New rules for Settled Status under the EUSS

The basic rules for switching from Pre-Settled Status to Settled Status under the EUSS were that the applicant must have spent five years on Pre-Settled Status and must not have spent more than six months outside the UK in any 12-month period over that five years. There were some exceptions but this was the basic scheme.

But on 16 July this rule will change. From that date the requirement will simply be that the applicant must not have spent more than 30 months outside the UK during that five-year period; in other words they must have spent at least 30 months in the UK.

Remarkably for the EUSS this change is very simple and it means just what it says. The Home Office makes this clear: the required period of 30 months in the UK “can be any 30 months within that 60-month period.” 

So an applicant could have spent long periods outside the UK in excess of six months but still qualify if they have not broken the 30-month rule. 

If you have any issues or queries about this we at GSN Immigration can try and assist you. 

Oliver Westmoreland

Senior Immigration Lawyer