Community Bulletin: EU Settlement Scheme

26 June 2019

EU Settlement Scheme update

The EU Settlement Scheme has been fully open to the public since 30 March 2019. As the Home Secretary confirmed to Parliament on 10 June 2019, more than 800,000 applications have been made to the Scheme, with almost 700,000 people granted status.

The EU Settlement Scheme makes it easy for EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members to get the UK immigration status they need to stay in the UK. Applications to the Scheme are free and can be made via a short, online application process. Applicants only need to complete three key steps – prove their identity, show that they live in the UK, and declare any criminal convictions.

There is plenty of time to make an application: by 30 June 2021 if the UK leaves the EU with a deal, or by 31 December 2020 if the UK leaves without a deal.

On 20 June 2019, the official statistics report was published which shows a high-level breakdown of applications made to the EU Settlement Scheme up to 31 May 2019.

Resources and support

This bulletin contains a number of resources to help you reach and support those in your network.

The aim is to gather information from organisations working in the voluntary and community sector, and who provide support services to vulnerable or at-risk EEA and Swiss citizens. It should take no longer than ten minutes to complete and the survey will close on 10 July 2019.

EU Settlement Scheme toolkit

The community leader toolkit has been developed to equip community organisations with the right tools and information to help reassure and support EEA and Swiss citizens in applying to the EU Settlement Scheme. Please click here to access the toolkit. Materials and resources include:

• Toolkit introduction – aimed at community groups and local authorities  
• Briefing pack – key information about the EU Settlement Scheme that can be used when informing staff or engaging with EU citizens
• Posters, leaflets, factsheets and flowcharts – materials for EEA and Swiss citizens  
• Social media assets – for Facebook and Twitter 
• Downloadable videos – to adverise the Scheme on social media and other platforms. Click here to download (the link will be valid for 7 days)

Communications materials within the toolkit can be used to maximise outreach to those in your network, which we would encourage you to do. This will ensure that EEA and Swiss citizens have access to important information to help them apply to the Scheme.

Translations

The EU Settlement Scheme applicant guidance is available on GOV.UK in 25 European languages and Welsh. There are also other translated assets, available here. These include:

• EU Settlement Scheme campaign poster
• Video about the Scheme
• Video about how to use the EU Exit: ID Document Check ap
• Factsheet giving an overview of the Scheme

Grant funded organisations

The Home Office has awarded up to £9 million to 57 voluntary and community sector organisations across the UK to help us reach an estimated 200,000 vulnerable or at-risk EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members.

The grant funded organisations have made a commitment to undertake extensive targeted outreach work to identify vulnerable or at-risk EEA and Swiss citizens, promote the Scheme and encourage and enable applications to be made. Their services include:  

• One-to-one immigration support
• Access to technology and language support
• Assisting individuals in gathering relevant documents

The names of all 57 grant funded organisations are available on GOV.UK. These organisations will be an excellent resource in offering assistance and support to vulnerable or at-risk citizens in relation to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Further guidance and support

EU Settlement Resolution Centre:

• Applicants can contact the EU Settlement Resolution Centre over the phone if they have questions about individual applications on 0300 123 7379 or use the online form to submit questions.
• If you have any questions about supporting EEA and Swiss citizens to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, you can contact the specific EU Settlement Resolution Centre number by calling 0300 790 0566.

Assisted Digital services:

• Additional support is available to EEA and Swiss citizens who do not have the appropriate access, skills or confidence to apply online. This includes over 300 Assisted Digital locations across the UK where people can be supported through their application.
• Assisted Digital can be contacted by calling 03333 445 675 (Mon – Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-4pm). For information on Assisted Digital visit GOV.UK.

ID Document Scanning locations:

• This service is available at over 70 locations across the UK to complete the identity verification step of the application if the applicant does not have access to the EU Exit: ID Document Check app.
• The Home Office has published a postcode checker tool which can be used to find your nearest ID document scanning location.

For more information, visit GOV.UK/eu-settled-status