Important: This note is provided for information only and should not be taken as legal advice or relied upon as such. The information and commentary does not, and is not intended to, amount to legal advice to any person on a specific case or matter. You should seek specific legal advice on your personal circumstances if required and please note that the University is unable to provide personal immigration advice.
The EU settlement scheme
The settlement scheme allowed EU and EEA citizens and their family members living in the UK before 31 December 2020, to continue to live here as before, with the same entitlement to work, study and access public services and benefits.
The scheme closed on 30 June 2021, however, late applications may be allowed in certain circumstances. Please check the government web pages for further information.
Individuals can view or prove their status online.
There are links for further information from the Home Office website.
For those EU/EEA citizens and their family members who were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 and had not been continuously resident (see glossary for the UK government definition of continuous resident) in the UK for five years were eligible for pre-settled status, enabling them to stay until they have reached the five-year threshold for settled status.
The Home Office will automatically extend pre-settled status before it is due to expire. Unless they think you no longer meet the requirements, because you have spent too long outside of the UK for example. The Home Office will email you to tell you when this happens.
Your extended pre-settled status may be automatically converted to settled status. However, you can still apply for settled status if you want to do this before you’re automatically moved.
Find out about converting from pre-settled to settled status.
Settled status
For those EU/EEA citizens and their family members who were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 and had been continuously resident (see glossary for the UK government definition of continuous resident) in the UK for five years were eligible for settled status, enabling them to stay indefinitely.
For more information please read the information on the government web pages.
It is important that you keep your details up to date and travel on the document that you used to apply to the scheme.
You should update your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account if you’ve changed your:
- mobile phone number
- email address
- name
- identity document, such as your passport or national identity card
- UK address
If you need to update any of these details there please do so here. There is also an informative video of how to update your details.
The settled status immigration route is indefinite leave to remain in the UK, you do not have to apply for British citizenship.
However, if you would like to then you’ll usually be able to apply for citizenship if you’re over 18 and have had one of the following for 12 months:
- indefinite leave to remain in the UK
- ‘settled status’ (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain under the EU Settlement Scheme’)
- indefinite leave to enter the UK (permission to move to the UK permanently from abroad)
You will not need to wait 12 months to apply if you’re married to a British citizen.
For more information please read the government web pages on applying for British citizenship.
If you need an employment letter to support your application, please contact Human Resources.
Dual citizenship
Whilst dual citizenship is allowed in the UK, some EU countries do not accept dual nationality. In all cases, you should check the specific rules that apply in your own country before applying for dual nationality.