LAST UPDATED: 17/07/2025

The content published by the Embassy regarding the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) is for informational purposes only and has no legal value.

The Embassy cannot provide personalised legal assistance in handling individual cases or in completing EUSS applications, nor can it provide an interpretation of UK legislation.

The EUSS framework is constantly being updated. Applicants are therefore strongly advised to monitor the relevant official UK government websites on a regular basis.

If your question is not answered on this page, you may contact the Embassy via a dedicated email address exclusively for inquiries concerning the rights of Italian citizens who have applied or wish to apply for settled or pre-settled status: londra.brexit@esteri.it.

 

1. WITHDRAWAL AGREEMENT

On 1 February 2020, the Withdrawal Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union entered into force.

One of the aims of the treaty is to protect the rights of EU citizens who were residing in the United Kingdom before 31 December 2020, in the areas of healthcare, pensions, social benefits, family reunification and access to education.

EU citizens who wish to continue residing in the United Kingdom following its withdrawal from the European Union, and who do not have any other valid residence permit, must therefore register with the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) to acquire pre-settled or settled status.

2. REGISTERING UNDER THE EUSS

The following are the main categories of people who may apply for pre-settled or settled status:

• EU citizens, European Economic Area (EEA) citizens and Swiss citizens who resident in the United Kingdom on 31 December 2020;
• Those whose family members are EU citizens who are already resident in the United Kingdom and hold pre-settled or settled status.

The registration process under the EUSS closed on 30 June 2021.

It is still possible to apply under the EUSS in limited circumstances, for example through a late application or a family reunification application.

Applications may mainly be submitted via the app “EU Exit: ID Document Check” or through the Home Office website.

Main steps of the procedure

1. Provide valid proof of identity (biometric passport or national identity card).
2. Provide valid evidence of continuous residence in the United Kingdom (see the official UK government list of accepted documents).
3. In the case of family reunification, provide proof of the family relationship with the EU citizen who already holds EUSS status.
4. For late applications, provide evidence of the reasonable grounds justifying submission after 30 June 2021.
5. Pass a criminal record check carried out by the UK authorities.

Once the application is submitted, you will receive a UAN (Unique Application Number). If the application is submitted correctly — and in the case of late applications, if the reasonable grounds are accepted — you will receive a Certificate of Application (CoA) confirming temporary protection of residence rights pending a final decision.

The Home Office will then assess the application in detail. Possible outcomes are:

• Settled status (permanent residence permit): granted after five years of continuous residence. It allows absences of up to five consecutive years.
• Pre-settled status (temporary residence permit): granted to complete the five-year residence period required for settled status. Only limited absences are allowed.
• Refusal or rejection due to insufficient evidence or lack of eligibility.

 

3. LATE APPLICATIONS

Since 1 July 2021, Italian citizens and their family members must hold an appropriate residence status to reside in the United Kingdom.

Those who were resident in the UK on 31 December 2020 but did not apply under the EUSS by 30 June 2021 and do not hold another valid residence permit (e.g. a visa) may be in an irregular position.

A late application may be submitted only where there are valid reasonable grounds for missing the deadline.

Applicants must demonstrate continuous residence starting before 31 December 2020, generally meaning at least six months in every 12-month period. Certain longer absences do not break continuity, for example:

• A single period of up to 12 months for an important reason (e.g. childbirth, serious illness, study, vocational training, overseas work posting, COVID-19);
• Compulsory military service of any length;
• Time spent abroad working for the UK government (including accompanying family members).

If more than 12 months were spent outside the UK due to COVID-19, consult the official UK Government guidance carefully.

For a complete list of permitted absences, see the “Qualifying residence” section in the Home Office’s official guide.

The association The3Million has a calculator – to be used at the user’s discretion – for calculating total absences over the course of a year.

Late applications must include documented reasonable grounds. Some examples of these are:

• A parent or guardian failing to apply in time on behalf of a minor;
• Serious illness;
• Need for ongoing care;
• Domestic abuse

The Home Office’s official caseworker guidance also lists reasons generally no longer considered valid, such as lack of awareness of the scheme, lack of internet access, limited English, generic COVID-19 restrictions, or general work/study commitments.

The grounds given above are not exhaustive. The Home Office may also accept other “compelling practical or compassionate reasons”. Every case is evaluated individually, on the basis of circumstances and the evidence provided. Further information is available on the Home Office’s website and official guide.

