EU Settlement Scheme status automation

The EUSS has provided 5.7 million EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members with the status they need to continue living and working in the UK following departure from the European Union.

Successful applicants to EUSS receive ‘pre-settled status’ or ‘settled status’:

• pre-settled status is limited leave to enter or remain, usually granted if the applicant has been resident in the UK for less than 5 years
• settled status is indefinite leave to enter or remain, usually granted if the applicant has been resident for at least 5 years.

Pre-settled status holders currently need to make a further application to the EUSS after they’ve completed the required residence in the UK (usually 5 years) in order to obtain settled status.

The Home Office is introducing a new process to automatically convert eligible pre-settled status holders to settled status, without the need for them to make a further EUSS application and will email from late January 2025 pre-settled status holders who are approaching the expiry of their status to inform them that they may soon be considered for an automated conversion to settled status. Pre-settled status holders will not need to do anything, and Home Office will inform them if are unable to grant them settled status.

The Home Office will automatically check pre-settled status holder records against government-held information, for example to ensure they have remained resident in the UK, and to check for any evidence of criminal conduct. These checks are the same as the checks undertaken when the person first applied to the EUSS and will ensure they are eligible for settled status before it is granted.

Pre-settled status holders don’t need to wait to be converted to settled status. They can still apply for it as soon as they are eligible. The introduction of this automated process will not prevent people from doing so.