Settlement through the EU Settlement Scheme

What Settled Status Is

Settled status was created under the EU Settlement Scheme for EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members. It is indefinite leave to remain, granted under Appendix EU of the Immigration Rules rather than under the work or family route appendices.

GOV.UK describes it as settled status “usually where you've lived in the UK for a continuous 5-year period”, with pre-settled status for people who have not yet reached that point. For the wider picture see our EU nationals after Brexit guide.

Continuous Residence Under the Scheme

The scheme uses its own definition, in the Annex 1 definitions of Appendix EU, and it is not the 180-day rule used on work and family routes. The continuous qualifying period is broken by absences totalling more than 6 months in any 12-month period, except for:

• a single period of absence not exceeding 12 months for an important reason, the examples given being pregnancy, childbirth, serious illness, study, vocational training, an overseas posting, or COVID-19;
• any period of absence on compulsory military service;
• any period of absence on a posting on Crown service, or accompanying a spouse, civil partner, durable partner or parent on such a posting.

Compare our 180-day rule guide for the test used elsewhere. Confusing the two is a common error, because 6 months in any 12 is stricter in one direction and the 12-month important-reason absence is far more generous in the other.

From Pre-Settled to Settled Status

Pre-settled status is extended automatically, and GOV.UK states: “If you're eligible, your extended pre-settled status may be automatically converted to settled status or you can apply for settled status.”

If you apply yourself:

1. Apply online through the GOV.UK EU Settlement Scheme page. GOV.UK says: “It's free to apply to the scheme.”
2. Prove your identity. Applying remotely needs a passport or national identity card with a biometric chip, checked with the identity app GOV.UK links to.
3. Residence is checked automatically against HMRC and Department for Work and Pensions records where possible.
4. Supply further evidence of residence where the automated check does not cover the full period.

Your status is digital. Check it through your UKVI account. See our eVisa guide.

Absences After You Have Settled Status

This is where the scheme is markedly more generous than other routes. GOV.UK says: “You can spend up to 5 years in a row outside the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man without losing your status.” For Swiss citizens the figure is 4 years.

Pre-settled status is lost automatically after more than 5 years in a row outside the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Settlement granted on other routes lapses after more than 2 continuous years outside the UK, so this difference matters if you hold both kinds of status in a family.

The Settlement Reforms Do Not Reach the Scheme

The government's earned settlement consultation, which proposes a longer default qualifying period elsewhere, states that settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme is out of scope for both the consultation and the planned reforms. See our guide to the proposed change.

Citizenship After Settled Status

Naturalisation is a separate application with its own fee, currently £1,839 for an adult, made up of £1,709 to apply and a £130 ceremony fee. The usual requirements include holding settled status for 12 months before applying, unless you are married to a British citizen, plus the residence, English and Life in the UK test requirements. See our settled status to citizenship guide and our citizenship for EU nationals guide.

Late Applications

The main deadline has passed, but a late application can still be made where there are reasonable grounds for missing it. See our late applications guide and our Home Office contact guide.

Questions and answers