•Eligibility: You can apply for settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) after completing five years of continuous residence in the UK, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man.
•Continuous Residence: The five-year period starts from when you first began continuous residence, not from when you received pre-settled status.
•Absences: If you spend more than 6 months outside the UK in any 12-month period, you may lose your eligibility for settled status.
•Switching: Once you reach five years of continuous residence, you can apply to switch from pre-settled status to settled status to secure your long-term residency rights.
•Eligibility: If you arrived in the UK by December 31, 2020, but did not meet the five-year continuous residence requirement, you could be granted pre-settled status. This status gives you leave to stay until you meet the five-year threshold.
•Post-Pre-Settled Status: After achieving continuous residence for five years, those with pre-settled status must apply for settled status.
•Continuous Residence: If you spend more than six months outside the UK in any 12-month period, you may lose continuous residence. In such cases, you may be granted another period of pre-settled status to meet the five-year requirement.
•EU Settlement Scheme: The scheme was set up before the UK left the EU to address the status of EEA citizens and their family members who lived in the UK:
•Settled Status: EEA citizens who had lived continuously in the UK for five years by December 31, 2020, were eligible for settled status, granting them indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
•Pre-Settled Status: EEA citizens who arrived before December 31, 2020, but didn’t meet the five-year requirement, could apply for pre-settled status.
•Close Family Members: Family members of EEA nationals (spouse, civil partner, children, etc.) could join them in the UK if the relationship existed on December 31, 2020, and continues when they arrive.
•Application Deadline: The deadline for applying was June 30, 2021. However, late applications may be accepted on reasonable grounds, like medical reasons or domestic abuse.
•Children and Family Members: Specific deadlines apply to children born or adopted after April 1, 2021, and to family members of British citizens returning to the UK.
•Once you have completed five years of continuous residence in the UK with pre-settled status, you must apply for settled status. If your continuous residence is broken (e.g., by being outside the UK for more than six months in a 12-month period), you may need to apply for another period of pre-settled status before becoming eligible for settled status.