GovWire

You may be able to apply for status under the EU Settlement Scheme from outside the UK.

If youre from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you must use your current valid passport or national identity card with a biometric chip.

If youre not from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you must use your UK residence card with a biometric chip.

You must use the EU Exit: ID Document Check app to verify that youre entitled to apply from outside the UK.

Otherwise, you will need to apply for anEUSettlement Scheme family permitto come to the UK. Once youre in the UK, you can apply to theEUSettlement Scheme.

If youre a family member of a qualifying British citizen, you cannot use the online service and must contact the Resolution Centre onlineto apply if you are eligible to do so.

If youre joining your family member from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

Youll need to prove your relationship and show that your family member from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein has been granted settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

If youre applying as the family member of a qualifying British citizen

You can only apply if you either:

• already have pre-settled status as the family member of a qualifying British citizen
• entered the UK with an EU Settlement Scheme family permit as the family member of a qualifying British citizen

If youre able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme from outside the UK (because you have already returned to the UK with your qualifying British citizen family member and are currently overseas again) youll need to show proof of your:

• identity
• continuous residence
• relationship to your family member
• family members identity and continuous residence

You can use the same evidence you used to apply for your EU Settlement Scheme family permit where you have one.

If your family permit has expired, youll need to show reasonable grounds for your delay in applying.

If you cannot scan your document

If youre from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and cannot verify your passport or national identity card using the app, we may ask you to send your document to us by post. You should consider whether local laws mean that you cannot post your identity document.

If youre not from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and the app does not scan the biometric chip in your UK residence card, contact the Resolution Centre. You should not send this document to the UK by post.

If you cannot post your identity document

Some countries do not allow identity documents to be sent across national borders or require you to keep the document on your person. Please consult your local authority to confirm if youre allowed to post your identity document to the UK.

If youre not able to post your identity document to us, contact the Resolution Centre.

These countries include:

• Afghanistan
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Bangladesh
• Belarus
• Burundi
• Cameroon
• Chad
• Congo (Brazzaville)
• Cuba
• Egypt
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Gambia
• Georgia
• Ghana
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel
• Jamaica
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kenya
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos
• Liberia
• Libya
• Morocco
• Nepal
• Nigeria (and Benin)
• North Korea
• Northern Cyprus
• Pakistan
• Russia
• Rwanda
• Sierra Leone
• Sri Lanka
• Sudan
• Tajikistan
• Tunisia
• Turkmenistan
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan
• Venezuela
• Vietnam
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe