EU Settlement Scheme - less than 20 days left to apply

The Home Office has reported receiving 63,872 applications for British citizenship from EU nationals in the year ending 31st March - a 45% increase compared to the same period last year.

As the 30th June end date of the EU Settlement Scheme approaches, Europeans now account for more than a third of the 5.4 million citizenship applications received for the scheme.

EU nationals are once again reminded that in order to maintain their right to work, study, and access to free healthcare and benefits in the UK after the 30th June, all EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and family members who were resident in the UK by 31st December 2020 should apply without delay.

Although it is not an employers responsibility to ensure that EU workers have applied, with less than 20 days remaining before the end of the scheme, it is recommended that businesses remind such workers of the deadline and pass on information provided in the employer toolkit available here where necessary.

Employers will not need to carry out retrospective right to work checks on existing employees after the 30th June deadline, however from 1st July, new EU, EEA and Swiss employees that are hired will need to demonstrate their right to work either with the pre-settled or settled status, or with a visa under the points-based immigration system.