UK’s EU Settlement Scheme has been extremely successful as UKBA has so far received 4.9 million applications. UK is urging EU nationals living in the UK to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme as soon as possible free of cost. The EU Settlement Scheme was launched on 30 March 2019.
| Area name | Applications received
(till 31 December 2020) |
| England | 4.4 million |
| Scotland | 243,600 |
| Wales | 80,700 |
| Northern Ireland | 78,500 |
Minister for Future Borders and Immigration Kevin Foster said:
“Reaching almost 4.9 million applications to the hugely successful EU Settlement Scheme is terrific news. There are less than six months before the 30 June 2021 deadline and I would encourage all those eligible to apply now to secure their rights under UK law”.
Citizens of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK (by 31 December 2020) after 30 June 2021. Citizens of Ireland with a PR status in the UK do not need to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme. There is no fee to apply for the scheme.
The Home Office has a devoted group of about 1,500 individuals working at the EU Settlement Scheme, with help accessible seven days per week by phone and by email. The authorities have given up to £17 million to a network of 72 organizations across the UK that support vulnerable individuals applying for the scheme. With under a half year to go before the EU Settlement Scheme’s application cutoff time of 30 June 2021, European residents are being asked to apply now to make sure about their rights in UK law. The EU Settlement Scheme utilizes forefront innovation, including the EU Exit: ID Document Check application which permits individuals to apply from their own home in as meager as 15 minutes.
The EU citizens who were resident till 31 December 2020, will still be able to apply for the EU settlement scheme and can even stay in the UK after 30 June 2021. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens will use an online service to view their immigration status and to prove their status to others.
Who can apply for the EU settlement scheme?
Following people can apply for the scheme:
- the nationals of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland (the EEA includes the EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.)
- the family members of EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen (the citizens of Ireland are allowed to apply to)
in some cases, you can also apply if:
- you’re the family member of a British citizen who also has EU, EEA, or Swiss citizenship and who lived in the UK as an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen before getting British citizenship
- you’re the child of an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen who used to live and work in the UK or the child’s primary carer
- you used to have an EU, EEA, or Swiss family member living in the UK (but you’ve separated, they’ve died or the family relationship has broken down)
- you’re the family member of a British citizen and you lived outside the UK in an EEA country together
- you’re the primary carer of a British, EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen
- you have a family member who is an eligible person of Northern Ireland