Brexit

Rights for EU citizens and their families

The deadline for applying to the EU Settlement Scheme was of 30th June 2021 and has now passed. Those who are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme can still apply for settled or pre-settled status but applicants must explain and prove why they were unable to apply before the deadline. More information can be found here.

Free support with late applications is still available. Residents in Scotland who need help with their late EUSS application can contact  the Citizens Rights Project for assistance.

The Home Office have also produced a suite of toolkits and At a Glance leaflets for a number of groups.

Factsheet Collections:

Information for late applicants
Information for those who have status already or a pending application

Toolkits:

Guidance for community groups
Guidance for landlords
Guidance for employers

At a Glance Leaflets:

Factsheet for late applicants
Factsheet for those who have status already or a pending application

EU citizens in Scotland who have successfully applied to the EU Settlement scheme have the right to vote, work and access healthcare, education, housing and benefits. 

People who, by 31 December 2020, have been continuously and lawfully living here for 5 years will be able to apply to stay indefinitely by getting ‘settled status’. This status means that EU Citizens can continue to be eligible for public services, such as health care and schools, public funds and pensions and British citizenship.

People who arrive by 31 December 2020, but won’t have been living here lawfully for 5 years when we leave the EU, will be able to apply to stay until they have reached the 5-year threshold. They can then also apply for settled status

Family members who are living with, or join, EU citizens in the UK by 31 December 2020 will also be able to apply for settled status, usually after 5 years in the UK

Close family members (spouses, civil and unmarried partners, dependent children and grandchildren, and dependent parents and grandparents) will be able to join EU citizens after exit, where the relationship existed on 31 December 2020

EU citizens with settled status or temporary permission to stay will have the same access as they currently do to healthcare, pensions and other benefits in the UK.

The EU Settlement Scheme is free and the application process can be done online by downloaded the EU Exit: ID Document check on android or apple.

As part of the EU Citizens Support Settlement Scheme, run by Citizens Advice Scotland individuals can also contact a specialist helpline for free, confidential advice on 0800 916 9847. Lines are open:

  • Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

In addition to this if you need help, or if you employ, support, provide services or simply know people that might be facing barriers to apply, there is FREE SUPPORT AVAILABLE. You can contact the Citizens’ Rights Project at info@citizensrightsproject.org or 07518 926137. We can answer your questions and/or help you with your application. We can also provide language support and offer free referrals to other organisations. We are certified to provide EUSS advice by OISC [Ref no, N201900077].

More information can be found at: