Applying for pre-settled and settled status

You usually have to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme online. There are a few situations when you must use a paper form.

You don’t need to be in the UK to apply.

You don’t have to do the online application in one go - you can save your answers and come back later. You have 70 days to fill in your application. If you don’t finish it in that time, it will be withdrawn and you’ll have to apply again. Your application will not be considered until you’ve finished it.

If you’re from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland you might be asked to have your fingerprints scanned and a photo taken. You’ll only have to do this if you don’t have a residence card with a biometric chip. Your application will not be considered until you’ve had your appointment.

Before you start you should check the deadlines and gather everything you need to apply. 

Check if you must use a paper form

You must apply on a paper form if you’re not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and you’re:

• a family member of a British citizen and you lived with them outside the UK in an EU or EEA country or Switzerland

• a family member of an EEA citizen who’s become a British citizen

• a carer for a British, EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

You must also apply on a paper form if you don’t have or can’t get hold of your passport or national identity card.

Contact your nearest Citizens Advice if you think you need to apply on a paper form.

Starting the application

You can start the application online or on an Android smartphone. First, you have to prove your identity using your identity document.

Your identity document is your:

• passport or national identity card if you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
• passport, residence card or permit with a biometric chip if you’re from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland

If you’re applying from outside the UK

You must use the Home Office app to scan your identity document. You can’t start your application online.

If you don’t want to send in your identity document

You should start your application on an Android smartphone if you don’t want to send your identity document to the Home Office.

You use the Home Office app to scan your document. Your document must have a biometric chip. If it has a chip, it will have this symbol on it:

If you’re from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you can only scan your biometric residence card, not your passport or residence permit. If you don’t have a biometric residence card, you’ll have to start the application online and send in your passport or residence permit.

Using the Android app

You can use your phone or someone else’s. The phone doesn’t store the details of your identity document.

After you’ve scanned the document you’ll be taken to the online application form.

Check if the app will work on your Android smartphone

Your phone needs to have Near Field Communication (‘NFC’) - the contactless technology that lets you use your phone to pay for things.

Find out if your Android phone has NFC on Google.

Download the app from the Google Play Store.

If the app doesn’t scan your identity document

Phone the EU Settlement Scheme Resolution Centre if you can’t get the app to scan your identity document. They can talk you through how to do it.

If you can't use an Android smartphone

If you don't have an Android phone or you can't borrow someone else's, you have 2 options:

1. Go to a document scanning centre - you usually have to pay for this service.
2. Start the application online and fill in the details of your identity document. You have to upload a digital photo of yourself and post your identity document to the Home Office at the end of the application

Start your application online on GOV.UK.

If you're having problems finishing your application

Contact your nearest Citizens Advice if you're worried about:

• answering questions on the application form
• what evidence you should upload

Logging in to your application

Contact the EU Settlement Scheme Resolution Centre if you're having trouble logging back in to your application.

If you’re having problems with your paper form

It might take a few weeks for the Home Office to send out a paper form after you’ve asked for one. If it has not arrived, contact the EU Settlement Scheme Resolution Centre.

It will arrive with some of your details already filled in. You can correct mistakes on the form - for example if your name is spelled wrong. You should contact the EU Settlement Scheme Resolution Centre to tell them what changes you’ve made.

Changing your application after you submit it

Contact the EU Settlement Scheme Resolution Centre to:

• correct mistakes - for example if you accepted pre-settled status and you want settled status
• change any of your details - for example, your home address

You can change your email address and phone number online on GOV.UK.

Getting and proving your status

The Home Office will email you a letter to tell you what status they’ve given you.

Find out what to do if you disagree with the decision.

You need to view and prove your status online. The link will be in your decision letter.

Find out more about how you prove your status on GOV.UK.

Viewing your child’s status

Your child will have their own online status. You’ll need the email address or phone number you use to apply to view and update your child’s status.

Keeping your status up to date

You need to update your online status if you renew or replace the identity document you used to apply or you change your name.  

Find out how to update your details online for the EU Settlement Scheme on GOV.UK.