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The Home Office has recently reminded EUSS participants to
maintain the personal details on Home Office systems and has
highlighted some important changes to the process for obtaining
settled status. Separately, since the Government’s upcoming
earned citizenship plans may make it significantly more difficult
for EUSS participants to qualify, we would recommend applying for
settled status and citizenship as soon as possible.

This article provides details of the Home Office’s email
alert to EUSS participants, information on the updated caseworker
guidance and sets out our advice on applying for settled status and
British citizenship.

Keeping your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
up-to-date

In its email alert, the Home Office emphasises the importance of
EUSS holders keeping their UKVI accounts up-to-date. From 25
February 2026, additional checks will be introduced to confirm the
UK immigration status of travellers to the UK. It’s therefore
important that your UKVI account details are up-to-date. If
they’re not, you may experience difficulties or delays when
travelling to and from the UK and a carrier could stop you from
boarding.

If you have a new passport or identity document since you first
applied to the EUSS, you should update your UKVI account so it contains the new
document’s details. Before travelling, make sure that the
document number, expiry date and nationality details on your travel
documents match your UKVI account details. If you’re planning
to apply for settled status under the EUSS, remember to add the new
passport or identity document details to your UKVI account before
you apply.

Changes to settled status residence
requirements

The Home Office has simplified the residence requirements that
pre-settled status holders must meet to obtain settled status under
the EUSS. You can qualify for settled status if:


You have pre-settled status;

You have been resident in the UK for at least 30 months (2.5
years) in the 5 years before you apply for settled status; and

You arrived in the UK at least 5 years ago.

Provided you meet the new 30-month rule, you won’t need to
explain any time spent outside the UK. If you were previously
refused settled status under the EUSS, you may now qualify, if you
can meet the new criteria above and you still have pre-settled
status. Any pending applications for settlement under the EUSS will
now be assessed under the new 30-month rule.

Automated grants of settled status

The alert also confirms that the Home Office is now using HMRC
tax and benefits records to automatically convert pre-settled
status to settled status, where possible. You’ll be eligible
for an automatic grant of settled status under the EUSS if:


You’re an EEA or Swiss citizen who was resident in the UK
by 23:00 on 31 December 2020; and

Your HMRC records show that you’ve lived in the UK for 5
years with less than a total 6 months of absences in any 12-month
period. The Home Office will however be updating its systems
shortly to apply the new 30-month residence rule to the automation
system.

If you’re eligible for an automated grant of settled status
but want your status recognised as soon as possible (for example if
you intend to apply for British citizenship), you can apply for
settled status manually.

It’s important to be aware that you won’t be eligible
for an automated grant of settled status under the EUSS if you:


Haven’t paid UK tax or received benefits for at least 30
months in the last 5 years;

Are a family member who isn’t from the EEA or
Switzerland;

Are under 18;

Are a joining family member and began your residence in the UK
after 31 December 2020; or

Need to meet other eligibility requirements to qualify, such as
derivative rights.

You should apply for settled status manually if you or a family
member aren’t eligible for an automated grant. If a family
member can’t apply for settled status themselves (e.g. because
they’re a child) then you can apply for them.

Applying for British citizenship

Once you have confirmation of your settled status under the
EUSS, it is easier to show your eligibility for naturalisation or
registration as a British citizen.

As the Government intends to implement an earned citizenship model with significantly
more restrictive eligibility requirements aligned to its earned
settlement proposals, we would strongly recommend that you consider
applying for settled status and citizenship under the current
system as soon as you become eligible.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.