are Britons in Berlin who came in after the Referendum here. So Femke Colborne: The 39-Year-old has decided, in November 2016, the Thames against the Spree trade. “The Brexit was not the only reason, but it was certainly one of the reasons for my move. It has me depressed to live in a country whose policy was so repugnant to me“, she describes their decision-making.
Femke Colborne Worries about the rate of sterling
The British passport surrender is not that easy. Because a piece is accompanied by a decision about the identity of their own. “Before Leaving I have never had the feeling to me either for the UK or for Europe – as a half-Dutch and half English, I have always felt European,” explains Femke Colborne your feeling. “But now I don’t think that’s possible.”
For the Brexit has become an internal conflict. “I’m British, but I am ashamed of it now.” Colborne says for you to Berlin, had come as a place of residence in question, because it corresponds to their personal and political values. “I have been living in Berlin is a better social than in London, and I have the feeling that this city is more open to single women of middle age. And the cultural scene here is top notch.“
you could have the Brexit economic consequences. It has in England, a house wanted to sell it actually. “This is perhaps a little egocentric, but I’m Worried about the price of the pound and how this course the real estate market will affect it. Besides, I have my savings there,“ she says.
4. March in the British Embassy in Berlin an information event for the British instead of
For Rachel More the idea that the UK could leave without any agreement, the EU is “shocking”. And for very practical reasons, there is a large Problem: At the 22. March, exactly a week before the Brexit, you fly it for a month to Australia. “If there is no agreement, if there is Chaos, I’ll come at all in April back home?”, she asks.
On 4. March will be held in the British Embassy, an event for the British in Berlin. Because questions should be answered, if possible. After that, it will only be 26 days until the planned date of the Brexits.
Whether Femke Colborne at some point want to return? “In this uncertainty, I’m wasting no thought of it.” Rachel … can shake at the thought of the British future, only the head: “I’m so angry and so disappointed.”
More about
Berlin economy and the Brexit Wait and drink tea
Jan-Philipp Hein
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