It is advisable to include as much information and evidence as possible to justify an application made after 30 June 2021.

The deadline of 30 June 2021 does not apply in every case, however. Exceptions are made in the case of children who were born or adopted in the UK after 1 April 2021 (application must be made within 3 months of birth/adoption) and family reunion. See the Home Office website for more information. In these cases too, if the application is made after the relevant deadline, they are subject to the rules for late applications. See “Minors under 21” and “Family reunion” below.

4. WHO CAN APPLY FOR THE EUSS

Applications may be submitted by:

• EU, EEA and Swiss citizens resident in the UK on 31 December 2020;
• Family members of those holding pre-settled or settled status.

In general, access is granted to those resident in the UK on 31 December 2020.

There are, however, other categories of people who may be able to apply for the EUSS. A full list is available on the Home Office website: Who can apply.

In general, pre-settled or settled status is granted to those who were resident in the UK on 31 December 2020.

 

Holders of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

Holders of Indefinite Leave to Remain or Enter are not required to register under the EUSS but may choose to do so.

Settled status allows absences of up to five consecutive years (compared to two years under ILR).

Late applicants must provide reasonable grounds.

Permanent residence documents under EU law

Permanent residence documents issued under previous EU rules are no longer valid since 30 June 2021.

 

Minors under 21

Minors under 21 may apply. They automatically receive the same status as their parent. If they are eligible then they may apply even if neither parent holds pre-settled or settled status.

Children born in the UK to a parent holding settled status automatically acquire British citizenship.

Children born in the UK after 31 December 2020 to parents with pre-settled status must apply for pre-settled status within three months of birth or adoption.

There are circumstances in which the children of parents with pre-settled status can be considered British citizens from birth or can be registered as such, provided the parent(s) in question has/have been resident for long enough to apply for permanent residence.

 

Family Reunification

Family members (of any nationality) of an EU citizen holding pre-settled or settled status may apply.

The relationship must have existed before 31 December 2020 (unless otherwise provided for under the Withdrawal Agreement).

Eligible family members include:

• Spouse;
• Civil partner;
• Durable partner;
• Children or grandchildren under 21 (including partner’s);
• Dependent children/grandchildren over 21;
• Dependent parents/grandparents.

For further information, see the Home Office website.

If you are applying from abroad, the UK government recommends awaiting the final decision before travelling.

 

5. CONVERSION FROM PRE-SETTLED TO SETTLED STATUS

After five years of continuous residence (starting before 31 December 2020), holders of pre-settled status may apply for settled status.

From 16 July 2025, the Home Office introduced an additional, more flexible criterion:

• 30 months of residence in the last 60 months,
  in addition to the previous rule of 6 months in every 12 months over five years.
  Only one requirement must be met.

The Home Office may rely on the applicant’s National Insurance Number and government databases to verify residence.

 

6. AUTOMATIC CONVERSION TO SETTLED STATUS

From the end of January 2025, the UK Government introduced a procedure to automatically convert pre-settled status into settled status, without eligible individuals having to submit an application, provided government databases can find records of five years of continuous residence.

For further details on automatic conversion, please see here and here.

Instead of waiting for your status to be converted automatically from pre-settled to settled, you may apply directly. See this guide published by the EU Delegation to the UK.

If the automatic conversion is not applied and no application for settled status is submitted,  the pre-settled status will be extended by five years (increased from two years previously).

The Home Office may cancel the extension or not automatically convert your status if they think you no longer meet the requirements.

7. PERMANENT RESIDENCE RIGHTS

Beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement automatically acquire permanent residence rights after five years of continuous residence.

The December 2022 judgment of the High Court of Justice established that holders of pre-settled status automatically acquire permanent residence rights as soon as they reach five years of continuous residence (provided that residence began by 31 December 2020), regardless of whether they have submitted an application to convert to settled status.
(N.B. Family members joining under family reunification may, of course, have begun their period of continuous residence after 31 December 2020. See the “Family reunification” section above.)

A citizen holding pre-settled status who has exercised (and can demonstrate) free movement rights under EU law for five continuous years (having resided in the country as a worker, student, self-employed person, etc.) automatically acquires permanent residence rights. The Home Office website specifies the following:

“You can also have the right to live in the UK permanently if you can provide evidence that:

• you have pre-settled status
• you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 (or you’re their family member)
• you’ve spent five years in the UK and in that time you’ve been working (or looking for work for up to 3 months), studying or you’re self-sufficient

The official UK government guidance contains further information .

