Information for staff

You’ll usually get settled status if you’ve:

• started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 AND
• lived in the UK for a continuous 5-year period (known as ‘continuous residence’)

Five years’ continuous residence means that for 5 years in a row you’ve been in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for at least 6 months in any 12 month period. The exceptions are:

• one period of up to 12 months for an important reason (for example, childbirth, serious illness, study, vocational training or an overseas work posting)
• compulsory military service of any length
• time you spent abroad in the armed forces, or as the family member of someone in the armed forces

You can stay in the UK as long as you like if you get settled status. You’ll also be able to apply for British citizenship if you’re eligible.

If you do not have 5 years’ continuous residence when you apply, you’ll usually get pre-settled status. You must have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020.

You can then apply to change this to settled status once you’ve got 5 years’ continuous residence. You must do this before your pre-settled status expires.

Click here for further guidance about the scheme.

The EU Settlement Scheme is open. You can apply now if you meet the criteria.

The deadline for applying is 30 June 2021, but it is strongly advisable to apply as soon as possible.

You can apply for settled or pre-settled status depending on when you make your application.

The EU Settlement Scheme is free to apply.

You need a valid passport or national identity card. You also need to provide a digital photo of your face.

If you’re not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you can use any of the following:

• valid passport
• biometric residence card
• biometric residence permit

If you do not have any of these you may be able to use other evidence in certain situations.

Family members living in the UK will be eligible to apply. You can apply for your family members via the government website.

Contact the EU Settlement Resolution Centre.  You can contact them by phone on 0300 123 7379 (Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays), 8am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday, 9:30am to 4:30pm)

To be eligible for settled status, you usually need to have lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for at least 6 months in any 12-month period for 5 years in a row. You need to provide proof of this when you apply. Usually providing your National Insurance Number during the application process will confirm your UK Residence, however if you are asked to provide more information or are unsure of the evidence you can provide, please see the guidance on evidencing UK residence.

If you’ve not lived here for 5 years in a row you may still be eligible for pre-settled status.

European language translation of the settled status guidance can be found on the UK government website.

You will be required to hold a UK permanent resident status for 12 months through the EU settlement Scheme before making an application to apply for UK citizenship. 

To apply you need a permanent resident document to prove your status.

There is a fee associated with the UK permanent residence. The government website holds up to date guidance and fee information.

There will be no change to right to work checks until 1 January 2021 and at present there is no requirement for us to ask EU, EEA or Swiss citizen staff to provide evidence of their status under the Settled Status scheme, or undertake retrospective checks.

All existing EU, EEA or Swiss citizen staff have been informed in line with Government guidance that in order for them to live, work and study in the UK after free movement between the UK and EU has ended, it is necessary to apply for settled status or pre-settled status by 30 June 2021.  

New employees can provide evidence of their right to work using any of the following until 1 January 2021:

• their valid passport or national identity card if they’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
• their valid biometric residence card if they’re a non-EU, EEA or Swiss citizen family member
• their status under the EU Settlement Scheme using the Home Office’s online right to work checking service.

Any new EU, EEA or Swiss citizen staff who were resident in the UK before 31 December 2020, can continue to provide evidence of their right to work using the methods noted above until 30 June 2021. As of 1 October 2021, EU/EEA and Swiss nationals will be required to enter the UK with their passports, you will no longer be able to enter the UK using your national ID card.

On 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) departed from the European Union (EU) and entered a transition period which ends on 31 December 2020. As of January 2021, the freedom of movement that currently allows EU citizens the right to live and work will come to end. 

The UK has introduced a UK points-based immigration system. The new system will treat EU and non-EU citizens equally.  Anyone coming to the UK to work, excluding Irish citizens, will need to apply for permission to work in the UK through this system in advance.

For more information about the UK points-based immigration system, visit the government website.

The new system will not apply to EU citizens living in the UK by 31 December 2020. You and your family members are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme and have until 30 June 2021 to make an application.

As a transition measure, EU citizens can continue to provide their passports and national identity cards as evidence of their right to work up until 30 June 2021.

Any new EU, EEA or Swiss citizen staff who were not resident in the UK before 31 December 2020 (not qualifying to apply for settled or pre-settled status), will need to apply and successfully obtain a visa under the new points-based immigration system in advance of commencing employment.  For more information on the points-based immigration system please visit the government website.

If you want to visit Europe after Brexit, you should check your passport, health insurance, and driving documentation.  The below Government Link provide further information:

• Gov.uk advice and guidance on visiting Europe after Brexit
• Gov.uk advice for UK nationals currently living and working in the EU

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows any EU citizen to access state medical care at a reduced cost or for free when travelling to a country within the EEA countries. There will be no changes to healthcare access for residents from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland living in the UK on or before 31 December 2020.

Up until 31 December 2020 EU citizens have the benefit from free mobile roaming. This could change after 1 January 2021. To prepare yourself, you can search the internet for information about UK mobile network providers or contact your phone provider to find out more.

If you’re planning on driving in the EU, you may need some extra documents from 01 January 2020. See the Gov.uk advice on driving in Europe after Brexit.

After Brexit, you may need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in some countries.  If you are taking your own vehicle, you might also need a ‘green card’ or valid proof of insurance and a GB sticker.

Leicester is a vibrant ad multicultural city based in the heart of Leicester. For more information to help you plan where to eat or shop visit Leicester.

We will endeavour to keep this page up to date, but the situation is changing frequently and therefore we would always encourage you to check the government and University Sector advice websites for the most up to date information which can be found under the support section below.