The UK government has created a special toolkit to help employers guide their EU employees through the process of applying for Settled Status. This toolkit has been especially welcomed by industries like hospitality and construction, which rely on EU workers.
In this article, we explain what Settled Status is, who can apply for it, and how the application process works.
What is Settled Status?
Settled Status allows EU citizens (and their family members) to continue living and working in the UK after Brexit. To qualify, applicants must meet certain residency requirements and apply by the given deadlines.
If you have lived in the UK continuously for 5 years, you can apply for Settled Status. If you’ve lived here for less than 5 years, you may be granted pre-settled status, which allows you to stay until you reach the 5-year mark and then apply for Settled Status.
Who Can Apply for Settled Status?
To be eligible for Settled Status, you must:
- Be an EU national or a family member of an EU citizen.
- Have lived continuously in the UK for at least 5 years.
- Have moved to the UK before 31 December 2020.
Family members of EU citizens can apply for Settled Status too, depending on their relationship to the EU citizen. This can include:
- Spouses or civil partners (married before 31 December 2020).
- Durable partners (if the relationship was established before 31 December 2020).
- Children or dependents of EU citizens.
If you haven’t lived in the UK for 5 years by the application deadline (30 June 2021), you will be granted pre-settled status until you complete 5 years of continuous residence.
How to Apply for Settled Status
The application process for Settled Status is online. The UK Home Office will require you to prove:
- Your identity (for example, using a passport or national identity card).
- That you’ve lived in the UK for at least 5 years (using evidence like pay slips, bank statements, or utility bills).
- That you don’t have serious criminal convictions.
If you are a family member of an EU citizen, you will also need to prove your relationship with that person. For example, you might need to provide a marriage certificate or evidence of your dependency on the EU citizen.
Documents Needed for Settled Status Application
You will need to submit documents to prove that you meet the residency requirement. Acceptable documents include:
- P60 or P45 (tax documents)
- Payslips or bank statements
- Utility bills or rent agreements
- Employment contracts or letters from your employer
- Annual business accounts (for the self-employed)
- Passport stamps showing your entry to the UK
- Airline or train tickets proving when you arrived in the UK
These documents can be uploaded online as part of your application.
What If You Already Have EU Permanent Residence?
If you already have an EU Permanent Residence Card, you can still apply for Settled Status. However, if your EU Permanent Residence application was successful, you won’t have to pay the application fee for Settled Status. Your Permanent Residence Card will be exchanged for Settled Status once criminality and security checks are complete.
Settled Status Application Fee
The cost to apply for Settled Status is:
- £65 for applicants 16 or older.
- £32.50 for children under 16.
Important: If you were refused an EU Permanent Residence Card in the past because you didn’t have Comprehensive Sickness Insurance (CSI) (for students or self-sufficient individuals), you may still be able to get Settled Status, as CSI is no longer required for this application.
How Law and Visas Can Help
At Law and Visas, we understand the complexities of the Settled Status application process. If you need help gathering documents or navigating the online application, our experienced team can provide legal advice and support every step of the way.
The Settled Status scheme is an important step for EU nationals who want to stay in the UK after Brexit. By meeting the eligibility requirements and applying online, you can ensure your right to remain in the UK. If you need assistance with your application or legal advice, Law and Visas is here to help you through the process.
