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  1. Home
  2. Student Hub
  3. International student support
  4. EU Settlement Scheme

EU Settlement Scheme

What is the EU Settlement Scheme?

The EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) allows EU, EEA and Swiss citizens (and their family members) to continue living, studying and working in the UK after Brexit.

Your immigration status is digital (similar to an eVisa).

You will not usually receive a physical document.

Who is this page for?

This guidance is for students who:

  • Have pre-settled status.
  • Have settled status.
  • Need to apply late to the scheme.
  • Are unsure if they are eligible.

If you already have EUSS status

What this means for your studies

If you have pre-settled or settled status:

  • You do not need a Student visa.
  • You can study and work in the UK.

What you must do for enrolment

  • Access your digital status.
  • Generate a share code.
  • Provide it to the University.

Understanding your status

Settled status

You will usually get settled status if you have lived in the UK for a continuous five-year period. This usually means spending at least six months in any 12-month period in the UK.

If you have settled status, you can:

  • live in the UK permanently,
  • work in the UK,
  • use the NHS (if eligible),
  • study in the UK,
  • access public funds (if eligible), and
  • travel in and out of the UK

You can usually spend up to five years in a row outside the UK without losing your status (four years for Swiss citizens and their family members).

Pre-settled status

You will usually get pre-settled status if you do not yet have 5 years’ continuous residence in the UK.

If you have pre-settled status, you can:

  • work in the UK,
  • use the NHS (if eligible),
  • study in the UK,
  • access public funds (if eligible), and
  • travel in and out of the UK.

Pre-settled status does not automatically become settled status

You must apply for settled status once you have lived in the UK for five years in a row.

While your pre-settled status may be extended automatically, this does not replace the need to apply for settled status.

How to apply from pre-settled to settled status under the EU Settlement

Study abroad and continuous residence

If you have spent time outside the UK during your course, this may still count towards your continuous residence.

One period of up to 12 months outside the UK may be allowed for an important reason, including:

  • Study abroad.
  • Vocational training.

Supporting your study abroad period

If you completed a study abroad placement as part of your course at Solent University:

We can provide a letter confirming your study abroad period and the duration of your absence.

This can help support:

  • Your records
  • A future application for settled status

Contact the International Student Advice Team to request this.

If you missed the deadline

The main deadline was 30 June 2021, but you may still be able to apply.

Reasonable grounds for late applications

Late applications can be made to the EUSS by EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members who were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 and who were not able to apply by the deadline, and they should do so as soon as possible.

The UK Government has published non-exhaustive guidance on reasonable grounds for missing the deadline on GOV.UK. This sets out a wide range of circumstances which are reasonable grounds for a late application, including, but not limited to:

  • Where a parent, guardian or local authority has failed to apply on behalf of a child.
  • Where a person has or had a serious medical condition, which meant they were unable to apply by the relevant deadline.
  • If someone is a victim of modern slavery or is in an abusive relationship.
  • Someone who is isolated, vulnerable or did not have the digital skills to access the application process.
  • Where a person was unable to apply by the relevant deadline for compelling practical or compassionate reasons

Late applications should be made online at www.gov.uk/eusettlementscheme as soon as possible.

If you are NOT eligible for EUSS

If you arrived in the UK after 1 January 2021 you are not eligible for EUSS

You will need a Student visa to study. Visit our Student visa guidance page.

Keep your status and documents safe

Your immigration status is digital, so it is important to keep access to your documents.

We recommend you:

  • Save copies of your:
    • passport, and
    • status confirmation
  • Store them:
    • on your phone, and
    • in secure cloud storage (e.g. Google Drive, OneDrive)
  • Keep printed copies in a safe place

Always keep your passport details up to date in your UKVI account.

You must be able to access your status at any time.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Not generating a share code for enrolment.
  • Not updating your passport details.
  • Assuming you do not need to prove your status.
  • Not applying for settled status after pre-settled.

Need help?

Our international student advice team can support you with:

  • late applications,
  • accessing your digital status, and
  • study abroad/continuous residence queries.

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