Information for EU and EEA nationals

I am an EU/EEA national. How can I secure my status in the UK?

The UK Government has established a scheme (the EU Settlement Scheme) for EU/EEA nationals and their families who are resident in the UK to apply for Settled or Pre-settled status.

You should read the step-by-step guide on the Government website.

Who can apply?

The Home Office guidance explains who can apply, and also some categories of people who do not need to apply.

When should I apply?

The full opening of the EU Settlement Scheme will go ahead on 30 March 2019. Applications will be free, as announced by the Prime Minister on 21 January 2019.

If you have an EU Biometric passport, you can use the online application process to apply any time from now. You can also apply any time from now if you are a family member of someone from the EU and you have a residence card with a biometric chip and ‘EU right to reside’ on the back.

If you apply before 30 March 2019, you will have to pay a fee of £65. This fee will be automatically refunded to the card that was used to pay it. The Government states that an email will be sent to the contact address provided in the application, confirming when the refund has been processed.

The deadline for applying will be 30 June 2021, or 31 December 2020 if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

What status will I get?

The Home Office will decide whether you qualify for settled status. This will usually be on the basis of five year’s residence. If you live in the UK but have not been here for five years you will be considered for “pre-settled” status. This status allows you to stay for up to 5 years and apply for settled status when you meet the requirements.

More information is available here.

How do I apply?

The first stage of the application process is an identity check which can be done using an Android app (EU Exit: ID Document Check app).

Alternatively, from 30 March 2019, you will be able to send your passport or other identity documents by post if you do not wish to or cannot use the app.

Face to face help is available at identity scanner locations where applicants can be helped to use the app, and via an Assisted Digital network for people who would like more support.

From 9 April 2019, EU/EEA nationals and certain family members will be able to apply to the Scheme from outside the UK, free of charge and based on their previous residence in the UK, without needing to travel here to make an online application.

What do I need to provide?

As well as evidence of your identity needed for that check, you may need to provide evidence of your residence.

The application form will ask for your National Insurance number (if you have one) so that checks can be made for evidence of your residence based on tax and benefit records. If this does not provide enough evidence of residence, you will be asked to upload up to 10 documents as evidence of your residence.

There is some guidance from the Home Office about what documents are suitable.

It is best to prepare evidence before starting the application process so that you can upload the documents immediately if needed. You will need to either scan or photograph your evidence for upload. If you are applying for settlement on the basis of five years’ residence, it is advisable to collect evidence that covers the full five year period up to the date of application so that you can upload this.

If you have not been resident for five years, it is best to upload evidence that covers as much of your stay in the UK as possible and especially the last six months.

Further useful resources

• EU settled status application scheme video walk-through (produced by www.freemovement.org.uk)
• Brexit – EU Settlement Scheme (produced by UKCISA)
• Brexit information session for staff - http://tcs.uhi.ac.uk/
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