FAQ

Does pre-settled status automatically convert to settled status?

Following a court case, the Home Office announced in July 2023 that it would be making changes to the EU Settlement Scheme sometime in 2024 to automatically upgrade some people’s pre-settled status to settled status. In fact, the first such automated grants of settled status were made in early 2025.

Firstly, people are only considered for an automated upgrade in the month or so before their pre-settled status is set to expire.

Secondly, it is important to know that not everyone is eligible to benefit from automated upgrades to settled status:

• Only EEA/Swiss citizens who were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 can be considered for automated upgrades. 
• Non-EEA family members may receive emails about automated upgrades but cannot benefit from them.
• Likewise, EEA/Swiss family members who arrived in the UK on or after 1 January 2021 also cannot benefit from automated upgrades.
• A child under the age of 18 cannot benefit from automated upgrades.
• People who have EUSS status as someone with ‘derivative rights’ or ‘retained rights’ cannot benefit from automated upgrades.

Even if you are eligible to benefit from automated upgrades in principle, the process will only be able to upgrade you if the Home Office find sufficient evidence through their tax and benefit checks - see this Home Office webpage for detailed information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-settlement-scheme-uk-tax-and-benefits-re….

At the time of writing (February 2026), the automated upgrade process only considers the 6/12 method of continuous residence, and does not look at the 30/60 method (see this FAQ for more information on these methods). It also currently does not consider travel data. This may change.

If the Home Office cannot upgrade your pre-settled status to settled status, it should be extended instead. (Though note, the Home Office intends to start a process soon where they may curtail (i.e. remove) people’s pre-settled status if they think you are no longer eligible for it).

If you become eligible for settled status sooner (i.e. before its current expiry date), or if your status cannot be automatically upgraded, we recommend you apply for settled status by submitting an application. If you have children whose status was linked to yours, we recommend you also submit an application for settled status for your children.

See these FAQs for more information:

• When should I apply for settled status if I already have pre-settled status?
• How do I upgrade my pre-settled status to settled status?

It is important not to break your continuity of residence. For more information, see our Absence Calculator webpage.