Changes to EU Settlement Scheme
Changes to the UK's EU Settlement Scheme outlined by the Home Office aims to convert as many as possible pre-settled status holders to having settled status without further applications on the part of the individual.
This will be implemented in phases, subject to ongoing monitoring and stakeholder engagement. You can read more about the statement of changes on GOV.UK.
Phase one
In the first phase, the Home Office will extend pre-settled status by five years shortly before it expires to ensure that nobody loses their rights for failure to make a second application to the EUSS.
After the extension has been applied, the Home Office will conduct automated checks (which have always been used to confirm eligibility under the scheme) against available government data to confirm eligibility for settled status. If a pre-settled status holder passes these checks, a grant of settled status will be issued, and their digital status will be automatically updated.
The first cohort of pre-settled status holders will shortly be notified that their status will be considered for conversion to settled status. Their digital status will be automatically updated, and they can view and share their status in the usual way.
The first grants of settled status under this process are expected to be issued in the coming weeks. Status holders will not need to take any action under this first phase.
If the Home Office does not have sufficient data to confirm eligibility for an automatic grant of settled status, they will be contacted and informed of the next steps and the need to continue meeting the requirements of their status.
Further changes
Later in 2025, the Home Office intends to expand this process to enable more eligible pre-settled status holders to be converted to settled status without an application. Cases that the Home Office was unable to convert to settled status under the first phase may be reconsidered under the expanded process.
The Homes Office is also considering the appropriate next steps for cases where a pre-settled status holder has ceased to meet the conditions of their pre-settled status by not maintaining their continuous residence in the UK and will provide further information in due course.
Feedback
The Home Office is committed to continuing to engage with stakeholders on the details of these proposals and would welcome views and feedback.
If you would like to feedback on this process, please contact internationalrecruitment@nhsconfed.org and we will compile employer feedback for the Home Office.
