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EU Settlement Scheme

Work PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Remote Work

At a Glance

Processing Time

2 weeks – 6 months

Varies by processing route

Estimated Cost

Free

Stay Duration

Indefinite

Renewable

Renewal

Renewable

Family

No dependents

PR Pathway

Yes

Sponsor

No job offer needed

Work

Remote work OK

Apply Now Official Information

Living in United Kingdom

Cost of Living

2% cheaper than United States

Avg Salary£31,000

Quality of Life

174/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

For EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members to continue living in the UK.

The EU Settlement Scheme lets EU, EEA (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), and Swiss nationals — and their qualifying family members — secure UK residency rights after Brexit. Applicants must have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020. Free to apply — no language test or Life in the UK Test.

Settled status (equivalent to ILR) gives permanent residence; pre-settled status gives 5 years, automatically extended if not yet upgraded. Both grant immediate right to work. Settled status holders can apply for British citizenship and may be absent up to 5 consecutive years without losing status.

This visa is ideal for EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals — and their non-EU family members — who were living in the UK before January 2021 and want to protect their long-term residence rights.

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Processing Time

Standard (straightforward)	2 weeks – 1 month
Additional documentation/checks	1–3 months
Complex (criminal record, paper application)	3–6 months

Stay & Extensions

Status type

Permanent / indefinite

Eligible Nationalities (31)

Austria

Belgium

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czechia

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg Malta

Malta

Netherlands Norway

Norway

Poland

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

EU, EEA (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), or Swiss national — OR family member of one

Started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 (primary applicants)

Family members of settled/pre-settled status holders may apply within 90 days of first UK arrival

Late applications require demonstrating 'reasonable grounds' (e.g. serious medical condition, domestic abuse, lack of mental capacity)

Must not be a British or Irish citizen (no application needed for these groups)

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport or national identity card with biometric chip (EU/EEA/Swiss citizens)

Valid passport or UK-issued biometric residence card/permit for non-EU family members

Digital photo of face

National Insurance number (triggers automated residence check)

Proof of continuous UK residence if automated check is insufficient (payslips, bank statements, tenancy agreements, official letters)

Family relationship certificates (birth, marriage, civil partnership) for family member applications

Evidence of qualifying family member's settled/pre-settled status

Evidence of reasonable grounds for late application (if applicable)

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Completely free to apply — no fee under any circumstances
No language test required
No Life in the UK Test required
Settled status is equivalent to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) — permanent residence
Right to work in the UK without restriction from day of application
Certificate of application issued immediately on submission, usable as proof of rights while awaiting decision
Pre-settled status can be upgraded to settled status after 5 continuous years of UK residence
Settled status holders can apply for British citizenship
Covers non-EU family members of qualifying EU/EEA/Swiss nationals

Worth Knowing

Primary deadline was 30 June 2021 — late applications require demonstrating reasonable grounds
Pre-settled status is temporary and must be actively upgraded; absence of more than 5 years from the UK causes automatic loss
Settled status holders may be absent up to 5 consecutive years (4 years for Swiss nationals) without losing status
Children born after 1 April 2021 have only 90 days from birth/adoption to apply
Criminal convictions must be declared; serious crimes assessed on case-by-case basis
Physical identity documents are returned after decision, typically within 6–8 weeks
Status is digital (eVisa only) — proof is via share code from UKVI online account

Application Process

Check qualification at gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

Gather identity documents (passport or biometric national ID card) and evidence of UK residence

Apply online via UKVI portal using a laptop, Android, or iPhone

Use the EU Exit: ID Document Check app to scan biometric chip on identity document

Provide National Insurance number to trigger automated HMRC/DWP residence checks

Declare any criminal convictions (required for all applicants aged 18+)

Submit application and receive certificate of application by email (usable immediately to prove right to work/rent/benefits)

Await decision by email or post; access digital eVisa (share code) via UKVI account

Application Forms

Go to application portal

Online application at apply-to-visit-or-stay-in-the-uk.homeoffice.gov.uk/euss Online application via UKVI EU Settlement Scheme portal	Fill online
Paper application form available on request Paper application form (available on request from UKVI)	—

Verified Claims (23)

Last verified May 31, 2026

Application Steps

Check eligibility at gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families; Gather identity documents (passport…

gov.uk

Fee Breakdown

Application fee: 0 GBP

gov.uk

Fees

Free

gov.uk

Forms

Online application at apply-to-visit-or-stay-in-the-uk.homeoffice.gov.uk/euss; Paper application for…

gov.uk

Forms · 0 · description

Online application via UKVI EU Settlement Scheme portal

gov.uk

Forms · 0 · url

https://apply-to-visit-or-stay-in-the-uk.homeoffice.gov.uk/euss

gov.uk

Forms · 1 · description

Paper application form (available on request from UKVI)

gov.uk

Included Nationalities

AT; BE; BG; HR; CY; CZ; DK; EE; FI; FR; DE; GR; HU; IS; IE; IT; LV; LI; LT; LU; MT; NL; NO; PL; PT; …

gov.uk

Apply Now Official Information

Living in United Kingdom

Cost of Living

2% cheaper than United States

Avg Salary£31,000

Quality of Life

174/200

Full Country Guide

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Overview

For EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members to continue living in the UK.

This visa is ideal for EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals — and their non-EU family members — who were living in the UK before January 2021 and want to protect their long-term residence rights.

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

EU, EEA (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), or Swiss national — OR family member of one

Started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 (primary applicants)

Family members of settled/pre-settled status holders may apply within 90 days of first UK arrival

Late applications require demonstrating 'reasonable grounds' (e.g. serious medical condition, domestic abuse, lack of mental capacity)

Must not be a British or Irish citizen (no application needed for these groups)

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport or national identity card with biometric chip (EU/EEA/Swiss citizens)

Valid passport or UK-issued biometric residence card/permit for non-EU family members

Digital photo of face

National Insurance number (triggers automated residence check)

Proof of continuous UK residence if automated check is insufficient (payslips, bank statements, tenancy agreements, official letters)

Family relationship certificates (birth, marriage, civil partnership) for family member applications

Evidence of qualifying family member's settled/pre-settled status

Evidence of reasonable grounds for late application (if applicable)

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Completely free to apply — no fee under any circumstances
No language test required
No Life in the UK Test required
Settled status is equivalent to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) — permanent residence
Right to work in the UK without restriction from day of application
Certificate of application issued immediately on submission, usable as proof of rights while awaiting decision
Pre-settled status can be upgraded to settled status after 5 continuous years of UK residence
Settled status holders can apply for British citizenship
Covers non-EU family members of qualifying EU/EEA/Swiss nationals

Worth Knowing

Primary deadline was 30 June 2021 — late applications require demonstrating reasonable grounds
Pre-settled status is temporary and must be actively upgraded; absence of more than 5 years from the UK causes automatic loss
Settled status holders may be absent up to 5 consecutive years (4 years for Swiss nationals) without losing status
Children born after 1 April 2021 have only 90 days from birth/adoption to apply
Criminal convictions must be declared; serious crimes assessed on case-by-case basis
Physical identity documents are returned after decision, typically within 6–8 weeks
Status is digital (eVisa only) — proof is via share code from UKVI online account

Application Process