EU Settlement Scheme: New public test phase announced

The Home Office will launch another voluntary pilot scheme which will be open more widely for EU nationals wishing to apply early for their new immigration status.

If you missed the pilot for EU nationals working in higher education, you can still apply early for your new immigration status as part of the public test phase.

This new phase will be open from Monday 21 January 2019 and members of the public, who are EU nationals holding a biometric passport, as well as their non-EU family members holding a biometric residence card, will be able to apply.

You'll still need to use the Home Office's ‘EU Exit: Identity Document Check’ app, and appointments will be made available to book use of our Android smart phone for this purpose.

Making an application during this pilot phase is entirely voluntary and there will be no change to your current rights under EU law until the end of the planned implementation period.

As things stand, if you decide not to apply during this period, you’ll be able to do so when the scheme is fully open by 30 March 2019 and at any time up until 30 June 2021, in line with the Draft Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU.

Read the full announcement from the Home Office.


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