EU Settlement Scheme: One week to go

All EU, EEA and Swiss citizens (and their family members) who were resident in the UK prior to 31 December 2020 must apply for Pre-Settled Status or Settled Status under the EUSS before 30 June 2021 to secure their rights in the UK.

Failure to apply under the EUSS by the deadline will prevent EU, EEA and Swiss citizens (and their family members) from lawfully working, studying, accessing benefits, and accessing free healthcare in the UK after 30 June 2021. Those who do apply under the EUSS before 30 June 2021 will continue to retain these rights until such time that a decision is reached on their applications.

EU, EEA or Swiss citizens who entered the UK after 31 December 2020 will not be eligible to apply for status under the EUSS.

Family members can continue to submit ‘family permit’ applications to enter the UK after 30 June 2021. Eligible family members will be:

• Spouses or civil partners;
• Children or grandchildren aged under 21;
• Dependent children or grandchildren of any age;
• Dependent parents or grandparents;
• Unmarried partners who have lived together with the relevant EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen for at least two years prior to 31 December 2020.

Extended family members, including siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles, cannot apply for family permits. Eligible family members must be joining:

• An EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen;
• Who was resident in the UK prior to 30 December 2020, and
• Who has been granted status under the EUSS (or who has applied for status under the EUSS prior to 30 June 2021), and
• Who passes criminal record checks.

EU, EEA or Swiss citizens who have previously been granted a registration certificate or a permanent residence document under the EEA Regulations must also apply under the EUSS prior to 30 June 2021.

From 1 July 2021, all immigration status granted to EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens (and their family members) under the EEA Regulations will cease to be valid.

If you are an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen and you have not yet applied under the EUSS, please contact us urgently.

If you are the family member of an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen who has been granted a residence card or permanent residence under the EEA Regulations, and if you have not transferred your status to the EUSS, please do not hesitate to contact us, send us an e-mail, or alternatively, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook to stay up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please don’t hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

©Gherson 2021