The scheme is going to be rolled out over the rest of the year before being fully released ahead of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Although a withdrawal agreement has yet to be finalised, the government has stated that the rights of EU citizens in the UK will be recognised regardless.
Applications under the scheme can be made through a smartphone app or with a computer. Rather than sending original documents to the Home Office, the smartphone or tablet app allows EU citizens to scan documents and photograph themselves with their device’s camera to prove their identity.
Simple questions will be asked relating to the applicant’s work status, home address and national insurance number. The scheme is designed to be simple for applicants, with the Home Office doing the bulk of the work.
The cost of applying will be £65 for adults and £32.50 for children. The charge will be a one-off, even for those citizens who do not yet meet the five-year minimum required for permanent residence. Those applicants will apply for ‘pre-settled status’ which can be converted to a settled status once they reach the five years residency. This ‘switch’ will be free of charge and undertaken through a similar process.
The scheme will remain open until June 2021 so EU citizens without five years residence may be able to complete an application by the end of the EU Settlement Scheme.
Scarsdale Solicitors Rochdale
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