EU nationals handed residency deadline

EU nationals handed residency deadline

EU nationals are being urged to complete applications for the EU Settlement Scheme ahead of the deadline on 30 June 2021.

The scheme offers citizens of the 27 EU member states the right to remain in the UK as they did when the country was part of the EU.

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you and your family can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021.

You can also apply if you’re the family member of an eligible person of Northern Ireland.

If your application is successful, you’ll get either settled or pre-settled status.

You may be able to stay in the UK without applying – for example, if you’re an Irish citizen or already have indefinite leave to remain.

In December, the Home Office said it had received 4.9m applications, 1.1m more than the number it predicted in 2018.

But thousands more have not applied and are risking legal being cut off from their right to live, work and claim benefits in the UK.

Now, the UK is being urged to extend the rapidly approaching deadline.

Campaign group The3Million are calling for this year’s June 30 deadline for applications to be extended to take account of the pandemic.

It told the Independent Monitoring Authority that more time is needed because charities which help vulnerable groups apply have been hit by coronavirus restrictions.

The Home Office said it will accept late applications where there are reasonable grounds for the deadline being missed.