EU Settlement
Overview
If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, or a family member of an eligible Northern Ireland person, you may apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK.
Deadline: Most had to apply by 30 June 2021.
Joining family: Deadlines depend on your UK arrival date after 31 Dec 2020, if your family member lived in the UK by that date and your relationship existed then.
Some people, like Irish citizens or those with indefinite leave, don’t need to apply.
Status you’ll get: Settled or pre-settled status.
If you have pre-settled status:
You can apply for settled status after 5 years’ continuous UK residence.
Your pre-settled status will be extended automatically before expiry.
Extensions may be canceled if requirements are not met.
If you haven’t applied yet:
Your UK rights (work, benefits, NHS, renting) are not protected until you apply and receive a certificate of application.
The certificate protects your rights while your application is processed.
Joining family members:
Rights protected automatically for 90 days from arrival, then you must prove you’ve applied.
Fees: Applying is free.
Who can apply
Most people had to apply by 30 June 2021, but you can still apply if:
Your deadline is later than 30 June 2021, or
You have valid reasons for applying late.
Later deadlines apply if you are:
| Situation | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Joining family in UK after 1 Apr 2021 | Within 90 days of arrival |
| Child born/adopted in UK after 1 Apr 2021 | Within 90 days of birth/adoption |
| Family of eligible Northern Ireland person | Within 90 days of arrival |
| Exempt from immigration control after 30 Jun 2021 | Apply anytime if exempt; otherwise within 90 days |
| Holding limited leave expiring after 30 Jun 2021 | Before leave expires |
Eligibility:
You or your family member are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein and lived in the UK by 31 Dec 2020.
Other eligible groups include former family members, family of British citizens who were EU nationals, primary carers, and frontier workers.
Late applications are accepted with valid reasons like:
Not informed or helped to apply as a child
Serious illness or incapacity
Abusive relationship
Became eligible while on a visa
Other compassionate reasons
You must provide evidence covering the whole delay period.
Exemptions:
Some (e.g., diplomats, NATO members) don’t need to apply but can if they want.
If exemption ends, you must apply within 90 days.
Who does NOT need to apply:
Indefinite Leave to Remain holders
Irish citizens
Frontier Worker permit holders living outside the UK
British citizens
What you’ll get
Settled status: Usually after 5 years’ continuous residence in the UK.
Pre-settled status: If you’ve lived less than 5 years or qualify for other reasons (e.g., child of someone with settled status).
Continuous Residence:
Usually 6 months or less outside the UK in any 12-month period.
Longer absences allowed for reasons like childbirth, serious illness, study, military service, or COVID-19.
Rights with Status:
Work, access NHS, study, claim benefits if eligible, and travel freely.
Settled status grants permanent residence; pre-settled can lead to settled after 5 years.
Settled status holders can spend up to 5 years outside the UK without losing status (4 years for Swiss citizens).
If Status is Lost:
Usually need a visa to return.
May reapply if eligible as a family member.
Children Born in the UK:
Children of settled status holders are British automatically.
Children of pre-settled holders get pre-settled status, may gain citizenship through other parent.
Special rules apply for children born after 1 July 2021.
Family Members Joining You:
Must have lived in the UK by 31 Dec 2020, relationship existed by then (except new-borns/adopted).
Family must apply themselves.
Swiss partners can apply until 31 Dec 2025 if relationship began after 31 Dec 2020.
Bereaved Family Members:
May get settled status early if the deceased was working/self-employed in the UK and lived here by 31 Dec 2020.
What you'll need to apply
Eligibility: From EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein and living in the UK by 31 Dec 2020, or joining/remain with a family member who was.
Evidence required:
Proof of identity (passport or ID card; biometric documents if non-EU).
Proof of continuous residence in the UK (usually 5 years).
Proof of relationship and your family member’s status if applying as a family member.
Proof you’re applying on time or have a valid reason for delay.
How to submit documents:
Use the ‘EU Exit: ID Document Check’ app or
Post documents and upload photos online.
If pre-settled status was granted and details changed: Update your UKVI account.
Continuous residence: Automated checks may use your National Insurance and travel data. Additional evidence requested if needed.
Late applications: Provide valid reasons with evidence (e.g., medical, abuse, care).
Additional checks: Criminal record disclosure is required; minor convictions usually don’t affect status.
More evidence needed in some family or special cases.
Biometric appointments: Required if no valid biometric residence card.
Convert pre-settled status to settled status
Settled Status from Pre-Settled Status – Summary
You may be eligible for settled status after 5 years of continuous residence in the UK, as long as you haven’t been:
Outside the UK for more than 30 months total in 5 years, or
Away for more than 6 months in any 12-month period (with some exceptions).
Automatic Conversion
Your status may be upgraded automatically. If so, the Home Office will email you.
Applying Yourself
You can apply for settled status anytime once eligible — it’s free. You’ll need to:
Prove your identity
Show continuous residence
Confirm your relationship if based on a family member
Don’t apply if you’re already being considered for automatic conversion.
If You’re Not Converted
You’ll keep your pre-settled status, but it could be cancelled if you no longer meet the rules.
Permanent Residency Rights
You may already have the right to live in the UK permanently if you:
Have pre-settled status
Started living in the UK by 31 Dec 2020
Spent 5 years working, studying, or being self-sufficient
Applying for your child
Children and the EU Settlement Scheme – Summary
Each child must have their own application. You can apply on their behalf.
Eligibility
A child may qualify for settled or pre-settled status if:
They are under 21 (or were when granted pre-settled status), and
You or your partner are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein (or are eligible under other criteria)
They must have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020.
