All EEA citizens, their family members and others with an EU right to reside who were living in the UK before 1 January 2021 could apply to the EU Settlement Scheme between 30 March 2019 and 30 June 2021. Applications made after that date are only accepted if there is good reason for the delay.
If you can prove that you have lived continuously in the UK for five years you get EU settled status which gives you the right to live in the UK indefinitely, and also makes you eligible for housing and homelessness services and benefits.
If you can prove you entered the UK before 1 January 2021 as an EEA national with a right to reside (or came to join a family member who had that right) but you do not have five years continuous residence, you get EU pre-settled status which lasts for five years. In September 2023, the Home Office started renewing people’s pre-settled status for a further two years. This is done automatically, and people will be notified when it is done. From some time in 2024, people with pre-settled status will automatically be given settled status when they have completed five years on pre-settled status.
Pre-settled status gives you the right to live in the UK but you will only be eligible for housing, homelessness services and benefits if you also have an EU right to reside that 'qualifies' you: generally as a worker (including self-employed workers, unemployed workers and those who are retired) or for other reasons such as being a student or self-sufficient person.
Guidance for European nationals on the EU Settlement Scheme
There is a lot of guidance on how the EU Settlement Scheme works. Here are some of the best ones.
- The Mayor of London’s EU Londoners Hub has guidance in different languages.
- The AIRE Centre web app supports any EU citizen who is unsure about settled status and would like to know if they are eligible. A second app helps EU citizens understand their entitlement to permanent residence.
- Settled offer help in different languages and have special pages for older people, disabled people, etc.
- The Here for Good guide has answers to a lot of frequently asked questions.
- Free Movement gives advice from expert lawyers.
- The Roma Support Group offers help to Roma people who want to obtain settled or pre-settled status. Book an appointment on 07440 743866 or 07459 319706, Monday to Friday, 11am until 4pm.
For children, especially children leaving care, there is:
- Guidance from ADCS and from Settled on assisting children and care leavers.
- An excellent leaflet (pdf) on registering EU children as British.
There is government guidance on applying for settled status and a list of organisations that give help with making EU Settlement Scheme applications.