 

8. UPDATING YOUR DIGITAL STATUS

Once EUSS status or a Certificate of Application has been obtained, you can view your “digital status” online and update the information contained in it. As indicated on the Home Office website, holders of EUSS status are required to keep their personal details up to date, including passport/identity card number, as well as the email address and telephone number linked to their digital status.

Pre-settled status and settled status exist exclusively in digital form. This means that no physical document will be issued. Through your personal page, you will be able to generate a share code in order to prove your residence permit to those entitled to request it (for example, your employer, letting agents or bank officials).

An explanatory video is available at the following link: How to prove your immigration status.

It is possible to update your digital status, including your passport number, by using this service.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

Are you a holder of EUSS (EU Settlement Scheme) status and do you have a new passport or identity card?

Remember to always update your online profile (digital status) by entering the details of your new identity document.

To avoid possible inconvenience when travelling, the UK authorities recommend registering the identity document you use for travel in your personal digital status. Please note that, pursuant to Article 14 of the Withdrawal Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom, European citizens holding pre-settled or settled status may travel to/from the United Kingdom using their valid national identity card (since 31 December 2025 only electronic ID cards are accepted).

Below is a summary of the steps required to update your digital status with the details of your new identity document:

• Go to the relevant UK Government website – “Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details: Update your UKVI account details” – and log in using your personal credentials.
• Once logged in, you will be able to change and update various personal details (address, telephone number, email address, etc.).
• In the “Identity Document” section, you will be able to view a list of documents linked to your status.
• To add a new one (passport or identity card), select “add a new identity document”.
• Follow the on-screen instructions and upload a photo or scan of the new travel document. It is important that all the details shown on the travel document are clearly legible.
• If the document has been uploaded correctly, you will receive a confirmation email from the Home Office.

The EU Settlement Resolution Centre, managed by the competent UK authorities, can provide assistance on various aspects related to an application for pre-settled or settled status.

It is always possible to contact an association accredited by the UK authorities that provides free support to EU citizens who have applied or wish to apply under the EUSS.

 

How long can I stay outside the United Kingdom if I have obtained pre-settled status?

Holders of pre-settled status must comply with minimum periods of continuous residence in the United Kingdom (starting before 31 December 2020) in order for their status to remain valid and to be eligible, after five years, for settled status. Otherwise, the Home Office may revoke the pre-settled status or refuse the subsequent conversion to settled status.

Continuous residence means that, during the five-year period, you must not have been absent from the United Kingdom for more than:

(A) 30 months [2.5 years] in the last 60 months [5 years] (NB: calculated from the date you apply for conversion or from when the Home Office initiates the automatic conversion procedure);

OR

(B) 6 months in any 12-month period over five years (in this case there are certain exceptions allowing absences of more than 6 months without breaking continuous residence).

Under UK law, holders of pre-settled status may automatically lose their status due to a prolonged absence from the United Kingdom. Until 20 May 2024, UK law provided that pre-settled status would automatically lapse after two consecutive years of absence from the country.

On 21 May 2024, the UK Government amended this legislation by introducing a new legal instrument allowing absences of up to five consecutive years before losing pre-settled status. However, if you had already been absent from the United Kingdom for more than two consecutive years without justification before 21 May 2024, and had not acquired permanent residence rights before departure, it is very likely that your pre-settled status has already automatically lapsed (even if your digital status still shows as valid).

The Home Office has the power to revoke pre-settled status due to prolonged absences from the country.

If I hold pre-settled status, does my COVID-19-related absence fall within those permitted by the Home Office?

Certain absences related to the COVID-19 pandemic may be included among those permitted. For further information, please consult this link.

 

How long can I stay outside the United Kingdom if I have obtained settled status?

Settled status allows absences of up to a maximum of five consecutive years.

The official website of the Home Office states:

“You can spend up to 5 years in a row outside the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man without losing your status.
If you enter the UK for any amount of time during that 5 years, you’ll then be able to spend up to 5 more years outside the UK.”

 

If I hold settled status and move my residence to Italy, do I risk losing my status?

Settled status allows you to reside in the United Kingdom indefinitely and to be absent for up to five consecutive years. Settled status and registration with A.I.R.E. are two different legal frameworks: the former is governed by UK law, the latter by Italian law. When transferring residence to Italy from abroad, the procedures laid down under Italian legislation must be followed. For registration with A.I.R.E. in the United Kingdom, please contact your competent Consulate.

