Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)

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Convert pre-settled status to settled status

You may be eligible to convert pre-settled status to settled status if:

• you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years in a row 
• you meet the eligibility requirements

You can apply for settled status if you’re eligible. If you do not apply, your pre-settled status will be extended by 5 years just before it expires. You’ll be sent an email telling you when this happens.

The Home Office may move you from pre-settled status to settled status automatically after your pre-settled status is extended. You’ll be sent an email telling you the Home Office is considering automatically converting your status. You’ll get another email telling you whether or not your status has been successfully converted.

Settled status is free of charge.

It’s easier to prove your right to live in the UK permanently if you have settled status. 

You can usually apply for British citizenship once you’ve had settled status for 12 months. 

Check the eligibility requirements for settled status.

How the Home Office checks you’re eligible

The Home Office will use your National Insurance number to check records of your tax or certain benefits to see if you meet the continuous residence requirements. 

If you cannot be moved automatically to settled status 

If the Home Office does not have enough information to confirm you’re eligible, they’ll contact you and tell you what to do.

If you want to apply for settled status before you’re moved automatically

You can apply for settled status as soon as you’re eligible instead of waiting to be moved automatically. This means you’ll need to apply again to the EU Settlement Scheme and prove you meet the requirements.

You’ll need to:

• prove your identity

• give evidence of your continuous residence

• give evidence of your relationship to a family member - if your pre-settled status was based on that relationship

You can use the same types of evidence you used to apply for pre-settled status.  

Do not apply if you’ve had an email confirming you’re being considered for conversion from pre-settled status to settled status automatically.

If your identity document or personal details have changed since you applied for pre-settled status

You must update your UKVI account.

You cannot update your identity document in the ‘EU Exit: ID Document Check’ app.

Apply for settled status

If you are automatically moved from pre-settled to settled status

You’ll get a letter by email confirming your settled status. 

You can stay in the UK as long as you like. You’ll usually be able to apply for citizenship 12 months after you’re given settled status.

If you are not moved to settled status

You’ll keep your pre-settled status. However, the Home Office could cancel it later if you no longer meet the requirements - for example, if you’ve had a break in your continuous residence.

Check how long you can spend outside the UK without losing your continuous residence.

If you keep your pre-settled status

Find out how to appeal if you’ve applied for settled status, were unsuccessful and think the decision was wrong.

You might have the right to live in the UK permanently even if you have not applied for settled status yet if you can show 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

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