EU Settlement Scheme now fully open
08 April 2019
The EU Settlement Scheme is now officially open. If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen living in the UK, you and your family will need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to protect the rights you currently have in the UK.
Although there is no legal obligation for employers to communicate the EU Settlement Scheme to their employees, you may wish to signpost the information that the Government is providing.
The EU Settlement Scheme was launched on Saturday 30 March following both private and public testing of the application process which began in August 2018.
EU citizens applying to the scheme only need to complete three key steps – prove their identity, show that they live in the UK, and declare any criminal convictions. Applicants can use any laptop, tablet or mobile device to apply.
For those who want to apply entirely online, a custom identity document check app has been developed to allow applicants to verify their identity remotely and swiftly.
While the app is currently available on Android devices, the Home Secretary has confirmed it will also be available on Apple devices later this year.
The app is just one of several ways people will be able to verify their identity, including by post. There will also be over 50 locations where applicants can have their passport scanned and verified. Assisted digital support and a dedicated telephone advice and support service are also available.
To ensure the scheme is a success, the Home Office has boosted EU Settlement Scheme staff numbers to over 1,500, developed an entirely new case working system and created a new resolution centre to resolve telephone, email and online queries.
Deal or no deal, EU citizens will have until at least 31 December 2020 to apply.
Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)