Looking to stay in the UK after BREXIT ?
- the time may be running out
If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you and your family can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021. If your application is successful, you’ll get either settled or pre-settled status.
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal you will need to be living in the UK before 31 December 2020. However, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal you will need to be living in the UK before it leaves the EU (31 October 2019) to apply. The deadline for applying will then be 31 December 2020.
Settled status
You’ll usually get settled status if you’ve:
- started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 (or by the date the UK leaves the EU without a deal)
- lived in the UK for a continuous 5-year period (known as ‘continuous residence’)
Five years’ continuous residence means that for 5 years in a row you’ve been in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for at least 6 months in any 12 month period
If you do not have 5 years’ continuous residence when you apply, you’ll usually get pre-settled status. You must have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 (or by the date the UK leaves the EU without a deal).
You can then apply to change this to settled status once you’ve got 5 years’ continuous residence.
If you want to spend time outside the UK
If you have settled status, you can spend up to 5 years in a row outside the UK without losing your status.
If you’re a Swiss citizen, you and your family members can spend up to 4 years in a row outside the UK without losing your settled status.
If you have pre-settled status, you can spend up to 2 years in a row outside the UK without losing your status. You will need to maintain your continuous residence if you want to qualify for settled status.
Your rights with settled or pre-settled status
You’ll be able to:
- work in the UK
- use the NHS
- enrol in education or continue studying
- access public funds such as benefits and pensions, if you’re eligible for them
- travel in and out of the UK
EU Settlement Scheme and Cyprus Investment Program
The opportunity offered by Cyprus Investment Program may be lost if the UK leaves the EU without a deal if you have not yet obtained your citizenship.
If they reached a Withdrawal Agreement you would have until the end of 2020 to settle down in the UK as an EU citizen, leaving you time to apply for and obtain your Cyprus citizenship.