Switching from pre-settled to settled status

Generally, you should be granted pre-settled status if you have lived in the United Kingdom for less than five years or were unable to prove that you have been in the country for 5 or more years. 

If you were granted pre-settled status, also known as limited leave to remain, you can apply for settled status (indefinite leave to remain), as soon as you’ve lived in the UK for 5 continuous years, even if you still have a few years left on your pre-settled status.  

Continuous residence means 5 years in the UK for at least 6 months in any 12-month period. If you are not sure how the continuous residence rule works, please watch our information video. 

The 5 years are counted from the day you started your continuous residence, not the day you were granted pre-settled status. 

You can apply through the mobile app or government website, just like you did the first time. This application is free of charge. 

New rules for pre-settled status holders 

From September 2023 people with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme will automatically have their status extended by 2 years before it expires if they have not obtained settled status. You will be notified of the extension.  

You may have also heard that the Home Office will aim to convert as many eligible pre-settled status holders as possible to settled status once they are eligible for it, without them needing to make an application from 2024.  

If they cannot confirm your 5-year continuous residence using automatic checks, you will still need to apply to get settled status. 

Our advice remains to make an application for settled status as soon as you have 5 continuous years of residence in the UK. We can provide free support. You only need to send an email to info@citizensrightsproject.org. 

Why switching as soon as you can? It’s easier to prove your right to live in the UK permanently if you have settled status. It is meant to secure various rights of EU citizens in the UK, including right to reside, right to work, to access public services, and others. You can read more about this in “Your rights” tab in our website. 

You can download our PDF guide on applying for Settled Status here. 

Know your status!

It is very important that you know what kind of immigration status you have. As of 20 September 2022, 40% of all concluded applications were granted pre-settled status which is valid only for 5 years from the day of receiving the letter with a decision. This means that approximately 2 677 190 people have to make another application to change to settled status if they wish to remain in the UK longer than 5 years. Your status won’t change automatically, you must submit a new application.

If you are not sure what status you have, you can check it on your digital profile. 

Go to: https://view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk/status 

Log in to your digital profile providing: 

  • your identity document number 
  • your date of birth 
  • an access code sent to your phone or email 

The application process

If you are not sure what status to you have, you can check it on your digital profile.

Go to: https://view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk/status

Log in to your digital profile providing:

  • your identity document number
  • your date of birth
  • an access code sent to your phone or email

Do not wait to apply!

You don’t have to wait until your pre-settled status expire. As soon as you reach 5 years of continuous residence in the UK, you can apply to switch to settled status. Even if you still have few years left on your pre-settled status. If you are not sure how the continuous residence rule works, please watch our information video.

Once you reach 5 continuous years of residence in the UK, you can make new application through the mobile app or government website. Just like you did the first time.

You will need your ID document, email address, phone number and NIN (if you have one). You can check our Settled Status Guide with instructions on how to do this.

You will have to provide the Unique Application Number (UAN) of your previous application for pre-settled status. This is so the Home Office can check that you already have pre-settled status and want to change it to settled status, as opposed to applying for the first time.

Keep your documents!

When you apply for settled status, it might happen that the Home Office will ask you to provide more evidence that you have been living in the UK continuously for 5 years.

Usually, they check their database using your National Insurance number to see if they have your records in HMRC or DWP, but it might not always work.

It is essential, therefore, that you keep documents such as bank statements, bills, payslips, etc in case this happens. For more information about the type of evidence accepted by the Home Office visit this link

If you had absences longer than 6 months in any 12-month period, keep evidence to prove that you were away due to important reasons (e.g. pandemic, child birth, illness etc).

For more information about absences and exceptions visit this link.

Find your Unique Application Number

If you don’t know what your Unique Application number is go to:

https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/applying-for-settled-status, click ‘Start now’ and then ‘Sign in’.

Log in by providing:

  • your identity document number
  • your date of birth
  • an access code sent to your phone or email

You will see details of your past applications, including 16-digit UAN.

If you need support to switch from pre-settled to settled we can help you. Email us at info@citizensrightsproject.org. Our support is FREE and multilingual.