Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)
Convert pre-settled status to settled status
You must have 5 years’ continuous residence. You may be eligible to convert to settled status as long as you’ve not been outside the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for more than either:
- 30 months (2.5 years) in the last 5 years
- 6 months in any 12-month period within any 5-year period (there are some exceptions when you can be outside the UK for more than 6 months)
Your status may be automatically converted. You’ll get an email from the Home Office telling you if they’re considering it, then another to let you know if you’ve been converted or not.
You can apply before you’re converted if you’re eligible. It’s free to apply.
It’s easier to prove your right to live in the UK permanently if you have settled status.
You can usually apply for British citizenship once you’ve had settled status for 12 months.
How the Home Office checks you’re eligible
The Home Office can access travel information and will use your National Insurance number to check records of your tax or certain benefits to see if you meet the continuous residence requirements.
If you are automatically moved from pre-settled to settled status
You’ll get a letter by email confirming your settled status.
You can stay in the UK as long as you like. You’ll usually be able to apply for citizenship 12 months after you’re given settled status.
If you cannot be moved automatically to settled status
If the Home Office does not have enough information to confirm you’re eligible, they’ll contact you and tell you what to do.
If you want to apply for settled status before you’re moved automatically
You can apply for settled status as soon as you’re eligible instead of waiting to be moved automatically. This means you’ll need to apply again to the EU Settlement Scheme and prove you meet the requirements.
You’ll need to:
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prove your identity
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give evidence of your continuous residence
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give evidence of your relationship to a family member - if your pre-settled status was based on that relationship
You can use the same types of evidence you used to apply for pre-settled status.
Do not apply if you’ve had an email confirming you’re being considered for conversion from pre-settled status to settled status automatically.
If your identity document or personal details have changed since you applied for pre-settled status
You must update your UKVI account.
You cannot update your identity document in the ‘EU Exit: ID Document Check’ app.
Apply for settled status
If you are not moved to settled status
You’ll keep your pre-settled status. However, the Home Office could cancel it later if you no longer meet the requirements.
If you keep your pre-settled status
Find out how to appeal if you’ve applied for settled status, were unsuccessful and think the decision was wrong.
You might have the right to live in the UK permanently even if you have not applied for settled status yet if you can show that:
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you have pre-settled status
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you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 (or you’re their family member)
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you’ve spent five years in the UK and in that time you’ve been working (or looking for work for up to 3 months), studying or you’re self-sufficient