According to the Home Office, more than 400,000 EU nationals have applied to secure their stay in the UK after Brexit.
Since the EU settlement scheme went live at the end of last month, the number of applications received from citizens of EU member states plus those from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and their family members, has increased by about 200,000 people. Successful applicants are granted immigration status confirming their right to continue living and working in the UK indefinitely.
People who have lived continuously in the UK for five years or more can obtain settled status. Those who have lived in the UK for less than five years can acquire pre-settled status, which can later be converted into settled status.
The Home Office has also announced that 57 organisations have been earmarked to receive funding to help vulnerable applicants of the scheme. Although there is no application fee, up to £9m has been set aside by the UK government to ensure support is available to an estimated 200,000 individuals who may be marginalised or need extra assistance completing and submitting their application.
The deadline for submitting applications is 30 June 2021, if the UK leaves the EU with a deal, or 31 December 2020, if the UK leaves without a deal. Government estimates indicate that between 3.5 million and 4.1 million European Economic Area citizens and their family members could be eligible to apply to the scheme by the end of 2020.
