Brexit - right to work in the UK

The EU transition period is ending on 31st December 2020 and there are implications for organisations that employ EU citizens.

Following the departure of the UK from the European Union (EU), there are new Government requirements for EU Nationals in relation to their continued right to work in the UK.

Immigration laws are changing in the UK and the Government has put an EU Settlement Scheme in place to provide EU Nationals with confirmation of their right to work in the UK.

The Scheme will grant either ‘settled status’ or ‘pre-settled status’, depending on how long your employees have lived in the UK when they make the application. 

- If they have five years’ or more continuous residence, they should receive ‘settled status’ which entitles them to remain in the UK permanently or

- If they have less than five years’ residence, they should receive ‘pre-settled status’ which entitles them to remain until they have been in the UK for five years at which point they can upgrade to ‘settled status’.

The Scheme is open for applications at the following link: www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
It is free to apply. Applications must be made by the scheme's deadline of 30 June 2021.

If your employees already have indefinite leave to remain in the UK, they do not have to apply to the Scheme. However, they may choose to change to ‘settled status’ without paying a fee. Irish nationals do not need to apply.