UK to grant automatic settled status under EU Settlement Scheme

The UK Home Office has introduced a new process that automatically converts eligible pre-settled status holders to settled status without requiring a further EUSS application.

From January 2025, the Home Office has introduced a new process to automatically convert eligible pre-settled status holders to settled status without the need for them to make a further EUSS application. This process will see pre-settled status holders who are approaching the expiry of their status informed by email that their case may soon be considered for conversion to settled status. Pre-settled status holders will not need to take any action unless informed.

UK is also considering the appropriate next steps for cases where a pre-settled status holder has ceased to meet the conditions of their pre-settled status by not maintaining their continuous residence in the UK.

The Home Office will undertake automated checks of pre-settled status holders against government-held information, for example in respect of their ongoing continuous residence in the UK. This reflects the assessment undertaken when the person first applied to the EUSS and will ensure their eligibility for settled status before it is granted.

All EUSS status-holders are encouraged to update their digital status with their latest passport/national identity card information, and contact details, including their email address, using the ‘Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details’ service.

Successful applicants will be given either settled status, usually where they have lived in the UK for a continuous five-year period (known as ‘continuous residence’), or pre-settled status.

Pre-settled status holders who have not yet switched to settled status and are approaching the expiry date of their status will see their pre-settled status automatically extended by five years. This will happen automatically, and they will be notified when it has occurred.

Eligibility refusals will be made when someone does not meet the criteria for the scheme. For instance, they have broken their continuity of residence, or their relationship with an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen has ended. Evidence of residence can be as little as a utility bill, bank statements or a letter from a GP or charity.

Under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), if you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you and your family might be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK. The EUSS enables EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens resident in the UK by the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, and their family members, to obtain the status they require to live and work in the UK after 30 June 2021.

The scheme opened to the public on 30 March 2019. The deadline for most people to apply to the EUSS was 30 June 2021, but eligible applicants may still be able to apply if they have a later deadline to do so or they have ‘reasonable grounds’ for their delay in applying.

More than three years have passed since the 30 June 2021 deadline, and changes are being to the scheme. This includes a change from January to automatically convert eligible pre-settled status holders to settled status without the need for them to make a further EUSS application.

According to the latest published statistics, up to 30 September 2024, there have been more than 8.2 million applications received and 8 million applications concluded. As of 30 September 2024, an estimated 5.7 million people had obtained status under the EUSS.