Settled status: how EU citizens apply to remain in the UK after Brexit, and what happens if the application is unsuccessful

With the Brexit deadline looming, those originally from outside of Britain, but currently residing in the UK can apply to continue living in the country.

Here is everything you need to know about the EU Settlement Scheme, including the application deadline and what to do if your application is unsuccessful.

What is the EU Settlement Scheme?

The EU Settlement Scheme allows EU, EEA or Swiss citizens who are living in the UK to request permission to keep living in the country.

Who should apply?

Gov.uk explains that except in a few cases, you need to apply if you’re living in the UK but you are:

An EU, EEA or Swiss citizenNot an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, but your family member is

The EEA includes EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

You need to apply even if you:

were born in the UK but are not a British citizen. To check if you’re a British citizen, visit: gov.uk/check-british-citizenshiphave a UK ‘permanent residence document’are a family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who does not need to apply - including if they’re from Irelandare an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen with a British citizen family member

You may be able to apply if you’re not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen but:

you used to have an EU, EEA or Swiss family member living in the UK (but you’ve separated, or they’ve died)you’re the family member of a British citizen and you lived outside the UK in an EEA country togetheryou’re the family member of a British citizen who also has EU, EEA or Swiss citizenship and who lived in the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen before getting British citizenshipyou’re the primary carer of a British, EU, EEA or Swiss citizenyou’re the child of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who used to live and work in the UK, or the child’s primary carer

What happens if my application is successful?

If your application to the EU Settlement Scheme is successful, you will be able to continue living and working in the UK after 30 June 2021.

You will be given either:

settled status pre-settled status

You will not be asked to choose which you’re applying for, as which status you get depends on how long you’ve been living in the UK when you apply. Your rights will be different depending on which status you get.

What is settled status?

You will usually get settled status if you:

started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 (or by the date the UK leaves the EU without a deal)lived in the UK for a continuous five-year period (known as ‘continuous residence’)

For more information about this, visit: gov.uk/settled-status

What is pre-settled status?

If you do not have five years’ continuous residence when you apply to the scheme, then you’ll usually get pre-settled status.

You must have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 (or by the date the UK leaves the EU without a deal).

You can then apply to change this to settled status once you’ve got five years’ continuous residence, but you must do this before your pre-settled status expires.

You can stay in the UK for a further five years from the date you get pre-settled status.

What are my rights with settled or pre-settled status?

You’ll be able to:

work in the UKuse the NHS for free as you do nowenrol in education or continue studyingaccess public funds such as benefits and pensions, if you’re eligible for themtravel in and out of the UK

Spending time outside the UK

If you have settled status, you can spend up to five years in a row outside the UK without losing your status.

However, if you’re a Swiss citizen, you and your family members can spend up to four years in a row outside the UK without losing your settled status.

If you have pre-settled status, then you can spend up to two years in a row outside the UK without losing your status, but you will need to maintain your continuous residence if you want to qualify for settled status.

What do I need to apply?

To apply, you will need proof of:

your identityyour residence in the UK, unless you have a valid permanent residence document, or valid indefinite leave to remain in or enter the UK