About Choose Freedom: Fighting for EU Citizenship and Free Movement
When Sarah’s family tried to move from Bristol to Valencia last spring, they discovered that the passport she had held since birth no longer unlocked the life she had planned. Her children needed visas, her husband needed a work permit, and the dream of a Mediterranean retirement suddenly came with a paperwork mountain. That story, repeated in thousands of homes across the United Kingdom since Brexit, is exactly why we built Choose Freedom. Our mission is simple: to demystify EU citizenship and free movement so that no UK family has to navigate this maze alone.
Our Mission: Keeping EU Citizenship Within Reach
We exist to help UK citizens understand and exercise their free movement rights, and to keep the door to EU citizenship open for everyone who wants it. Around 1.2 million UK-born people hold EU citizenship through birth, descent, or naturalisation, and millions more lost automatic free movement when the transition period ended in 2020. We believe that loss is not the end of the story.
Why We Started Choose Freedom
Our editorial team watched friends and neighbours lose rights they had taken for granted for decades. We decided that clear, practical information should not be a luxury reserved for those who can afford expensive legal advice.
The European Citizens’ Initiative Explained
The European Citizens’ Initiative is one of the most powerful tools available to EU citizens and their supporters. It allows one million people across at least seven member states to formally ask the European Commission to propose new legislation. We track every relevant initiative, explain how to sign, and show you what happens next.
Our Commitment to Accurate, Actionable Information
Every guide we publish is checked against official sources, then rewritten in plain English. We tell you what to do, where to do it, and what it costs.
What We Cover: From Brexit Fallout to Residence Rights
Our editorial focus sits at the intersection of EU citizenship, free movement, and residence rights. We cover the EU Settlement Scheme in detail, including the 2021 grace period and the late applications that followed. We also report on political campaigns, from the European Citizens’ Initiative ‘Stop Brexit’ to the 2019 ‘Bollocks to Brexit’ campaign, because policy shapes the paperwork you face.
Brexit and Its Impact on UK Citizens
We explain how Brexit changed everything from pet passports to pension transfers, and what can still be done.
Residence Rights Across the EU
From registration certificates to permanent residence cards, we break down each country’s rules.
Case Studies: Spain, France, and Germany
Real families, real outcomes. Our case studies show what worked, what failed, and why.
How We Work: Informed, Opinionated, and On Your Side
We write in the first-person plural because this is personal. Our editorial team includes people with backgrounds in EU law, migration policy, and journalism, and we combine legal research with lived experience. We collaborate closely with groups like the3million and British in Europe, sharing data and amplifying campaigns.
Our Research and Fact-Checking Process
We verify every claim against primary sources, and we date-stamp each article so you know it is current.
Why We Take a Stand
Neutrality is not always possible when rights are at stake. We are unapologetically pro-citizenship.
How to Contribute or Tip Us Off
- Email our editorial team with your story or a document we should investigate.
- Join our community forum and share your experience with others.
- Suggest a topic or a correction through our contact page.
FAQ
Can I still claim EU citizenship after Brexit?
Yes, in many cases. If you have an Irish, Italian, or other EU-born parent or grandparent, you may qualify through descent. We explain the routes country by country.
What is the EU Settlement Scheme and do I still need it?
The EU Settlement Scheme grants settled or pre-settled status to EU citizens in the UK. If you already hold status, keep your evidence safe; if you missed the 2021 grace period, late applications are still possible in some circumstances.
How does the European Citizens’ Initiative help UK citizens?
It gives us a formal channel to push for legislation that could restore or protect free movement rights. One million signatures across seven countries triggers a response from the European Commission.
Who do you work with?
We collaborate with the3million, British in Europe, and other grassroots groups to share information and coordinate campaigns.
We will never stop supporting UK citizens who want to reclaim EU citizenship or hold on to the free movement they once had. Join our community, share your story, and help us keep that door open for the next family like Sarah’s.