EU Settlement Scheme

Securing your residence in the UK

Brexit! Brexit! Brexit!

With four days to go with no deal in sight, Britain is set to leave Europe without a deal on 12 April 2019. With four days to go, what should EU citizens living in the UK who have yet confirmed their residence status need to do?

Home Office has phased in an EU Settlement Scheme (#SettledStatus) for all EU citizens living, working and studying in the UK to secure their status before the UK officially leaves the EU. An electronic application can be submitted via the Home Office portal as long as you have been living in the UK immediately before 12 April 2019 if the UK leaves without a deal or 30 December 2019 if the UK leaves the UK with a deal.

For those that are eligible and have applied, they will be able to live, work and study in the UK after 30 June 2021.

For those that have been living in the UK for five years, they will be granted with settled status and for those with less than five years, pre-settled status.

Anyone granted with either of the statuses can be assured that they have a right to reside in the UK providing that they do not spend time outside the UK for a continuous period of 5 years for settled status residents or 2 years for pre-settled status residents.

Residence under this scheme will continue to be able to apply for their family members to join or accompany them in the UK as long as such application is made before 29 March 2022 (if the UK leaves without a deal).

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen you can get settled status if you start work or self-employment in another EU country and you both:

- have lived and worked or been self-employed in the UK continuously for three years beforehand usually return to your UK home once a week

- If you’re the family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen at the time, they start work or self-employment in another EU country you may also be eligible for settled status.

A successful application will generate a Home Office email containing a link to an online service that you can use to view and prove your status.

EU citizens living in the UK should be clear of these deadlines and apply to protect their status.

Shores & Legal are experienced and expert immigration partners for your business and personal immigration requirements. If you wish to discuss your UK immigration requirements, contact us at +44 (0) 207 097 6778 or info@shoreslegal.com.