You’ll be given settled status if you have: 

• started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 
• lived in the UK for a continuous 5-year period (“continuous residence”)

Five years’ continuous residence means that for 5 years in a row you’ve been in the UK for at least 6 months in any 12-month period, except for:

• one period of up to 12 months for a significant reason (such as study, childbirth, serious illness, vocational education/training or an overseas job posting)
• mandatory military service

If you get settled status, you only need to apply once to the EU Settlement Scheme.

If you haven’t lived in the UK for a continuous 5-year period (continuous residence) when you apply, you’ll be given pre-settled status. You must have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 (or by the date the UK leaves the EU without a deal).

You can later apply to change your pre-settled status to settled status when you’ve lived in the UK for a continuous 5-year period.

If you would have lived in the UK for a continuous 5-year period before 30 December 2020, then you can choose to wait to apply. This implies that if your application is successful, you’ll get settled status without applying for pre-settled status first.

You are allowed to stay in the UK for another 5 years from the date you get pre-settled status.

If you have settled status, you are allowed to stay in the UK for as long as wish.

You can also:

• you can apply for British citizenship, provided that you are eligible
• use the National Health Service (NHS)
• work in the UK
• study in the UK
• travel in and out of the UK
• access public funds such as pensions and benefits, provided that you’re eligible 

You’re also allowed to bring close relatives to the UK after 31 December 2020 if both of the following apply:

• your relationship with them started before 31 December 2020
• you are still in the relationship when they apply to join you

If your relationship with them started after 31 December 2020, they will only be allowed into the UK on a family visa.

A child will automatically become a British citizen if he/she is born in the UK.

Anyone who has settled status can spend up to 5 years in a row outside the UK without losing his/her status.

If you have pre-settled status, you can spend up to 2 years in a row outside the UK without losing your status, but you will have to maintain your continuous residence if you want to qualify for settled status.

If you get settled status, your children who are born in the UK while you’re living here will automatically be British citizens.

If you get pre-settled status, your children who are born in the UK while living here will automatically be eligible for pre-settled status.  

They can only become British citizens if they are qualified through their other parent.