Settled vs pre-settled status: what is the difference?

Settled status and pre-settled status are the two outcomes of the EU Settlement Scheme. Settled status gives the right to live in the UK permanently and is usually granted after 5 years of continuous residence. Pre-settled status is granted to people with less than 5 years and can later become settled status.

How settled and pre-settled status work

The EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) is for people from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and their family members. If an application succeeds, the person gets either settled or pre-settled status.^{[1]Home Office, Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)} The applicant does not choose. Which one they get usually depends on how long they have lived in the UK when they apply.^{[2]Home Office, Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme: What you will get}

Settled status usually goes to people with a continuous 5-year period of residence in the UK. Pre-settled status is for those with less.^{[2]Home Office, Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme: What you will get} You can read more about the scheme on our EU Settlement Scheme page.

The deadline to apply for most people was 30 June 2021. That deadline does not apply if you already have pre-settled status and are applying for settled status.^{[1]Home Office, Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)}

Main differences

The figures in the table come from GOV.UK.^{[2]Home Office, Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme: What you will get}

Time outside the UK

With settled status you can spend up to 5 years in a row outside the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man without losing your status. If you enter the UK for any amount of time during that period, you can spend up to 5 more years outside. Swiss citizens and their family members have 4 years in the same way.^{[2]Home Office, Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme: What you will get}

With pre-settled status you must keep your continuous residence. GOV.UK says the Home Office may cancel the status if you do not. You lose it automatically if you spend more than 5 years in a row outside the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.^{[2]Home Office, Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme: What you will get} See our page on continuous residence.

Moving from pre-settled to settled status

You will usually be eligible for settled status once you have lived in the UK for 5 years in a row. It is free to apply.^{[1]Home Office, Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)} To convert, GOV.UK says you must not have been outside the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for more than either of the following:

• 30 months (2.5 years) in the last 5 years
• 6 months in any 12-month period within any 5-year period, with some exceptions

Your status may be converted automatically. You will get an email from the Home Office saying if they are considering it, and another saying whether you have been converted. You can also apply as soon as you are eligible, but you should not apply if you have had the email saying you are being considered for conversion.^{[3]Home Office, Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme: Convert pre-settled status to settled status}

Pre-settled status is extended by 5 years before it is due to expire. You will be sent an email when this happens. After the extension it may be converted automatically. The Home Office can cancel the extension if it thinks you no longer meet the requirements.^{[1]Home Office, Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)}

Citizenship

You can usually apply for British citizenship once you have held settled status for 12 months.^{[3]Home Office, Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme: Convert pre-settled status to settled status} People with pre-settled status may be able to apply if they are from the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 (or are their family member) and have lived in the UK for 5 years in a row while working, studying or being self-sufficient.^{[4]Home Office, Apply for citizenship if you have indefinite leave to remain or 'settled status'}

Example

Marta is Polish. She came to the UK in September 2019 and has pre-settled status. She wants to know what happens to it. Because her pre-settled status was granted with less than 5 years in the UK, it is temporary. GOV.UK says it will be extended by 5 years before it expires.

Once she has lived in the UK for 5 years in a row, she is usually eligible for settled status. She can wait for automatic conversion or apply herself. If she applies, she must show she was not outside the UK for more than 30 months in the last 5 years or more than 6 months in any 12-month period, apart from the listed exceptions. This example uses invented facts. It is not advice on a real case.

What people get wrong

Many people think pre-settled status must be renewed by applying again. GOV.UK says it will be extended by 5 years before it expires, and it may be converted to settled status automatically. The risk is different: the Home Office can cancel pre-settled status if the person no longer meets the continuous residence requirements.

A second mistake is to assume the two statuses give the same position for children. GOV.UK says a child born in the UK to a parent with settled status is automatically British. With pre-settled status the child is eligible for pre-settled status and is British only if they qualify through their other parent.^{[2]Home Office, Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme: What you will get}

The bottom line

Settled status is permanent and usually follows 5 years of continuous residence. Pre-settled status is temporary and can become settled status. The time you can spend abroad, the effect on children and the route to citizenship all differ. If you hold pre-settled status, watch your time outside the UK and follow the Home Office emails about extension and conversion.