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Guidance

EU Settlement Scheme: Border Force guidance

Guidance for Border Force officers dealing with EU, EEA and Swiss passengers and their family members who arrive at the UK border.

Updates to this page

From:
Home Office
Published:
7 January 2022
Last updated:
15 October 2026
Show all updates

  1. The guidance has been updated to reflect the changes to the rules in Appendix EU and Appendix EU (Family Permit) made by Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 584, laid on 3 September 2026.

  2. Added an accessible version.

  3. Updated to reflect the changes to the EU Settlement Scheme travel permit rules in Appendix EU (Family Permit) made by Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 259, laid on 9 July 2026. A full list of changes can be found in the guide.

  4. The guidance has been updated to reflect the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 1491. Full details are in the 'changes from last version of this guidance' section.

  5. This version has been updated to reflect section 45 of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 which came into force on 2 December 2025.

  6. Updated to take account of the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 1333, laid on 14 October, where 'Part 9 Grounds for Refusal' was replaced with 'Part Suitability', and minor changes were made to Appendix EU.

  7. This version has been updated to reflect the position of EUSS applicants with a pending in-country appeal who arrive in the UK; that the Home Office stopped issuing biometric residence cards and permits from 31 October 2024; and the scope for EU, other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals in the EUSS cohort to continue to use a valid national identity card for travel and entry to the UK. A description of the other changes is included in the guidance, under "Changes from last version of this guidance".

  8. Updated guidance.

  9. Updated the guidance as Joining Family Members (JFMs) must now apply under the EUSS within 3 months of their first arrival in the UK.

  10. Uploaded a new version of the Border Force guidance for the EU Settlement Scheme and added an accessible version.

  11. Guidance updated.

  12. Added the word "six" to the 'Use of eGates' section to clarify the number of months a passenger can enter for, having successfully passed through an eGate.

  13. First published.

Documents

EU Settlement Scheme: Border Force guidance (accessible)

HTML

EU Settlement Scheme: Border Force guidance

PDF, 671 KB, 91 pages

Details

Immigration staff guidance on dealing with individuals who:

  • hold pre-settled status or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) or an EUSS family permit
  • claim to have a Withdrawal Agreement right of permanent residence in the UK on the basis of qualifying activity for the relevant period, having previously been granted pre-settled status under the EUSS
  • claim to be eligible for the EUSS but have not yet made an application
  • have a pending EUSS application
  • have a pending appeal or administrative review against an EUSS decision
  • have previously been refused EUSS status

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