Immigration: EU Nationals

(asked on 27th March 2019) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of issuing settled status documentation as proof of status to successful applicants of the EU settlement scheme.


Answered by
Caroline Nokes Portrait
Caroline Nokes
This question was answered on 1st April 2019

The Home Office will not issue a physical document to EU citizens granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme. Those granted status under the scheme will be given a digital status, as part of moving the UK immigration system to digital by default. The future border and immigration system will make use of the latest digital technology to improve customer experience, increase security and detect abuse.


EU citizens granted status under the scheme can access information about their immigration status and entitlements via a secure online service. Individuals will control who they wish to share this with to demonstrate their status and to exercise their rights under the Withdrawal Agreement. With online services, we can ensure that checkers see only the information that is relevant and proportionate to their need. Using a physical document as evidence of status, as has been the practice to date, does none of this.


It can also cause significant problems when documents are lost, stolen, damaged, expired or in the process of being renewed. Physical documents are also far more open to forgery and fraud, something we must seek avoid. Additionally, there are individuals whose documents are controlled by others – for examples, in cases of domestic violence, modern slavery and human trafficking. Moving to an online status is a step forward in tackling those who seek to control others. A digital status is also much easier to use for visually impaired and dyslexic users who may have difficulty reading a physical document.

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