2.7 million apply
for settled or
pre-settled status

17 January 2020

2,756,100 European nationals currently living in the UK are estimated to have applied for the EU Settlement Scheme. That’s according to the latest Home Office figures, as at the end of December 2019.

The EU Settlement Scheme allows those currently resident in the UK under EU law to obtain a status under the UK’s Immigration Rules. As such, it is open to all those currently here under EU law which includes the non-EEA family members of EEA and Swiss citizens.

The number of new applications received to the scheme in December rose from 142,300 (November 2019) to 163,300. With an estimated 3.5 million EU citizens currently living in the UK, a significant number of individuals are yet to apply.

Top of the charts

The highest number of settlement scheme applications received last month came from Polish nationals – 28,600. In contrast, less than 50 applications were received from nationals of Luxembourg during the same period.

Poles make up the largest European population in the UK, followed by Romanians and Italians. To date, over half million (512,300) applications to the scheme have been filed by Polish nationals.

Settled or pre-settled status

Under the scheme, EU nationals who have lived in the UK for five years or more receive settled status, whereas those people who have resided for less than five years are awarded pre-settled status.

Overall, the total number of applications that were concluded, as of 31 December 2019, was 2.45 million (2,450,100). Of these, 58% were granted settled status and 41% were granted pre-settled status.

To date, only six applications have been refused on suitability grounds.

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