EU Settlement Scheme

EU Settlement Scheme

The EU Settlement Scheme provides a base for UK residents such as EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members who are EU or non-EU nationals to apply for a UK residence status. It helps them to be able to continue living and working in the UK beyond the Brexit implementation period or at the end of the transition period on 31st December 2020. 

The EU Settlement Scheme also allows EU nationals and their dependents to continue using NHS services, access certain public benefits where eligible, and state pensions. It will also allow EU nationals and their dependents to be eligible for British citizenship applications after having been granted long-term residence status in the UK.

To apply for the EU Settlement Scheme, you and your dependents must have been residing in the UK for 5 years or more. You will be entitled to apply for ‘settled residence status’ in the UK, and once you receive this status, there is no duration for the time you may remain in the UK post-Brexit.

 And in case you have not lived in the UK for a minimum of 5 years by the end of the implementation period, 31st December 2020, you need to apply for ‘pre-settled residence status’. The pre-settled status will allow you and your dependents to continue living in the UK. It will allow you to continue exercising all the existing rights. When you have completed the 5 years under pre-settled status, you will be entitled to apply for settled residence status in the UK.

The deadline for applying is 30 June 2021, which is six months after the end of the transition period.

Criteria to Apply for EU Settlement Scheme 

You can apply for EU Settlement Scheme if

• You are from the outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) or you are a close family member of the EEA national
• When you are joining an EEA national – who is already in the UK or will be traveling with you to the UK. The EEA national must accompany you within 6 months from the date of the application, and they must have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
• And if you are not a close family member of the EEA national, you must submit your application under the EEA Family Permit route. 

Supporting Documents Required for an Application

The documents that you will have to provide to support your application will be:

• Valid passport
• Proof of the relationship with the EEA national
• Proof of dependency, if applicable 

 Our immigration solicitors deal primarily with EEA and EU residence-related applications and help EEA nationals to join their EEA family members in the UK.