The EU Settlement Scheme is now entering its first public test phase from 21 January 2019. The scheme, which is scheduled to fully open on 30 March 2019, has undergone private testing phases with employees in the higher education, health and social care sectors.
EU citizens living in the UK who have a valid passport, and their non-EU citizen family members who hold a valid biometric residence card, will be able to take part in a public test phase of the EU Settlement Scheme.
This scheme will allow EU citizens and their non -EU citizens to apply for the immigration status they will need once the UK has left the EU.
This next phase will require applicants to provide their identity using the EU Exit App (currently only available for Android devices).
The Government states that by 13 December 2018, more than 15,500 applications (under the private test phases) were made, and more than 12,400 had been concluded by 20 December 2018. 71% of those concluded were granted settled status and the rest were granted pre-settled status.
With a conclusion rate of 80% in the private testing phases, which only dealt with a minor number of applications from selected sectors, it remains to be seen how this scheme will function once it fully opens on 30 March 2019.
For more information on the EU Settlement Scheme, please refer to our Brexit page.