Who needs to apply?

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen currently residing in the UK and wish to remain in the UK after 31 December 2020, you must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Do I need to apply if I have a Permanent Residence document?

Yes, you must still apply to the Scheme to continue living in the UK as you have now.

You will not need to prove a continuous residence of 5 years and will receive Settled status (explained below).

Do I need to apply if I have Indefinite Leave to Remain?

You are not required to apply to the Scheme to continue living in the UK as you have now. However, you can choose to apply so that you may, subject to Parliament approval, be able to increase the amount of time you can spend outside the UK without losing your status.

You will not need to prove a continuous residence of 5 years and will receive Settled status (explained below).

What about my family?

Your family members who are EU, EEA or Swiss citizens must also apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. You can link your family’s applications with yours using the application number that you are provided with when you apply. This ensures that your applications are considered together.

If your family members are not EU, EEA or Swiss citizens, they will still be eligible to apply to the Scheme. When your family member is applying, they must provide evidence of their relationship to you (e.g. marriage certificate or birth certificate).

Likewise, you can link your family’s applications with yours so that your applications are considered together.

Where your family members are not living in the UK by 31 December 2020, regardless of whether they are EU, EEA or Swiss citizens or not, they can still join you if you have Settled or Pre-Settled status. They can join you so long as their relationship with you began before 31 December 2020 and they are your close family member (i.e. spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, dependent child or grandchild, dependent parent or grandparent).

What is the difference between the Settled and Pre-Settled status?

Once your application is approved, the Home Office will email you a link so that you can view and prove your status. You will receive either Settled or Pre-Settled Status.

Settled status

You will receive Settled status if you have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 and have lived in the UK for a continuous period of 5 years. During these 5 years, you must have been in the UK for at least 6 months per year (certain exceptions apply).

Subject to Parliament approval, you should be able to spend up to 5 consecutive years outside the UK without losing your status.

Any children born to you after you apply will automatically be British citizens.

Pre-Settled status

You will receive Pre-Settled status if you have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 but have notlived in the UK for a continuous period of 5 years. Once you have lived in the UK for a continuous 5 year period, you can then apply for the Settled status.

You will be able to spend up to 2 consecutive years outside the UK without losing your status. Any children born to you after you apply will automatically be eligible for Pre-Settled status.

What documents do I need to provide when I apply?

You will need to provide the following:

Proof of identity:

Valid passport, national identity card, biometric residence card, or biometric residence permit

Proof of residence:

National insurance number for an automated check of your residence Additional documents if there is not enough data to confirm your residence

When do I have to apply by?

The deadline for applying to the EU Settlement Scheme is 30 June 2021.

How do I apply?

You can apply by completing the application form online or sending your identity documents in by post.

There is no application fee.

What happens in the case of a no-deal Brexit?

The deadline for applying to the Scheme will be 31 December 2020.

To receive Settled or Pre-Settled status, you must have started living in the UK by 12 April 2019. Please do not hesitate to contact us for assistance in applying for your status under this scheme.