In relation to immigration for EU nationals post Brexit, according to Part 2 of the Withdrawal agreement, most rights under EEA Reg 2016 will continue to be upheld until the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020. As this important date approaches, millions of individuals within EU and UK are rushing to regularise their stay in the third-countries which they are residents of. For this same purpose, the UK introduced the EU Settlement Scheme which has been operating from 30 March 2019.
The EU Settlement Scheme allows EU nationals and their family members to remain in the UK following Brexit finalisations. The scheme will be open until 30 June 2021 and remains free of charge for those who are eligible.
Starting from 01 January 2021, all nationals coming from EU, EEA or Switzerland will be required to obtain a valid study or skilled worker visa, if their intention for entering the country is to undertake further education or employment. Their rights of setting up a business and/or switch between self-employment and employment will no longer apply. Frontier workers will have to apply for the EUSS only if they wish to live in the UK; otherwise they must apply for a frontier worker permit from 1 January 2021.
Those EU, EEA or Swiss Nationals who have entered the UK prior to 31 December 2020, and have already been granted a valid leave to remain under the Appendix EU of the Immigration Rules, will continue to enjoy the same full rights to access education, employment or set up their own business. Those individuals will however need to prove their residence in the UK via the designated portal, which allows them to share unique codes verifying their Identity and exercisable rights. No physical document will be provided to show their entitlement to residence in the UK other than a digital reference number. Visa nationals who are also the family member of EU, EEA and Swiss nationals, granted leave under the Appendix EU, will instead receive a BRP card.
Please get in touch with our award-winning team on 0330 058 3929, if you need any assistance on EUSS family permit, Pre-settled or Settled Status.