Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that non-UK EU citizens are aware that they will need to apply for settled status if they wish to remain in the UK.

The Prime Minister has consistently made clear that protecting the status of EU citizens and their families living in the UK, and UK nationals living in the EU, was her top priority for negotiations. As agreed with the EU in March 2018, EU citizens resident in the UK will have until the end of the grace period in June 2021 to apply for the Settlement Scheme, which will enable them to continue living their lives broadly as now.

It is vital that the over three million non-UK EU citizens and their family members living in the UK understand how and when to apply to the settlement scheme. That is why the Home Office has already launched a national ‘stay informed’ awareness campaign to set out EU citizens’ rights after the UK leaves the EU and to point towards reliable sources information, including official emails from the government. In addition, the Home Office will continue regular engagement with stakeholders as we design the Scheme and develop our communications plans, so we can ensure that the Scheme reflects the needs of users and we communicate it in the most effective way possible. A new user group with organisations that support vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, children and families, victims of domestic violence and those with English as a second language, has also been established to ensure everyone has the right support.

EU citizens and their family members who would like to find out more about the Settlement Scheme and be informed when they can apply for it can sign up for email updates at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/status-of-eu-nationals-in-the-uk-what-you-need-to-know.