EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) For EU Nationals & Their Family Members
The EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) provides a basis, consistent with the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union reached on 17 October 2019 and with the citizens’ rights agreements reached with the other European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland, for resident EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members to apply for the UK immigration status which they will require in order to remain in the UK. These agreements now have effect in UK law through the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020.
The immigration status granted under the EU Settlement Scheme is normally one of the following:
- indefinite leave to enter (ILE) (where the application is made outside the UK); or
- indefinite leave to remain (ILR) (where the application is made within the UK)–also referred to for the purposes of the scheme as ‘settled status; or
- 5 years limited leave to enter (LTE) (where the application is made outside the UK); or
- 5 years limited leave to remain (LTR) (where the application is made within the UK) – also referred to as ‘pre-settled status’.
If you are an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen, you and your family can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021. You can also apply if you’re the family member of an eligible person in Northern Ireland. If your application is successful, you’ll get either settled or pre-settled status. The EEA includes the EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
You may be able to stay in the UK without applying – for example, if you’re an Irish citizen or already have indefinite leave to remain.
Applications Under The EU Settlement Scheme
Following are the various applications that can be made under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS):
Useful External Links
- Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules
- Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016
- Citizens’ Rights (Application Deadline and Temporary Protection) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020
- Citizens’Rights (Restrictions of Rights of Entry and Residence) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020
- Guidance for EUSS applicants in or outside the UK who have been affected by restrictions associated with coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules: HC 813 Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship, and Immigration Act 2009
- Every Child Matters –Change for Children
- EU Settlement Scheme: EU, other EEA, and Swiss citizens, and their family members
- EU Settlement Scheme: suitability requirements
- EU Settlement Scheme: the derivative right to reside (Chen and Ibrahim/Teixeira cases)
- EU Settlement Scheme: a family member of a qualifying British citizen
- EU Settlement Scheme: a person with a Zambrano right to reside
- EU Settlement Scheme interim guidance: gender identity and sex markers on documents
- Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)
