Living in the UK with EU Settled Status (2025 Update)

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss national living in the UK, your EU Settled Status plays a vital role in securing your right to live, work and stay in the country long-term. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about living in the UK with settled or pre-settled status in 2025 including your rights, what has changed, and what steps to take next.

What Is EU Settled Status in the UK?

EU Settled Status is a form of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) granted under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). It gives you the legal right to live in the UK permanently, with access to public services and benefits similar to a British citizen.

If you applied before the deadline and had lived in the UK continuously for five years, you were typically granted full settled status. If you had lived in the UK for less than five years, you likely received pre-settled status, which is a temporary form of leave that can now convert automatically to settled status after 5 years.

Rights You Have With EU Settled Status

With settled status, you have:

• The right to live and work in the UK with no restrictions
• Access to NHS healthcare
• The right to rent property
• Public benefits and pensions, subject to eligibility
• The ability to study or start a business
• The right to apply for British citizenship once you’re eligible

You can also be away from the UK for up to five continuous years without losing your settled status.

Children born in the UK after you gain settled status are automatically British.

Who Needed to Apply for Settled Status?

The EUSS applied to:

• EU, EEA or Swiss citizens living in the UK by 31 December 2020
• Non-EU family members of those citizens (spouse, partner, child, parent, etc.)
• People with permanent residence cards or other historical statuses

Irish citizens did not need to apply. However, non-EU family members of Irish citizens might have needed to, depending on their circumstances.

In some cases, family members were still able to join their EU relatives in the UK after Brexit if the relationship existed before 31 December 2020 and they applied by 29 March 2022.

Pre-Settled Status vs Settled Status

What’s the difference?

• Pre-settled status: granted to those with less than 5 years’ residence at the time of application. Originally valid for 5 years.
• Settled status: given to those with 5+ years’ continuous residence in the UK.

What’s changed?

Previously, you had to reapply to upgrade from pre-settled to settled status. But that rule changed after a 2022 High Court decision. The Home Office confirmed in July 2023 that from September 2023, anyone with pre-settled status will:

• Receive automatic 2 year extensions if not yet upgraded
• Be automatically upgraded to settled status once they meet the 5 year requirement, based on government records

You no longer need to reapply unless contacted by the UKVI.

See the latest UKVI guidance

Proving and Checking Your Settled Status

You don’t receive a physical document for your settled status. Instead, your status is digital and can be accessed online.

To view or prove your status, visit the UKVI online service. You’ll need:

• Your passport or national ID used during your EUSS application
• Access to your registered mobile number or email

You can generate a share code to prove your status to:

• Employers (for right to work checks)
• Landlords (for right to rent checks)
• Universities or public services

Check your Home Office status here

Does Settled Status Expire?

Settled status is indefinite it does not expire, but it can be lost if:

• You leave the UK for more than 5 continuous years
• You commit a serious criminal offence and the Home Office decides to revoke your status

So long as you maintain a UK presence and abide by the rules, your rights will remain secure.

Can You Get British Citizenship With Settled Status?

Yes, settled status is one of the key requirements for becoming a British citizen.

Most applicants must:

• Have held settled status for 12 months
• Pass the Life in the UK Test
• Meet the English language requirement
• Have not spent more than 450 days outside the UK in the last 5 years

However, if you’re married to a British citizen, you can apply immediately after receiving settled status.

Once naturalised, you can apply for a British passport.

What If You Missed the EU Settled Status Deadline?

The general deadline was 30 June 2021, but there are exceptions. You can still apply late if:

• You were unable to apply for medical or personal reasons
• You are a victim of domestic abuse
• You are the family member of an EU citizen and meet eligibility rules

The Home Office considers these late applications on a case by case basis.

No Time Limit (NTL) Applications – An Alternative Route

If you had Indefinite Leave to Enter or Remain (ILE/ILR) before Brexit but don’t have proof, you might qualify for a No Time Limit (NTL) application.

An NTL grants you a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) to prove your lawful status. This is useful if:

• Your old documents are lost or expired
• You want a modern, digital record for work or travel

You do not need to apply for NTL if you already have settled status under the EUSS.

Apply for NTL via the Home Office

What Is the EUSS Family Permit?

This permit allowed non-EU family members to join EU relatives in the UK. Eligible family members included:

• Spouses and civil partners
• Unmarried partners (durable relationships)
• Dependent children, parents, grandparents

As of 8 August 2023, this route closed for Surinder Singh and Zambrano cases (family members of British citizens). Any future applications must follow the standard family immigration rules.

How the Home Office and UKVI Handle Settled Status

The Home Office is responsible for maintaining your digital status and applying changes or upgrades automatically. You don’t need to contact them unless:

• Your circumstances change
• You change your passport or ID
• You lose access to your registered email or phone

Both the Home Office and UKVI provide updated information on their websites and email you about any status updates.

Real Life Example: Pre-Settled Status Upgraded Automatically

Maria, a Portuguese national, moved to Manchester in 2018. She applied for pre-settled status in 2020 and continued living and working in the UK. In March 2024, she received an email from the Home Office confirming her status had automatically been converted to settled status no application required.

Maria is now planning to apply for British citizenship in 2025.

Common Questions About Living with Settled Status in the UK

What is settled status?

It means you have indefinite leave to remain in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Does settled status mean permanent residence?

Yes, you can live in the UK as long as you like. It gives full access to work, study, healthcare, and benefits.

Can you lose settled status?

Only if you leave the UK for over 5 years or commit serious criminal offences.

Can I apply for a British passport?

You must be a British citizen first. Settled status is the first step toward that.

Speak to Immigration Solicitors in Manchester

If you’re unsure about your EU Settled Status, pre-settled upgrades, or applying for British citizenship, it’s important to get legal guidance tailored to your situation.

Contact trusted Solicitors in Manchester today for help with:

• EU Settlement Scheme queries
• ILR and NTL applications
• Citizenship or passport advice

Call 0161 464 4140 or Book an appointment online