Following the end of the EU exit transition period on 31 December 2020, the UK is no longer obliged to provide preferential treatment to Turkish nationals on the basis of the European Communities Association Agreement (ECAA).

The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’ (CP 1448), was consulted on between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement. Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. It will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

In the meantime, Appendix ECAA: Extension of Stay and Appendix ECAA Settlement will continue to apply.

Following the end of the EU exit transition period on 31 December 2020, the UK is no longer obliged to provide preferential treatment to Turkish nationals on the basis of the European Communities Association Agreement (ECAA).

The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’ (CP 1448), was consulted on between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement. Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. It will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

In the meantime, Appendix ECAA: Extension of Stay and Appendix ECAA Settlement will continue to apply.

As the explanatory memorandum to HC 813 set out, following the end of the EU exit transition period and the repeal of EU-derived directly effective immigration rights, the UK is no longer obliged to provide preferential treatment to Turkish nationals on the basis of the European Communities Association Agreement (ECAA).

The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’ (CP 1448), was consulted on between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. We will now carefully review and analyse all responses received and the findings will support the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures. Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly.

In the meantime, Appendix ECAA: Extension of Stay and Appendix ECAA Settlement, which set out the rules described in HC 813, will continue to apply. Time spent in routes that currently count towards settlement after 5 years will also continue to count towards the new standard qualifying period.

As the explanatory memorandum to HC 813 set out, following the end of the EU exit transition period and the repeal of EU-derived directly effective immigration rights, the UK is no longer obliged to provide preferential treatment to Turkish nationals on the basis of the European Communities Association Agreement (ECAA).

The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’ (CP 1448), was consulted on between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. We will now carefully review and analyse all responses received and the findings will support the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures. Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly.

In the meantime, Appendix ECAA: Extension of Stay and Appendix ECAA Settlement, which set out the rules described in HC 813, will continue to apply. Time spent in routes that currently count towards settlement after 5 years will also continue to count towards the new standard qualifying period.

We have agreed, under the UK-EU Common Understanding, that we will work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU. We have agreed that any scheme will be capped and participants’ visas time-limited. We have not agreed to offer home fee status to EU students. We have also been clear that it should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes with countries like Australia and New Zealand. The exact parameters are subject to discussion and we cannot give a running commentary of ongoing negotiations.

We have agreed that we will work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU. Any scheme will be time-limited and capped, and we have also been clear that it should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes with countries like Australia and New Zealand. The primary purpose of a youth mobility scheme is cultural exchange and to give young people opportunities to experience life overseas on a temporary basis. We have not agreed to offer home fee status to EU students. Most new EU students who were not lawfully resident in the UK before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 pay international fees.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

On 19 May 2025, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, welcomed Presidents Von Der Leyen and Costa for the first ever summit between the UK and the EU and a deal was agreed which will deliver on what the British public voted for last year. This package delivers for the British people, without compromising on our red lines, no return to the customs union, no return to freedom of movement, and no rejoining the single market.

On home fee status, most new EU/EEA students who were not lawfully resident in the UK before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 will pay international fees.

The Withdrawal Agreement provides that current EU principles of equal treatment continue to apply for those covered by the citizens’ rights provisions in the Withdrawal Agreement. This means that EU nationals lawfully resident in the UK before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 are eligible in England for support on a similar basis as previously, subject to meeting the usual residency requirements, which are unchanged. Similar agreements have been signed with the European Economic Area (EEA) European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states and Switzerland.

UK nationals and their family members, living in the EEA or Switzerland at the end of the transition period will generally be eligible for home fee status, tuition fee and maintenance support from Student Finance England for courses starting on or after 1 August 2021 and before 1 January 2028, subject to meeting all other eligibility requirements.

There are no plans to make any changes to the fee status for these persons.

The information requested is not available from published statistics.

The Home Office is introducing a new process to automatically convert eligible pre-settled status holders to settled status, without the need for them to make a further EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) application. This process reduces the burden on thousands of individuals and supports our ambition to ensure people have the right EUSS status.

To convert a pre-settled status holder to settled status, the Home Office will conduct automated checks against tax and benefit records to confirm they have been continuously resident in the UK for five years or more. Criminality checks will also be made to ensure status holders meet the existing suitability requirements of the EUSS. These automated checks are the same checks that are undertaken when a person makes an application to the EUSS and have been conducted since the scheme opened to ensure EUSS status is only granted to those who are eligible for it.

The most recent estimate of the number of people holding pre-settled status under the EUSS is 1.7 million. However, the number of pre-settled status holders who could automatically be converted to settled status under the Home Office's automation plans is contingent upon customer behaviour which is difficult to predict.

The Home Office is introducing a new process to automatically convert eligible pre-settled status holders to settled status, without the need for them to make a further EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) application. This process reduces the burden on thousands of individuals and supports our ambition to ensure people have the right EUSS status.

To convert a pre-settled status holder to settled status, the Home Office will conduct automated checks against tax and benefit records to confirm they have been continuously resident in the UK for five years or more. Criminality checks will also be made to ensure status holders meet the existing suitability requirements of the EUSS. These automated checks are the same checks that are undertaken when a person makes an application to the EUSS and have been conducted since the scheme opened to ensure EUSS status is only granted to those who are eligible for it.

The most recent estimate of the number of people holding pre-settled status under the EUSS is 1.7 million. However, the number of pre-settled status holders who could automatically be converted to settled status under the Home Office's automation plans is contingent upon customer behaviour which is difficult to predict.

The Home Office is introducing a new process to automatically convert eligible pre-settled status holders to settled status, without the need for them to make a further EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) application. This process reduces the burden on thousands of individuals and supports our ambition to ensure people have the right EUSS status.

To convert a pre-settled status holder to settled status, the Home Office will conduct automated checks against tax and benefit records to confirm they have been continuously resident in the UK for five years or more. Criminality checks will also be made to ensure status holders meet the existing suitability requirements of the EUSS. These automated checks are the same checks that are undertaken when a person makes an application to the EUSS and have been conducted since the scheme opened to ensure EUSS status is only granted to those who are eligible for it.

The most recent estimate of the number of people holding pre-settled status under the EUSS is 1.7 million. However, the number of pre-settled status holders who could automatically be converted to settled status under the Home Office's automation plans is contingent upon customer behaviour which is difficult to predict.

The Home Office is introducing a new process to automatically convert eligible pre-settled status holders to settled status, without the need for them to make a further EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) application. This process reduces the burden on thousands of individuals and supports our ambition to ensure people have the right EUSS status.

To convert a pre-settled status holder to settled status, the Home Office will conduct automated checks against tax and benefit records to confirm they have been continuously resident in the UK for five years or more. Criminality checks will also be made to ensure status holders meet the existing suitability requirements of the EUSS. These automated checks are the same checks that are undertaken when a person makes an application to the EUSS and have been conducted since the scheme opened to ensure EUSS status is only granted to those who are eligible for it.

The most recent estimate of the number of people holding pre-settled status under the EUSS is 1.7 million. However, the number of pre-settled status holders who could automatically be converted to settled status under the Home Office's automation plans is contingent upon customer behaviour which is difficult to predict.