EU Settlement Scheme application numbers continue to grow

New figures show that 300,000 EU citizens applied through the EU Settlement Scheme in August.

This takes the number of applications that have been made through the scheme since it opened earlier this year to around 1.5 million.

Over 1.2 million applications had been received from individuals living in England, with marked increases also seen in applications from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Complete applications are typically being processed within one to four days.

The highest number of applications came from Polish nationals, with over 60,000 applications in August – more than double the number received in July.

“We’ve been crystal clear – EU citizens are our friends and neighbours, and we want them to stay in the UK. I am delighted that over 1.5 million people have already applied,” said Brandon Lewis, Minister of State for the Home Office.

The EU Settlement Scheme is designed to make it straightforward for EU citizens and their family members to stay after the UK leaves the EU. To apply they only need to complete three key steps – prove their identity, show that they live in the UK and declare any criminal convictions.

“We welcome the EU Settlement Scheme’s progress with over 1.5 million people having now applied for the status they need in order to live and work in the UK after Brexit,” said Pam Gill, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at The Refugee and Migrant Centre.

“At the Refugee and Migrant Centre, we support EU citizens and their families in the Black Country and Birmingham to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme and we have already assisted over 3,500 people with this simple and straightforward process.

“We want to do more and we encourage all eligible EU citizens and their families to apply so that they too can feel confident about their future in the United Kingdom after Brexit.”

Deal or no deal, EU citizens and their family members will have until at least 31st December 2020 to apply.

Article published 16th September 2019