The LGA has been part of a wide steering group on Settled Status, ensuring that the voice of local government is heard by the Home Office, offering advice around consultation with local government, and ensuring that all tiers and areas of local government are represented.
On 28 February 2018, the Prime Minister, Theresa May announced that EU nationals who arrived in the UK during the transition period will be allowed to stay provided they claim ‘settled status’. This would give new indefinite leave to remain status for EU citizens, who were previously resident in the UK under freedom of movement regulations. It will allow non-UK EU citizens to continue to live and work in the UK, where they will continue to be eligible for public services, public funds and pensions, and British citizenship (assuming usual requirements are met).
The applicant must be an EU citizen, or a family member of an EU citizen, resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 and not deemed a serious or persistent criminal or a threat to national security. Those with proof of five years uninterrupted residency in the UK will be granted full Settled Status; those with less than five years residence will gain Pre-Settled Status, giving the applicant limited leave to remain for five years and the right to apply for Settled Status free of charge once five years residency has been gained.
The EU Settlement Scheme is due to be rolled out from December 2018 and be fully open by March 2019. Residents will have a further six months grace period after the end of the transition period in December 2020 in which to apply.
The LGA has been part of a wide steering group on Settled Status, ensuring that the voice of local government is heard by the Home Office, offering advice around consultation with local government, and ensuring that all tiers and areas of local government are represented.