Following the UK's departure from the European Union (EU), EU passport holders had to consider how they would remain legally in the country. At the time of the 2021 UK Census, 5.34 million EU passport holders were living in the UK.
The EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) is the central pillar of the UK’s ongoing relationship with EU citizens within the country. In April 2026, though, the UK Home Office updated the scheme, with changes impacting millions of EU citizens. Here’s what these changes are, and what they mean for you.
From the 9th of April 2026, the UK Home Office has implemented expanded automatic conversions of pre-settled status to settled status for migrants applying to stay in the UK under the EUSS.
The new process utilises automated checks of government-held data, including tax and welfare records, to upgrade anyone eligible for settled status without requiring them to make a new application.
However, be aware that the automated process won’t necessarily cover non-EEA family members, known as “joining family members”, who arrived after the 31st of December, 2020. If you’re eligible for automatic conversion to settled status, you’ll receive an email notifying you of the new change in your status.
Effectively, you won’t have to do anything if you receive one of these emails, as the immigration system will have already altered your status. Let’s go deeper into the main changes as of April 2026.
The “30 in 60” rule aims to add more flexibility to the current system. Under this rule, you’ll automatically be upgraded to settled status if you have at least 30 months of residency in the UK over the past 60 months.
If you’re not eligible right now for settled status, this doesn’t mean you automatically lose your right to stay in the UK. Instead, your pre-settled status will be automatically extended by five years just before it expires. This ensures that you preserve your rights to remain in the country.
Pre-settled status can still be removed, but the process has changed. The UK Home Office is focusing on curtailing pre-settled status for those who haven’t maintained continuous residence in the UK.
For example, one of the benchmarks is individuals who have been outside of the country for five years or more.
Essentially, the Home Office uses the same automated systems to find individuals with pre-settled status who don’t meet the requirements of the program anymore. They’ll check tax and benefits data, but the new process also examines any travel data held by the Home Office.
Our Immigration Lawyers Can Help with Settled Status
The good news is that if you already have pre-settled status and you’re eligible for settled status, the system will do everything for you. You’ll receive an email once your status has been automatically changed to settled.
However, be aware that automatic conversion doesn’t apply to everyone. Groups that will still have to use the manual process include:
If you don’t meet the residency requirement currently, your status will likely be extended by five years just before it expires. On the other hand, if you’ve spent more than five consecutive years outside of the UK, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands, your pre-settled status could be curtailed.
The requirements to convert to settled status are stricter, though, with residents required to spend at least 30 of the last 60 months in the country.
If you don’t currently meet this requirement and you’re expecting an extension, you should still apply for settled status as soon as you’re eligible. Don’t wait to receive an email. You can also check your UKVI dashboard to check your status.
Settled status, or Indefinite Leave to Remain, means you can stay, live and work in the UK, whilst also being able to travel outside the country freely. Currently, 4.4 million settled status grants have been provided under the EUSS.
With the automatic approval of settled status applicants in progress, here’s how to prepare for these changes:
Update Your UKVI Account – Check your UKVI account to ensure it has up-to-date contact details and current passport/ID information, so that you can receive notifications of any changes to your status.
Apply Manually, If Not Automatic – If you haven’t been upgraded automatically, you may need to apply manually if you know you already meet the residency requirements.
Prepare for Potential Removal – The Home Office is using the same automated checks to identify those who no longer meet the requirements of the program. Monitor your emails, gather evidence of your presence in the UK, and speak to an immigration lawyer to preserve your right to remain.
Learn More About Settled Status and New Updates
If you’re eligible but haven’t met the residency requirements in April 2026, it doesn’t mean you’re on the cusp of being removed from the UK. Instead, check your UKVI dashboard and your email account for notification of your automatic extension.
Don’t panic if your pre-settled status hasn’t been extended yet, because you typically won’t receive an extension until roughly two months before your pre-settled status is due to expire. If you’re unsure of your status or you’re worried that it might be removed, speak to a specialised immigration advisor at Latitude Law. For your free consultation, contact us now.
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