The UK Government has published details of a new Settled Status Scheme for EU nationals and their family members residing in the UK. This will allow EU nationals to claim settlement in the UK after five years.
The Settled Status Scheme for EU nationals will allow EU citizens and their family members who have been in the UK for five years by the end of 2020 will be eligible to apply for “settled status”. This will allow them to live and work in the UK indefinitely and means they may eventually be eligible for British citizenship. Those who have lived in the UK for less than 5 years will generally be eligible for “pre-settled status” until they reach the 5 year mark, at which point they may be eligible to apply for “settled status”.
The application process is designed to be simple. According to the Government’s Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, most people will only need to complete three sections to prove their identity, show that they live in the UK and declare that they have no serious criminal convictions. Applicants can apply online or using a smartphone app.
It is understood that there will also be a hard copy form for applicants without access to a computer. This will likely also be used for those applicants who are ineligible to apply via the app or online because they have complex applications.
Settled status will cost less than a British passport- £65 or £32.50 for those under 16. It will be free for those who already have valid permanent residence or indefinite leave to remain documentation or who are applying to move from “pre-settled status” to “settled status”.
The scheme will open later in 2018 and will be fully open by 30 March 2019. The deadline for applying will be 30 June 2021.
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