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EU nationals and family members

Help for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members with EU Settlement Scheme status, upgrades to settled status, late applications and family permits.

Who the scheme covers

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020, and their family members. The main deadline was 30 June 2021, but late applications are still accepted where there are reasonable grounds for missing it - for example serious illness, lack of capacity, an abusive relationship, or having held another form of UK leave.

Separate 90-day windows apply to a family member joining after 31 December 2020, to a child born or adopted in the UK, and to someone whose immigration exemption has ended. Applications are free.

Pre-settled to settled status

Settled status becomes available after five years of continuous residence. Absences must not exceed 30 months in total across the five years, and normally no single absence over six months in any 12-month period.

• Automatic extension. Pre-settled status that is about to expire is now extended automatically by five years. It does not lapse and no action is needed.
• Automatic conversion. Since 9 April 2026 the Home Office runs an enhanced automated system that upgrades eligible people to settled status without an application, by checking for 30 months of tax or benefit records within the previous 60 months. Around 87,000 automatic grants had already been made by the end of 2025.
• You receive an email when your case is being considered and a second email with the outcome.

Automation does not cover everyone. You still need to apply yourself if you are a non-EEA family member, a joining family member, under 18, hold another UK immigration status, rely on derivative rights, or simply do not have enough UK tax or benefit records.

From April 2026 the Home Office also began removing pre-settled status where continuous residence appears to have been broken, starting with the longest absences. If you receive such a notice, deadlines are short and evidence matters.

EUSS family permit

For family members outside the UK of someone with EU Settlement Scheme status who was resident by 31 December 2020, or of a relevant person of Northern Ireland. The permit is free, valid for six months, allows multiple entries, and allows work and study. Since 30 July 2026 the fingerprint requirement for the EUSS travel permit has been removed.

What settled status gives you

• Indefinite leave to remain, with the right to work, study and use the NHS.
• Eligibility to apply for British citizenship, usually after holding settled status for 12 months.
• The ability to be joined by close family members, subject to the rules of the scheme.

How PRIMEVISA helps

• Late applications with a properly evidenced reasonable grounds explanation.
• Continuity of residence arguments where absences exceed the limits, including work, study, illness and compulsory military service.
• Manual upgrade applications for people the automated system cannot reach.
• Responses to notices proposing to cancel or curtail pre-settled status.

This page summarises guidance published on GOV.UK and was last reviewed on 18 August 2026. It is general information, not immigration advice on your own case. PRIMEVISA LTD is regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority, registration F201600043.

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