Over 8000 EU Citizens in Highland have applied for settled status

Chair of the Highland Community Planning Partnership Board Cllr Alasdair Christie
Chair of the Highland Community Planning Partnership Board Cllr Alasdair Christie

Highland’s Community Planning Partnership has welcomed figures releases by the Home Office on the number of EU citizens in Highland who have applied for EU settled status.

Chair of the Highland Community Planning Partnership Board Cllr Alasdair Christie said: “We welcome each and every EU citizen who has already applied for EU settled status and encourage those who are yet to apply to do so before the deadline. EU Citizens have made a positive contribution to the Highland area and we welcome the fact that so many have chosen to remain here. We want you to stay, prosper, raise your families and be part of all that Highland has to offer.”

Figures released today by the Home Office show that 8,610 EU Citizens in Highland have applied for EU settled status up until the end of September 2020. This is a rise of 670 since the last quarterly figure of 7,940 which related to the end of June 2020.

The application process is relatively straight forward. An applicant provides the relevant detail through an app and the Home Office make a decision on whether they are granted settled status (resident in UK for 5 or more years) or pre-settled status (resident in UK for less than 5 years). Both allow the applicant the same rights.

David Oxley, Director of Business Growth at HIE, said: “While it is not possible to put an accurate figure on the numbers of EU nationals living in Highland, a high percentage work in the Highlands and Islands in permanent staff roles, many employed mainly by larger firms and in the tourism and food and drink industries. We are encouraged that so many have chosen to remain and would urge others to do so before the deadline.”

Further details can be found at this link.

The EU Settlement Scheme was put in place as a consequence of the UK leaving the EU and there is a requirement for EU Citizens (including EEA and Swiss citizens) and their family members (including children) to apply to the Scheme in order to stay in the UK post Brexit.

EU Citizens have until 30 June 2021 to apply or 31 December 2020 in the event of a no deal.

Successful applications to the scheme will allow people to continue to be able to:

  • work in the UK
  • use the NHS for free
  • enrol in education or continue studying
  • access public funds such as benefits and pensions, if you’re eligible for them; and
  • travel in and out of the UK

More information on the EUSS can be found at GOV.UK website at this link.

1 Dec 2020