EU Settlement Scheme: EU/EEA, Swiss tenants and their family members – what now?

What is the EU Settlement Scheme?

Following Brexit, All EU, EEA (EU and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), Swiss Citizens and their non-British family members who were residents in the UK before 31 December 2020 needed to apply for a new immigration status through the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) in order to continue to live lawfully in the UK. The deadline for application was 30 June 2021. Those who applied are likely to have been granted Pre-Settled status (Limited Leave to Remain) or Settled status (Indefinite Leave to Remain). They are immigration statuses that secure your rights to live lawfully in the UK, work and access services such as the NHS.

What if I haven’t applied?

If you were living in the UK before 31/12/2020 and did not apply by 30 June 2021, you can still apply if you have a good reason for your late application. It is important that you apply urgently as your rights to live lawfully in the UK will not be secure until you receive proof that you have made a valid application. Good reasons for a late application include:

• where a parent, guardian or Local Authority has failed to apply on behalf of a child.
• where a person has or had a serious medical condition, which meant they were unable to apply by the relevant deadline.
• where someone is a victim of modern slavery or is in an abusive relationship.
• where someone is isolated, vulnerable or did not have the digital skills to access the application process.
• where a person was unable to apply by the relevant deadline for compelling practical or compassionate reasons – including in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

For more information, visit the Home Office website at EU Settlement Scheme: information for late applicants – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Who can still apply?

Some EU/EEA, Swiss citizens and their family members can still apply for the EU Settlement Scheme. They include:

• Those who have Pre-Settled status and have reached the 5-year-continuous residence in the UK to qualify for Settled status. They will need to re-apply to obtain Settled status.
• Children born after the deadline of 30 June 2021 to citizens with Pre-Settled status and who do not hold British Citizenship through their other parent.
• Close family members of Pre-Settled and Settled status holders who want to join them in the UK. They will need to be either a dependant parent, child, married partner or long-term partner where the relationship existed before 31/12/2020.
• They will need to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit.

Contact our friendly Tenancy Sustainment Team on 01452 833217 or email tenancy.sustainment@gch.co.uk for advice.

More information on the EU Settlement scheme can be found on the Government website.