Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)

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If you stop working in the UK or start working in an EU country

The deadline for applying for most people was 30 June 2021. You can still apply to the scheme if either:

If you can still apply, you and your family members can get settled status with less than 5 years’ continuous residence in certain situations.

If you have to stop working

If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you may be able to get settled status if you have to stop working or being self-employed in the UK because of an accident or illness (known as ‘permanent incapacity’).

You may be able to get settled status if either:

  • you have lived continuously in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for more than the 2 years immediately beforehand
  • the permanent incapacity was the result of an accident at work or an occupational disease that entitles you to a pension from a UK institution

You can also get settled status if you’re married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen.

If you’re the family member of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein at the time they had to stop working or being self-employed in the UK, you may also be eligible for settled status.

If you reach State Pension age or retire early

If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein you may be able to get settled status if you reach State Pension age or retire early in the UK.

If you’re the family member of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein at the time they reach State Pension age or retire early in the UK, you may also be eligible for settled status.

If you reach State Pension age

If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you can get settled status if you stopped working when you reached State Pension age and either:

  • you worked continuously or were self employed in the UK for at least 1 year beforehand and have lived continuously in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for more than 3 years
  • your spouse or civil partner is a British citizen

If you retire early

If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein you can get settled status if you retire early and either:

  • you worked continuously (for someone other than yourself) in the UK for at least 1 year beforehand and have lived continuously in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for more than 3 years
  • your spouse or civil partner is a British citizen

If you start work or self-employment in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein you can get settled status if you start work or self-employment in one of those countries and you both:

  • have lived and worked or been self-employed in the UK continuously for at least 3 years beforehand
  • usually return to your UK home at least once a week

If you’re the family member of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein at the time they start work or self-employment in one of those countries you may also be eligible for settled status.

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Part of Stay in the UK ('settled status'): step by step

  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. 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

    1. What you'll need to apply

    Check what you need to do if:

  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

    1. What happens after you’ve applied