The EU Settlement Scheme has been set up to provide immigration status to those who need it as the UK leaves the EU. It is therefore important that everyone that needs to applies. The EU Settlement Scheme has been designed with European Economic Area (EEA) citizens and their representatives to be simple and straightforward. It will be looking for reasons to grant, not reasons to refuse. 

It is estimated that there are 3.5 million EU citizens living in the UK and the Government is committed to enabling them to continue to live here. The UK's departure from the EU means that EEA citizens, and their family members, will no longer be able to rely on the right to free movement and will need to obtain immigration status to demonstrate their right to remain in the UK. It mans that they can continue to be eligible for:

• Public services, such as healthcare and schools;
• Public finds and pensions;
• British citizenship, if they meet the requirements and want to apply.

The scheme opened on 30th March 2019 and applications must be made by June 2021.

It is free to make applications to the Scheme.

Full guidance on how to apply is available at: