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Written question asked by Emma Reynolds (Labour) on Friday, 25 October 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 30 October 2019 (named day). It was answered by Brandon Lewis (Conservative) on Tuesday, 5 November 2019 on behalf of the Home Office.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the immigration status of EU27 nationals resident in the UK will be in the event that the UK leaves the EU if they were given indefinite leave to remain by the UK Government before either (a) the UK joined the EEC or (b) their country of origin joined the EEC/EC/EU.

Original answer

EU citizens who already hold indefinite leave to remain, regardless of when this was granted, can continue to rely on this status once the UK has left the European Union. They do not need to apply for status under the EU Settlement Scheme, but they may do so if they wish as, in line with the draft Withdrawal Agreement with the EU reached on 17 October 2019, indefinite leave to remain granted under the scheme (referred to as ‘settled status’) has some additional benefits. For example, it will not lapse unless the person is absent from the UK and Islands for more than five years rather than for more than two years.

Relevant guidance for EU citizens is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/if-you-have-permanent-residence-or-indefinite-leave-to-remain.

The answer was corrected by Brandon Lewis (Conservative)

on Tuesday, 5 November 2019 on behalf of the Home Office.

Corrected answer

EU citizens who already hold indefinite leave to remain, regardless of when this was granted, can continue to rely on this status once the UK has left the European Union. They do not need to apply for status under the EU Settlement Scheme, but they may do so if they wish as, in line with the draft Withdrawal Agreement with the EU reached on 17 October 2019, indefinite leave to remain granted under the scheme (referred to as ‘settled status’) has some additional benefits. For example, it will not lapse unless the person is absent from the UK and Islands for more than five years rather than for more than two years.

Relevant guidance for EU citizens is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/if-you-have-permanent-residence-or-indefinite-leave-to-remain.

EU citizens who already hold indefinite leave to remain, regardless of when this was granted, can continue to rely on this status once the UK has left the European Union. They do not need to apply for status under the EU Settlement Scheme, but they may do so if they wish as, in line with the draft Withdrawal Agreement with the EU reached on 17 October 2019.

Relevant guidance for EU citizens is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/if-you-have-permanent-residence-or-indefinite-leave-to-remain.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
5437
Session
2019-19
Subjects
Immigration EU nationals
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk