GovWire

Overview

This page gives you information on applying to the EU Settlement Scheme where your continuous residence in the UK has been affected by coronavirus.

In particular, it explains when it may be possible for you to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme where ordinarily you would have exceeded the permitted absence from the UK, and broken your period of continuous residence, but the reason for that absence is because of coronavirus.

How to apply

You can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme online.

When completing your application you will be prompted, where necessary, to upload additional evidence of your UK residence in support of your application. You should upload evidence of how coronavirus affected your ability to return to the UK within the absence otherwise permitted under the EU Settlement Scheme.

An applicant applying on a paper application form should submit this evidence together with their application.

You may be able to use alternative evidence of identity and nationality, or (if you are applying from outside the UK) of entitlement to apply from outside the UK. This is permitted if you are unable to obtain or produce a passport or national identity card due to circumstances beyond your control, or due to compelling practical or compassionate reasons, arising, in either case, from the impact of coronavirus.

For example, the closure of, or inability to travel to, an embassy or high commission may prevent you from renewing your passport or national identity card, or may mean you cannot finalise an application for a new document. These may be acceptable reasons to provide alternative evidence of identity and nationality or entitlement to apply from outside the UK.

Youll need to provide alternative evidence of your identity and nationality or entitlement to apply from outside the UK. These can include:

• a document previously issued by the Home Office
• an expired passport or national identity card
• an official document issued by the authorities of your country of origin or of the UK which confirms your identity and nationality

A paper application form is available if you need to provide alternative evidence of your identity and nationality or entitlement to apply from outside the UK.

If you need to submit your application using a paper application form, you can request a form by contacting the EU Settlement Resolution Centre. Youll need to explain why you need one when you contact us.

Each application will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and caseworkers will adopt a flexible approach when considering the evidence you have provided and apply discretion where appropriate. You may be contacted for further information or evidence to support your application where the caseworker feels this is necessary.

Absence of up to 12 months for an important reason

Under Appendix EU, your continuous qualifying period of residence will not be broken where you have been absent for a single period of up to 12 months for an important reason. Examples include pregnancy, childbirth, serious illness, study, vocational training or an overseas posting.

An important reason also includes (but is not limited to) where you can show you were:

• ill with coronavirus
• in quarantine, self-isolating or shielding in accordance with local public health guidance on coronavirus
• caring for a family member affected by coronavirus
• prevented from returning earlier to the UK due to travel disruption caused by coronavirus
• advised by your university that, due to coronavirus, your course was moved to remote learning and you were advised or allowed to return to your home country to study remotely
• advised by your university or employer not to return to the UK, and to continue studying or working remotely from your home country
• absent from the UK for another reason relating to coronavirus, for example, you left or remained outside the UK because there were fewer coronavirus restrictions elsewhere; you preferred to work or run a business from home overseas; or you would have been unemployed in the UK and preferred to rely on support from family or friends overseas

This means you can rely on any coronavirus related reason (including where you chose to leave or remain outside the UK because of the pandemic) as being an important reason permitting an absence of up to 12 months. In these circumstances, you will not have broken your continuous qualifying period of residence.

Read examples of evidence you can provide to confirm your absence and the reason for it.

Absence not intended to exceed 6 months and did not exceed 12 months

Under Appendix EU, your continuous qualifying period of residence will not be broken where, for any reason, you have been absent for no more than 6 months in any 12-month period.

However, if you intended to be absent for no more than 6 months, but exceeded this because of coronavirus, you will not be treated as exceeding the absence permitted under Appendix EU.

Where you have not been absent for a single period of more than 12 months, you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme where you can evidence that this extended absence is because of coronavirus.

This includes (but is not limited to) where you can show you were:

• ill with coronavirus
• in quarantine, self-isolating or shielding in accordance with local public health guidance on coronavirus
• caring for a family member affected by coronavirus
• prevented from returning earlier to the UK due to travel disruption caused by coronavirus
• advised by your university that, due to coronavirus, your course was moved to remote learning and you were advised or allowed to return to your home country to study remotely
• advised by your university or employer not to return to the UK, and to continue studying or working remotely from your home country, due to coronavirus
• absent from the UK for another reason relating to coronavirus, for example, you left or remained outside the UK because there were fewer coronavirus restrictions elsewhere; you preferred to work or run a business from home overseas; or you would have been unemployed in the UK and preferred to rely on support from family or friends overseas

This means you can rely on any coronavirus related reason (including where you chose to leave or remain outside the UK because of the pandemic) as the basis for requiring an absence of more than 6 months and up to 12 months. In these circumstances, you will be treated as not having broken your continuous qualifying period of residence.

Read examples of evidence you can provide to confirm your absence and the reason for it.

Absence exceeding 12 months

Under Appendix EU, your continuous qualifying period of residence will not be broken where you have been absent for a single period of up to 12 months for an important reason.

Examples of an important reason include (but are not limited to):

• pregnancy
• childbirth
• serious illness
• study
• vocational training
• an overseas posting

It also includes where, as set out above, you have been absent because of coronavirus.

However, if you have been absent for an important reason whether because of coronavirus or for another important reason but your absence has exceeded 12 months because coronavirus meant you were prevented from, or advised against, returning to the UK earlier, you have exceeded the absence permitted under Appendix EU.

You can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme where you can evidence that this extended absence is because coronavirus meant you were prevented from, or advised against, returning to the UK within 12 months and for a period thereafter.

This includes (but is not limited to) where you can show you were:

• ill with coronavirus
• in quarantine, self-isolating or shielding in accordance with local public health guidance on coronavirus
• caring for a family member affected by coronavirus
• prevented from returning earlier to the UK due to travel disruption caused by coronavirus
• advised by your university or employer not to return to the UK, and to continue studying or working remotely from your home country, due to coronavirus

This means that where, after an absence of 12 months for an important reason, coronavirus meant you were prevented from, or advised against, returning to the UK within 12 months, you will be treated as not having broken your continuous qualifying period o

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