Apply within 90 days of:
Their birth or adoption in the UK, or
Their arrival in the UK (if after 31 Dec 2020)
Required Documents
You’ll need to provide proof of:
The child’s identity
Your relationship to the child
Your own settled/pre-settled status (or eligibility)
The child’s birth/adoption
Their UK residence (especially for 2020 if applicable)
Linking Applications
You can link your child’s application to your own for the same status, using your application number.
If Your Child Doesn’t Have 5 Years’ Residence
They’ll usually get pre-settled status unless you already have settled status.
Once they reach 5 years of residence, or if you later get settled status, you can apply to upgrade theirs.
Irish Citizens
Irish citizens don’t need to apply but can choose to. Their children must apply unless they are:
Irish
British
Dual Irish-British citizens
Applying as the family member of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
You can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme as a family member if:
Your EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic or Liechtenstein family member was living in the UK by 31 December 2020, and
They have settled or pre-settled status, and
You either lived in the UK by 31 December 2020 or are joining them
Who Qualifies
You may qualify as a:
Spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner (relationship must have started by 31 Dec 2020)
Child, grandchild or great-grandchild (under 21 or dependent if older)
Dependent parent, grandparent or other relative (with proof)
Special Cases
You may also apply if:
You have a retained right of residence (e.g. relationship ended, family member died)
You or your child were a primary carer of a qualifying child by 31 Dec 2020
You are a victim of domestic abuse and the relationship has ended
You are related to a British citizen with dual EU nationality
You are a non-British family member of an Irish citizen
You are a Swiss citizen’s spouse or partner (relationship began by 31 Dec 2025)
Applying if you're the family member of an eligible person of Northern Ireland
You can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme if:
Your EU, EEA or Swiss family member was living in the UK by 31 Dec 2020, and
They have settled or pre-settled status, and
You lived in the UK by that date or are joining them
Who Can Apply
Spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner (relationship started by 31 Dec 2020)
Child or grandchild (under 21 or dependent)
Dependent parent, grandparent, or other close relative
Other Situations
Relationship ended (divorce, death, abuse)
You’re a primary carer of a qualifying child
You’re a non-British family member of an Irish or dual-national UK citizen
You’re a Swiss citizen’s spouse (relationship began by 31 Dec 2025)
Applying if you’re the family member or primary carer of a British citizen
Most new applications are now closed for:
Family members of a qualifying British citizen (‘Surinder Singh’ cases)
Primary carers of a British citizen (‘Zambrano’ cases)
You can still apply if:
You applied before 9 August 2023
You already have pre-settled status under one of these routes
You entered the UK with a valid family permit under the EU Settlement Scheme
Requirements
You’ll need to prove:
Your identity
Your continuous residence
Your relationship to the British citizen
That they were living in the UK by 31 Dec 2020
You must apply by post with a special form from the EU Settlement Scheme Resolution Centre.
EU Settlement Scheme
PO Box 2076
Liverpool
L69 3PG
If you have indefinite leave to enter or remain
Your personal deadline is after 30 June 2021, or
You have reasonable grounds for applying late
If you already have pre-settled status, it will be extended by 5 years before expiry. You may also be automatically moved to settled status or apply for it yourself.
Apply Online
You can apply on a phone, laptop, or tablet.
Start with your own application before applying for your children.
You cannot apply online if you’re:
A family member of a British citizen under certain cases (e.g. Surinder Singh or Zambrano)
A child in education of someone who used to live/work in the UK
A primary carer of a British or EU child (in some cases)
These require a paper form.
To Apply by Post
Contact the EU Settlement Scheme Resolution Centre to request a form:
EU Settlement Scheme
PO Box 2076
Liverpool
L69 3PG
Applying from Outside the UK
You can apply from abroad if you have:
A biometric passport/ID card (EU/EEA/Swiss citizens), or
A valid UK-issued biometric residence card (BRC) (non-EU family members)
If You Have Indefinite Leave to Enter or Remain (ILE or ILR)
You Can Still Apply
You can choose to apply for settled status if:
You’ve had ILE or ILR continuously since 31 December 2020
Benefits of settled status:
You can spend up to 5 years outside the UK without losing your status (or 4 years if Swiss)
Your status becomes digital (eVisa) instead of a paper visa or vignette
If You Were in the UK Before 1973
You may already have ILR automatically. You can apply for:
Settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
Proof of status under the Windrush Scheme
If you stop working in the UK or start working in an EU country
Stop Working Due to Illness or Injury
You may qualify if:
You’ve lived in the UK for over 2 years
Or your incapacity is due to a work-related accident or disease, and you’re entitled to a UK pension
Reach Pension Age or Retire Early
You may qualify if:
You reached State Pension age or retired early
Worked continuously for 1 year, and lived in the UK for over 3 years
Or you’re married to a British citizen
Start Working in the EU, EEA or Switzerland
You may qualify if:
You lived and worked in the UK for 3 continuous years
You commute back to your UK home at least once a week
After you've applied
What Happens Next:
The Home Office checks your ID, biometrics, and eligibility
If valid, you’ll get a Certificate of Application
Use it to prove your right to work, rent, claim benefits, or use the NHS
If Approved:
You’ll get a decision letter and eVisa (online status)
Sign in to your UKVI account to view or update your status
Do not travel to the UK until you’re granted status
Proving Your Status:
Use a share code to prove your rights to employers or landlords
BRCs can’t be used for travel, work, or renting—use your eVisa
Travel & Re-entry:
You may need a visa to travel to other countries
Show your eVisa when returning to the UK if required
Update Details:
Keep your UKVI account info current (e.g. new passport)
If Refused:
You can appeal the decision
You may be charged for NHS use while waiting
Applying for Citizenship:
You can usually apply 12 months after getting settled status
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