EU Settlement Scheme – Free Movement

This document is a downloadable ebook based on the Free Movement online course of the same name that was published in July 2024.

There were thought to be between three to four million EU citizens and their family members living in the UK, although nobody was quite sure of the exact numbers. The EU Settlement Scheme has now received almost eight million applications, so it can be safely said that the original estimates were some way off.

As a result of Brexit, almost all EU citizens and their family members needed to apply for a new immigration status by 30 June 2021 to continue living legally in the UK. With very few exceptions, anyone who did not apply for an immigration status by the deadline will be living unlawfully in the UK from that point. Once someone has applied to the EU Settlement Scheme and their application is determined to be “valid” by the Home Office, they are provided temporary rights whilst they await the decision on their application. This includes the right to work, rent and access the NHS.

The EU Settlement Scheme will continue to run for many years. Not least because eligible family members who were not living in the UK by 31 December 2020 can still apply to join EU sponsors who have status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

This ebook provides an overview of the system under which EU citizens and their families can acquire status under the Scheme, including those who are applying after the deadlines.