European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
On 23 June 2016 the UK voted to leave the European Union in a referendum
The European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) was established to enable EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their families, resident in the UK by the end of 31 December 2020, to get the immigration status needed to continue to live, work, study and access benefits and services in the UK after 30 June 2021.
The deadline for most people to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme was 30 June 2021.
If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you can still apply if you or a family member were living in the UK by 31 December 2020. You must also either:
- meet one of the criteria for a later deadline to apply
- have ‘reasonable grounds’ for not applying by 30 June 2021
If your application is successful, you’ll receive either settled or pre-settled status.
If you have less than five years’ residence you will most likely receive pre-settled status, which can be converted to settled status after five years, upon application – this is not an automatic process and you must apply for settled status.
You can also apply if you already have pre-settled status, and you’re applying for settled status.
You may be able to stay in the UK without applying – for example, if you’re an Irish citizen, or you already have indefinite leave to enter or remain.
It is free to apply to the scheme.
How you can show you have applied
When you have completed your application, you will receive a Certificate of Application which can be shown to employers, landlords and the NHS to prove that you have applied to the scheme.
Your rights are protected while your application is being processed through to its decision.
How you can prove your status
Upon a successful application for pre-settled or settled status, you will receive notification from Home Office which will send you to the GOV.UK website where you will receive a ‘share code’ that will prove your status.
This site also enables you to update personal details in your UK Visas and Immigration account, and check what rights you have in the UK.
You will need the following to access this site
- Details of the identity document you used when you applied (your passport, national identity card, or biometric residence card or permit)
- Your date of birth
- Access to the mobile number or email address you used when you applied – you’ll be sent a code for logging in
How to move to settled status once you have received pre-settled status
Pre-settled status was given to applicants who had been continuously in the UK less than 5 years before 31 December 2020. Once you have received pre-settled status you can stay in the UK for a further 5 years from the date you receive your status.
You must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme again before your pre-settled status expires to stay in the UK.
You can apply for settled status as soon as you are eligible – which is usually after you’ve lived in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man for 5 years in a row.
Get local assistance
Local Charity Diversity Voice are available for EUSS assistance. Interpreters are available – who can translate various EU languages.
Contact them
- Website: Home (diversityvoice.org.uk)
- Email: euss@diversityvoice.org.uk
- Phone: 0300 075 0105
Introduction
On 23 June 2016 the UK voted to leave the European Union in a referendum
The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 with a withdrawal agreement in place.
The EU and the UK will start to negotiate new arrangements during 2020, so until the new arrangements are in place very little has changed. We are now in a transition period to prepare for new rules with a deadline of 31 December 2020.
We have been sharing information with our local communities to ensure the businesses and people who are impacted by leaving Europe understand what they need to do.
If you are an EU national it is advisable to apply for Settled Status as early as possible.
Information about the UK’s transition is available at www.gov.uk/transition
Our EU Transition team
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) contacted local authorities on 6 August 2019 asking them to designate a Brexit Lead Officer and set up a team, which is equipped to support the delivery of Brexit, ready for the period around 31 January 2020.
For the time-being our Brexit Team has been stood down, because we left the EU with a withdrawal agreement in place on 31 January 2020. Going Forward we will be known as the EU Transition Team.
We are however continuing to monitor any impacts on local businesses and the community and promote EU Settled Status to EU nationals living in Somerset.
You can email with any EU Transition related enquiries to BrexitTeam@somerset.gov.uk
Useful links
- You can find official up to date information on Parliament’s Brexit website
- Department for Exiting the European Union is responsible for overseeing negotiations to leave the EU
- Prepare for the EU Exit is the official GOV.UK website offering advice for businesses and citizens
- Advice from GOV.UK in the event of a no-deal exit. This also includes a “Check what you need to do” checker, which will help you find out what you or your business will need to do to get ready for Brexit
- The Local Government Association (LGA) maintains an informative Brexit advice hub for local authorities
- The House of Commons Library publishes impartial research and analysis, including on Brexit
- The Heart of the South West Growth Hub has a collection of resources to support businesses
- The Somerset Chamber of Commerce has a Business Brexit priorities section
- The National Foundation of Self Employed and Small Businesses Ltd (FSB) has a Small Business Brexit Pack
Contact the team
Email the EU Transition Team – BrexitTeam@somerset.gov.uk