Who can apply

The deadline for most people to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme was 30 June 2021.

You can still apply if either:

  • the deadline for you to apply is after 30 June 2021
  • you have ‘reasonable grounds’ for why you’re applying now, and not by the deadline or in the time since the deadline passed

If you already have pre-settled status, you can usually apply for settled status once you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years in a row.

Who has a later deadline to apply

You have a different deadline if you’re eligible to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme for one of the following reasons. 

How you’re eligible to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme Your deadline to apply
You’re applying as a family member of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who was living here by 31 December 2020, and has settled or pre-settled status, and you joined them in the UK on or after 1 April 2021, and you did not enter the UK as a visitor 90 days from when you arrive in the UK or when your permission to be in the UK expires, whichever is later
You’re applying as a family member of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who was living here by 31 December 2020, and has settled or pre-settled status, and you joined them in the UK on or after 1 April 2021, and you entered the UK as a visitor 90 days from when you arrive in the UK
You’re applying for your child who was born or adopted in the UK on or after 1 April 2021 90 days from when your child was born or adopted
You’re the family member of an eligible person of Northern Ireland, but they could not move back to the UK without you by 31 December 2020 - you must be from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein  90 days from when you arrive in the UK
You’re exempt from immigration control, or you stopped being exempt from immigration control after 30 June 2021 If you’re exempt from immigration control, you do not have to apply to the scheme. If you choose to do so, you can apply at any time. If you stop being exempt, you have 90 days to apply
You were living in the UK by 31 December 2020, and you got limited leave to enter or remain in the UK before 30 June 2021 and that leave expires after 30 June 2021  Before that leave expires

If you did not apply by the deadline

You can still apply if you’re eligible and can show ‘reasonable grounds’ for why you could not apply by the deadline or in the time since the deadline passed.

Who is eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme

You must meet one of the eligibility criteria for the scheme, which for most people is either:

  • you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and you started living in the UK by 31 December 2020
  • you’re the family member of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 and has settled or pre-settled status

You may also be eligible if:

  • you used to have a family member from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 (but you’ve separated, they’ve died or the family relationship has broken down)
  • you’re the family member of a British citizen who also is a citizen of an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, and they lived in the UK as a citizen of one of these countries before getting British citizenship
  • you have a family member who is an eligible person of Northern Ireland
  • you’re the child of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who used to live and work in the UK - you must be in education in the UK
  • you’re the family member of a person who is exempt from immigration control
  • you’re the family member of a ‘frontier worker’

You and your child may also be eligible if, by 31 December 2020, you were the primary carer of a:

  • child of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who used to live and work in the UK - the child must be in education in the UK
  • self-sufficient child from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

Reasonable grounds for the delay in applying

If you did not apply by the deadline for your circumstances, you may still be able to apply to the scheme.

You can still apply if you’re eligible and can show reasonable grounds for why you’re applying now, and not before the deadline or in the time since the deadline passed.

You must give evidence of your reasonable grounds, which both:

  • explains the reason or reasons you could not apply
  • covers the whole period since the deadline passed, as well as why you could not apply by the deadline

Reasonable grounds may include, if:

  • your parent, guardian or local authority did not apply for you when you were a child and you have only recently been made aware of the need to apply
  • you have a serious medical condition which prevented you from applying
  • you lack the physical or mental capacity to apply
  • you have significant, ongoing care or support needs
  • you’ve been in an abusive or controlling relationship, or experienced domestic violence
  • you came to the UK on a work or study visa and became eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme while you were here
  • another compelling practical or compassionate reason

When you apply, you need to provide evidence to support each reason you give for the delay in applying.

If you’re the family member or primary carer of a British citizen

For most people, you can no longer apply if you’re:

  • a family member of a ‘qualifying British citizen’ - this is known as a ‘Surinder Singh’ application
  • a primary carer of a British citizen - this is known as a ‘Zambrano’ application

There are some cases where you can still apply.

If you’re exempt from immigration control, or stop being exempt

You do not need to do anything to continue living in the UK while you’re exempt from immigration control.

You’ll have been told if you’re exempt from immigration control, for example because you’re:

  • a foreign diplomat posted in the UK
  • a member of NATO

You can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme at any time, as long as you or a family member started living in the UK by 31 December 2020. Your privileges and immunities may change if you get settled status.

If you stop being exempt, you need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme within 90 days of when you stop being exempt.

You’ll need to prove that you are or were exempt from immigration control as part of your application.

Your family members may be eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme whether they are exempt from immigration control or not. They can apply at any time, even if you have not yet applied.

Who does not need to apply

You do not need to apply if you have:

You cannot apply if you have British citizenship.

  1. Step 1 Check if you need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme

    You may need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK.

    1. You are currently viewing: Check if you need to apply
  2. Step 2 Find out what status you’ll get

    You’ll get settled or pre-settled status depending on how long you’ve been living in the UK. This might affect when you choose to apply.

    1. Find out what you’ll get
  3. Step 3 Check what you’ll need to apply

  4. Step 4 Apply

    The deadline for applying is 30 June 2021.

    1. Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme
  5. Step 5 After you've applied