Applying late to the EU Settlement Scheme

Who Can Make a Late Application?

Check your eVisa status to understand your current position.

You can make a late application to the EU Settlement Scheme if you are an EU, EEA, or Swiss national (or a family member of one) who was living in the UK by 31 December 2020 and did not apply before the 30 June 2021 deadline.

The requirement is “reasonable grounds”, and GOV.UK words it carefully: you need reasonable grounds “for why you’re applying now, and not by the deadline or in the time since the deadline passed”.

That is two questions, not one. The evidence has to “explain the reason or reasons you could not apply” and “cover the whole period since the deadline passed, as well as why you could not apply by the deadline”. A reason that explains 2021 but not the years since does not meet the test as GOV.UK now describes it.

If you are unsure whether you qualify, read our overview of the EU nationals in the UK after Brexit for context on the scheme.

Acceptable Reasons for Late Applications

If you need help, our ILR guide explains settlement options.

These are the examples GOV.UK gives. The list is examples rather than a closed set — the last item is deliberately open.

• Your parent, guardian or local authority did not apply for you as a child, and you only recently learned you needed to.
• You had a serious medical condition that prevented you applying.
• You lack the physical or mental capacity to apply.
• You have significant, ongoing care or support needs.
• You experienced domestic violence, or an abusive or controlling relationship.
• You arrived on a work or study visa and became eligible for the scheme while you were in the UK.
• Another compelling practical or compassionate reason.

One thing is worth naming because it appears in a lot of older advice: simply not having known the scheme existed is not on GOV.UK’s list. Where a lack of awareness is relevant, it is as part of one of the situations above — a child who has only recently found out, or someone without the capacity to act — rather than on its own.

How to Apply

The application process for a late EUSS application is the same as the original process:

1. Apply online: Use the GOV.UK EUSS application page. You will need the "EU Exit: ID Document Check" app to verify your identity document.
2. Provide your identity document: A valid passport or national identity card from your EU/EEA country.
3. Prove your UK residence: HMRC and DWP records are checked automatically. You can also upload additional evidence such as bank statements, utility bills, or employment records.
4. Explain the late application: Set out why you could not apply by 30 June 2021 and why you did not apply at any point since, with evidence covering that whole period.

Evidence for Your Late Application

There is no fee for this application. GOV.UK says: “It’s free to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.” That covers late applications too. Our visa fees guide covers the routes that do charge.

The evidence has to do two jobs: explain the reason, and cover the period from 30 June 2021 to now.

• Medical evidence: A letter from your GP or hospital confirming illness or treatment dates.
• Evidence of vulnerability: Support letters from social workers, charities, or refuges.
• For children: Evidence that you were under 18 at the deadline and your parent or guardian did not apply on your behalf.
• Written statement: An explanation in your own words covering both the deadline and the years since.

For general guidance on gathering immigration documents, see our documents guide.

What Happens While Your Application Is Pending

GOV.UK says: “Once you’ve applied and received your certificate of application to the EU Settlement Scheme, your rights are protected.” The certificate arrives online, by post or by email depending on how you applied, and it is what other people check while the application is undecided.

• Work. An employer verifies your right to work through the Home Office checking service rather than by looking at a document.
• Renting. Right to rent checks apply in England only. Where they apply, a landlord uses the Landlord Checking Service.
• The NHS. Treatment continues on the same basis as a resident’s. That is not the same as free: in England a prescription costs £9.90 and NHS dental bands are £27.90, £76.60 and £332.10. Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Benefits. Access depends on your circumstances and is decided by the Department for Work and Pensions or your local authority, not by the Home Office.

Processing Times

You can contact the Home Office for updates on your application.

GOV.UK publishes no service standard for EU Settlement Scheme applications, so there is no official figure to give. A late application involves an extra assessment — the reasonable grounds question — before eligibility is looked at, so it is a longer process than a straightforward one was.

The EU Settlement Resolution Centre handles queries about a pending application. See our Home Office contact guide.

If Your Late Application Is Refused

If the Home Office decides that you do not have reasonable grounds for applying late, your application will be refused. You may also be refused if you do not meet the eligibility criteria for the scheme itself.

If refused, you have the right to request an administrative review of the decision. In some cases, you may also be able to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.

The decision letter states which remedy is available and the deadline for it, and those deadlines are short. Only a person regulated to give immigration advice can advise on a particular refusal.

Getting Help

Several organisations provide free advice and support for late EUSS applicants:

• The EU Settlement Resolution Centre. The Home Office’s own helpline for the scheme, listed on the contact UKVI page.
• Citizens Advice. Free general guidance.
• Home Office grant-funded organisations. A network of charities and community groups funded to give one-to-one help with EU Settlement Scheme applications, listed on GOV.UK.
• Immigration solicitors: For complex cases, professional legal advice may be necessary. See our DIY vs solicitor guide.

Questions and answers