EU nationals apply to remain in UK post-Brexit in pilot scheme

People working or studying at 12 NHS trusts in north-west England, and students and staff from three Liverpool universities, will be invited to make applications for “settled status” as part of a pilot scheme.

The “managed live trial” will involve up to 4,000 people and will allow officials working on the scheme to test the system using real applicants and make improvements ahead of a phased roll-out towards the end of this year.

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Those taking part will have to attend an appointment with a Home Office representative who will help take them through the application process, but eventually people will be able to make applications online.

Under the EU Settlement Scheme, EU citizens and family members who have been in the UK for five years by the end of 2020 will be able to apply for settled status, meaning they are free to go on living and working in the UK indefinitely.

Those who have arrived by December 31 2020, but do not have five years’ residence, can seek to stay until they have, at which point they can seek settled status.

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Applications will cost £65 for adults and £32.50 for children under the age of 16.

Applicants will be asked to prove their identity, declare any criminal convictions and upload a facial photograph.

The Home Office will check employment and benefits data to confirm proof of residence, while all applications will be run through UK criminality and security databases.

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Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes said: “We have made great progress in preparing for the implementation of the EU settlement scheme, which will make it easy for EU citizens to get the status they need.

“From today we are inviting a small group of EU citizens to make an application to secure their status. We will use their feedback to make any necessary adjustments ahead of the scheme being fully opened.”