Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)
Who can apply
The deadline for most people to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme was 30 June 2021.
You can still apply if either:
- the deadline for you to apply is after 30 June 2021
- you have 鈥榬easonable grounds鈥� for why you鈥檙e applying now, and not by the deadline or in the time since the deadline passed
If you already have pre-settled status, you can usually convert your pre-settled status to settled status once you鈥檝e lived in the UK for 5 years in a row.
Who has a later deadline to apply
You have a different deadline if you鈥檙e eligible to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme for one of the following reasons.聽
| How you鈥檙e eligible to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme | Your deadline to apply |
|---|---|
| You鈥檙e applying as a family member of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who was living here by 31 December 2020, and has settled or pre-settled status, and you joined them in the UK on or after 1 April 2021, and you did not enter the UK as a visitor | 90 days from the first date you arrived in the UK after 31 December 2020 or when your permission to be in the UK expires, whichever is later |
| You鈥檙e applying as a family member of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who was living here by 31 December 2020, and has settled or pre-settled status, and you joined them in the UK on or after 1 April 2021, and you entered the UK as a visitor | 90 days from the first date you arrived in the UK after 31 December 2020 |
| You鈥檙e applying for your child who was born or adopted in the UK on or after 1 April 2021 | 90 days from when your child was born or adopted |
| You鈥檙e the family member of an eligible person of Northern Ireland, but they could not move back to the UK without you by 31 December 2020 - you must be from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein聽 | 90 days from when you arrive in the UK |
| You鈥檙e exempt from immigration control, or you stopped being exempt from immigration control after 30 June 2021 | If you鈥檙e exempt from immigration control, you do not have to apply to the scheme. If you choose to do so, you can apply at any time. If you stop being exempt, you have 90 days to apply |
| You were living in the UK by 31 December 2020, and you got limited leave to enter or remain in the UK before 30 June 2021 and that leave expires after 30 June 2021聽 | Before that leave expires |
If you did not apply by the deadline
You can still apply if you鈥檙e eligible and can show 鈥榬easonable grounds鈥� for why you could not apply by the deadline or in the time since the deadline passed.
Who is eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme
You must meet one of the eligibility criteria for the scheme, which for most people is either:
- you鈥檙e from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and you started living in the UK by 31 December 2020
- you鈥檙e the family member of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 and has settled or pre-settled status
You may also be eligible if:
- you used to have a family member from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 (but you鈥檝e separated, they鈥檝e died or the family relationship has broken down)
- you鈥檙e the family member of a British citizen who also is a citizen of an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, and they lived in the UK as a citizen of one of these countries before getting British citizenship
- you have a family member who is an eligible person of Northern Ireland
- you鈥檙e the child of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who used to live and work in the UK - you must be in education in the UK
- you鈥檙e the family member of a person who is exempt from immigration control
- you鈥檙e the family member of a 鈥榝rontier worker鈥�
You and your child may also be eligible if, by 31 December 2020, you were the primary carer of a:
- child of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who used to live and work in the UK - the child must be in education in the UK
- self-sufficient child from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
Reasonable grounds for the delay in applying
If you did not apply by the deadline for your circumstances, you may still be able to apply to the scheme.
You can still apply if you鈥檙e eligible and can show reasonable grounds for why you鈥檙e applying now, and not before the deadline or in the time since the deadline passed.
You must give evidence of your reasonable grounds, which both:
- explains the reason or reasons you could not apply
- covers the whole period since the deadline passed, as well as why you could not apply by the deadline
Reasonable grounds may include, if:
- your parent, guardian or local authority did not apply for you when you were a child and you have only recently been made aware of the need to apply
- you have a serious medical condition which prevented you from applying
- you lack the physical or mental capacity to apply
- you have significant, ongoing care or support needs
- you鈥檝e been in an abusive or controlling relationship, or experienced domestic violence
- you came to the UK on a work or study visa and became eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme while you were here
- another compelling practical or compassionate reason
When you apply, you need to provide evidence to support each reason you give for the delay in applying.
If you鈥檙e the family member or primary carer of a British citizen
For most people, you can no longer apply if you鈥檙e:
- a family member of a 鈥榪ualifying British citizen鈥� - this is known as a 鈥楽urinder Singh鈥� application
- a primary carer of a British citizen - this is known as a 鈥榋ambrano鈥� application
There are some cases where you can still apply.
If you鈥檙e exempt from immigration control, or stop being exempt
You do not need to do anything to continue living in the UK while you鈥檙e exempt from immigration control.
You鈥檒l have been told if you鈥檙e exempt from immigration control, for example because you鈥檙e:
- a foreign diplomat posted in the UK
- a member of NATO
You can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme at any time, as long as you or a family member started living in the UK by 31 December 2020. Your privileges and immunities may change if you get settled status.
If you stop being exempt, you need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme within 90 days of when you stop being exempt.
You鈥檒l need to prove that you are or were exempt from immigration control as part of your application.
Your family members may be eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme whether they are exempt from immigration control or not. They can apply at any time, even if you have not yet applied.
Who does not need to apply
You do not need to apply if you have:
- indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK
- Irish citizenship (including British and Irish 鈥榙ual citizenship鈥�)
- a Frontier Worker permit, or you鈥檙e eligible for one, as long as you continue living outside the UK while working here
You cannot apply if you have British citizenship.