Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Home Office has plans to provide EU citizens with physical documentation confirming their settled status after the UK leaves the EU.

The Home Office issues all EU citizens granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme with a written notice of their immigration status and their conditions of leave for staying in the UK, by email or letter, which is an official document that individuals can keep. However, due to the possibility of fraud and abuse, this document cannot be used to evidence an individual’s immigration status to work or access services. EU citizens will be able to continue using their passports and national identity cards to evidence their status in the UK until the new immigration system is introduced in 2021. EU citizens granted status under the scheme can view that status, as recorded digitally by the Home Office, and will be able to share it with others to access services they are entitled to, via an online status checking service. This digital status forms part of the move towards digital products in the UK immigration system. It is more secure and enables individuals to keep their information up to date, share it in real time, and only share the information that is required, which is not possible with a card.