If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen living in the UK, you and your family will need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to protect the rights you currently have in the UK. Irish citizens or those with valid indefinite leave do not need to apply. Applications are open until 30 June 2021, and it’s free to apply. Find out more at https://www.gov.uk/brexit.
What is the EU Settlement Scheme?
The EU Settlement Scheme is an application process by which EU, EEA or Swiss nationals living in the UK can apply for ‘settled’ status after Brexit, allowing you to continue to live and work as you do now. Following your application, you will be allocated ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status.
What is the difference between ‘Settled and ‘Pre-Settled’ status?
If you’re given ‘settled’ status, you can stay in the UK as long as you like, and can apply for British citizenship. This will be allocated to anyone who started living in the UK before 31 December 2020 and has lived in the UK for a continuous five-year period.
If you do not have five years’ continuous residence when you apply, you will probably get ‘pre-settled’ status. This means that you can stay in the UK for a further 5 years from the date you were allocated this status, and can apply to change this to ‘settled’ status, once you’ve got 5 years of continuous residence.
Whether you have settled or pre-settled status, you will still be able to work in the UK, use the NHS, enrol in education or continue studying, access public funds such as benefits and pensions, and travel in and out of the UK.
How will the ongoing Brexit discussions affect this?
Unfortunately, we do not know the answer to this! We would strongly recommend that any EU, EEA or Swiss driver working in the UK applies via the EU Settlement Scheme, so that you are prepared regardless of the outcome of ongoing Brexit discussions.
We will also be contacting our drivers over the next few weeks to enquire as to your application, and ascertain whether we can help in any way.
Questions regarding the EU Settlement Scheme?
If you are an HGV driver and have any queries regarding the EU Settlement Scheme, contact us today on 0330 335 8367, or email ops@mysavanna.com.