FAQ
Find information answering your frequently asked questions about the EU Settlement Scheme, applying for and proving your status, travelling in and out of the UK, British citizenship and your rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
You can search on any or all keywords.
If you are looking for information in your own language, you can contact us with your question. Our team includes fluent speakers of Romanian, Dutch, Italian, Polish and German. For all other languages, we use automated translation services to get back to you in your own language.
-
To get settled status, I was told I need to be in the UK for at least 6 months every year. Do the 6 months need to be in a row or can they be spread out throughout the year?
If you already have pre-settled status, there is more than one way of counting absences to qualify for continuous residence. See our FAQ…Can I use the evidence from a hotel/Airbnb stay to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme?
Yes, you can use this type of evidence to apply. You can find a full list here: https://www.gov.uk/…What can I do if I have not received a response from the Home Office regarding my pre/settled status application?
The Home Office has information about how long applications to the EU Settlement Scheme should take. Please note this information has not been updated since May 2020 and so may not accurately reflect…Will children born to parents with pre/settled status have to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme as well?
Children are not automatically given status under the EU Settlement Scheme just because their parents have status themselves. This means that children are required to make an application to the EU…How can I prove my residence in the UK if I have not kept my documents?
You may still be able to prove your residence through the Settlement Scheme’s automatic check based on your National Insurance Number (NINo). If, however, you were not working, you may be asked for…What evidence can I use to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme?
The government’s website provides a list of documents you can use to prove your residence in the UK. This list is not exhaustive and is meant as a guide for applicants as to what documents will be…Will I lose my pre-/settled status if I travel for holidays? Will a visa be required for me to return to the UK?
No, you should not lose your pre/settled-status if you travel for holidays. With pre-settled status, you are able to stay outside the UK for up to roughly half your time in the UK, and usually…Is settled status the same as indefinite leave to remain? I already have ILR. Do I need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme for settled status?
If you have proof of your ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain), you do not need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).- However, if you would have been…
Do I need to apply for settled status if I have permanent residence?
Even if you had an EU permanent residence document (a blue booklet), you had to apply for settled status before 30 June 2021. For all the details, please visit…I have recently received my settled status and I need to wait one year to apply for citizenship. Is there anything I can start doing to speed up the process?
If you are married to a British citizen, you do not need to wait a year before applying. If you are not married to a British citizen, then you need to be ‘free from immigration time restrictions’…Would the requirement for employers to pay to hire European citizens apply in case of employees with settled/pre-settled status?
The requirement to apply for a work visa, and for your employer to have a sponsorship licence, only applies for new arrivals from 1 January 2021, who do not qualify to apply to the EU Settlement…Do National Insurance contributions count as proof of the time someone has been in the UK? How can I use it to prove my residence?
Yes, if you were consistently working, your National Insurance Contributions record will show that, unless you were a posted worker. You can request your records for free from HMRC here:…Can I apply for naturalisation as a British citizen after 10 years of immigration compliance or after the 5 years qualifying period?
Both requirements apply. The 5-year period is more about proving your continuous residence throughout that time. The 10 year period is the maximum period up to which the lawfulness of residence will…I have settled status in the UK, but currently working in an EU country. Will I be able to apply for naturalisation as a British citizen?
It would probably be difficult for you to meet the residence requirements of no absences in excess of 450 days across the 5 year period, and no absences in excess of 90 days in the last year. However…How long can I stay outside the UK before applying to naturalise as a British citizen?
Generally, to apply for naturalisation as a British citizen, you need to prove 5 years’ residence without gaps outside the UK of more than 450 days in total, and that you were not absent for more…How can one apply for a British passport?
You need citizenship first (for instance, evidenced through your certificate of naturalisation) before applying for a UK passport.Who can I use as referees for my citizenship application?
You will need referees to apply for British citizenship as there is no discretion to allow absence of references, and UKVI would write to you to provide them. The list of acceptable professionals is…Do I need to have CSI now that I have pre/settled status?
No. Both settled and pre-settled status are lawful leave granted under the immigration rules, so as long as you keep meeting the conditions and do not lose your status through excessive absences,…I have dual British-EU citizenship, so cannot apply for settled status. Am I covered by the Withdrawal Agreement as a dual national?
If you exercised free movement rights before naturalising as a British citizen, then you are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement. You will have family reunion rights and rights under social security…I am a British-EU dual national, will I be able to use an EHIC card when I visit other EU countries?
It depends on whether you exercised treaty rights before naturalising to become British. If you have, then you and your family members (of any nationality including British), will be entitled to use…questions about your rights? Learn more