What prospects for UK citizens in Austria exist for regaining freedom of onward movement?

Are British citizens covered by the Withdrawal AgreementWithdrawal Agreement The Withdrawal Agreement sets out the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and provides for a deal on citizens’ rights. It sets out a transition period which lasts until 31 December 2020. During this time you can continue to live, work and study in the EU broadly as you did before 31 January 2020.   If you are resident in Austria at the end of the transition period, you will be covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, and your rights will be protected for as long as you remain resident in Austria.   Any rights that are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement will be the subject of future negotiations.   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-withdrawal-agreement-and-political-declaration   limited to the Austrian labour market? Are any efforts being made to allow these individuals to work in the EEAEEA The European Economic Area (EEA) consists of the 27 EU Member States as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The United Kingdom is not part of the EEA. freely as before Brexit? Being restricted to the Austrian market impedes career development options.

The Withdrawal Agreement only protects the rights of UK nationals in the EU country where they were living before the end of 2020. The Withdrawal Agreement does not cover the right to onward movement or the right to continue to move freely to other Member States.

A UK national covered under the Withdrawal Agreement in Austria wishing to move to another EU Member State to live/work, the UK national would be subject to the immigration rules in that EU Member State for third country nationals (3CNs3rd country nationals Third country nationals are citizens of non-EU/EEA countries. Residency and naturalisation procedures for third country nationals are more complicated than for citizens of EU Member States or EEA signatory states.).

This question was adapted from a question raised at the British Embassy’s Outreach Q&A Session held on 23 September 2021. The full write-up of that event can be downloaded.