 

I have been resident in the UK since before December 2020 but have not yet applied under the EU Settlement Scheme. Is it still possible to apply?

The deadline set by the UK authorities to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) was 30 June 2021. EU citizens resident in the UK on 31 December 2020 may still submit a “late application” if they have valid grounds justifying the delay. For further details, and a non-exhaustive list of acceptable grounds, please refer to: “Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status): Who can apply.”

 

Can I apply for family reunification with my sister or brother resident in the UK with settled or pre-settled status?

No. Family reunification under the EUSS is permitted only for spouses, civil partners, durable partners, dependent parents or grandparents, and children or grandchildren.

 

I hold EUSS status (pre-settled or settled). Can I travel to/from the UK with my identity card?

Yes. Article 14 of the Withdrawal Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom safeguards the right of holders of EUSS status to enter the UK using a valid national identity card. In such cases, the Home Office recommends that the identity card be properly registered in your digital status to avoid problems at the border or at boarding. To update your digital status, access the relevant service.

If you are a tourist, please consult the “Tourists” page of our website.

 

I have applied and have not yet received a response from the Home Office. What should I do?

Those who have submitted a valid application under the EU Settlement Scheme (including late applications submitted after 30 June 2021) will receive a “Certificate of Application.” In the event of delays or if you have not received it, you may contact the EU Settlement Resolution Centre.

 

What can I do if my application is rejected or refused by the Home Office?

If your application is refused on eligibility grounds by the competent UK authorities, you may lodge an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal within 14 days from notification of the refusal (28 days if you are outside the UK).

If your application is rejected on validity grounds, for example due to lack of “reasonable grounds” in the case of a late application, you may:

• Apply for judicial review before the competent High Court, usually within three months of the decision;
• Submit a new application, attaching more comprehensive evidence and documentation.

Can employers, landlords and universities ask me to prove my right to reside in the UK?

Yes. Since 1 July 2021 (Right to Work and Right to Rent), European citizens must prove their residence status in the UK by sharing a temporary code (share code) with the relevant entitled parties.

On 21 May 2024, the Home Office announced that the pre-settled status “expiry date” will no longer be visible to third parties:
“the Home Office will also remove the pre-settled status expiry date from the digital profiles shown to third parties in the online checking services for Right to Work, Right to Rent and View and Prove”.

Furthermore, employers and landlords will not be required to carry out a further check for the entire duration of the employment contract or tenancy agreement:
“Employers, landlords and letting agents will not be required to conduct a further right to work or rent check where the individual remains in their employment or as part of that tenancy agreement”.

 

My marriage was celebrated after 31 December 2020. Can I apply for family reunification?

To qualify for family reunification under the EU Settlement Scheme, the marriage (or civil partnership) must have been celebrated by 31 December 2020. If this is not the case, you will need to demonstrate that the relationship was already durable as of 31 December 2020. A durable relationship may, for example, consist of cohabitation for at least two years or shared parental responsibility by 31 December 2020. For further details, please refer to the official Home Office guidance.

 

I hold a paper Indefinite Leave to Remain and not yet EUSS status. What can I do?

Holders of Indefinite Leave to Remain or Enter in the UK are not required to register under the EUSS but may choose to do so. The EUSS provides additional benefits, including the right to reside abroad for up to five years without losing status (compared with two years under Indefinite Leave to Remain). The deadline for applying was 30 June 2021. Therefore, holders of permanent UK residence who decide to apply must provide evidence of “reasonable grounds” justifying the delay (see the section on late applications). The official Home Office guidance provides examples of scenarios that may be considered valid.

However, since the UK Government is replacing paper immigration documents with digital proof of immigration status, known as an e-Visa, if you do not meet the requirements for the EUSS you may apply for an e-Visa through a “no time limit application” (NTL). For further information on the procedure, please consult the Home Office website: “Online immigration status (eVisa) – GOV.UK”. Here you will also find the link to the Embassy’s press release on the matter.

 

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USEFUL LINKS

• Home Office – EU Settlement Scheme caseworker guidance
• Home Office – Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme
• Immigration Advice Authority – List of authorised immigration advisers
• Independent Monitoring Authority – Protection of EU citizens’ rights
• EU Settlement Resolution Centre – assistance with EUSS applications

It is also possible to seek support from associations providing free assistance to EU citizens in the United Kingdom (see the UK Government website for the full list).