EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
Free settled or pre-settled status for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens — no fee, ever.
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N/A — UK in-country only
Pre-settled: 5 years (auto-extended +5 by Home Office). Settled: indefinite (equivalent to ILR).
Overview
What is the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)?
The EUSS protects the rights of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members who were resident in the UK before 31 December 2020. The scheme is free of charge — application, biometrics, and conversion from pre-settled to settled status all cost £0 (gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families). Per gov.uk: "Your pre-settled status will be extended by 5 years just before it's due to expire" and may be automatically converted to settled status once you qualify. Late applications still accepted with "reasonable grounds" (illness, abuse, lack of information, dependency).
Eligibility
Are you eligible?
You must meet every condition below — Home Office caseworkers refuse on the first one missed.
- EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, OR family member (spouse, partner, child, dependent parent / grandparent) of one
- Resident in the UK before 23:00 on 31 December 2020 (transition end)
- Continuing UK residence at time of application
- For SETTLED status: 5 years continuous UK residence (max 6 months absent per 12-month period, with single 12-month absence allowed for important reasons)
- For PRE-SETTLED status: less than 5 years residence by 31 December 2020
- Joining family members can still apply via EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit
Costs
What it costs in 2026
Two compulsory costs apply: the application fee and the Health Surcharge (IHS). Priority service and dependants sit on top.
EU Settlement Scheme cost
- EUSS application£0Source: gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
- Pre-settled → settled conversion£0Source: gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
- Biometrics (in-app via UK Immigration: ID Check)£0Source: gov.uk
Free at every stage including conversion. Children of settled holders born in UK acquire British citizenship automatically.
Documents
What you'll need to provide
Group your evidence under these four headings. Missing or mis-categorised documents are the second most common refusal reason after salary.
Identity
3- Valid passport OR national ID card (biometric chip required for app verification)
- Marriage / civil partnership certificate (joining-family-member applications)
- Birth certificates for children under 21
Finance
1- Evidence of UK residence — HMRC and DWP records checked automatically; gaps require utility bills, P60s, tenancy agreements
Sponsor / Course
2- NI number — auto-retrieved during application
- Documents proving "reasonable grounds" for late application (medical letters, social worker statements, etc.)
How to apply
Step-by-step
Download the UK Immigration: ID Check app
iOS / Android. Replaces the older EU Exit app. NFC chip read on your passport/ID.
Scan biometric chip
App reads passport/ID chip + selfie liveness check to confirm identity.
Apply online via gov.uk
Free application — takes 10-15 minutes for the average case.
Provide residence evidence
HMRC and DWP records are auto-checked. Manual evidence requested only if there are gaps the automated check cannot fill.
Decision + eVisa
No physical document — your status lives in your UKVI account. Share digital codes with landlords and employers via the View and Prove service.
Convert pre-settled → settled
Once you have 5 years residence, apply (free) to upgrade. Or wait for automatic conversion (rolling out 2024-2026).
Watch out for
Things that catch people out
Original deadline was 30 June 2021 — late applications still accepted with documented "reasonable grounds" (Home Office grants ~80% of late applications).
EUSS Family Permit (£0) lets a family member join you from overseas. Once in the UK they apply for EUSS itself.
Children born in the UK to a parent with settled status are British citizens automatically. Children of pre-settled parents are NOT automatically British.
Settled status = ILR-equivalent: no IHS, free NHS, eligible to apply for citizenship after 12 months.
Pre-settled status is NOT lost by 2 years' absence (changed 2023) — it lapses only after 5 years' continuous absence; full settled lapses after 5 years too.
FAQ
Common questions
Frequently asked
Yes — late applications are still accepted with reasonable grounds. The original deadline was 30 June 2021 but the Home Office continues to consider late applications where there is a credible explanation.
Pre-settled status is granted to those with less than 5 years of UK residence and lasts 5 years. Settled status is granted after 5 years and is permanent — equivalent to ILR.
No, EUSS applications are completely free. There is no application fee, no IHS, and no biometrics fee.
Yes, family members of EUSS holders can apply for EU Settlement Scheme Family Permits (out of UK) or EUSS status (in UK). Non-EU partners married before 31 Dec 2020 have stronger rights.
Most straightforward applications are decided within 30 days. Complex cases or those with insufficient residence evidence take longer.
Apply for the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) on gov.uk
Free, official, no agents. Bookmark the URL — it's the only place to legally apply.