Brexit: streamlined residency procedure for Europeans living in the UK unveiled

After Brexit, Europeans who have been in the United Kingdom for five years and who want to obtain settled status in the country, will have to prove just three things: their identity, that they are not a serious criminal and their residence in the UK. Unveiled by the UK government on 21 June (here), the new streamlined system will allow individuals to obtain settled status in as little as a few days. It will also be possible to go through the process online or by using a mobile app. Sajid Javid, the UK home secretary, says: "We will not be looking for excuses to not grant settled status." In order to verify an individual's place of residence, the ministry plans to make use of information held by employers. The procedure will be in place until the end of the post-Brexit transition period, in June 2021, and will be tested this summer. It is scheduled for full implementation at the start of 2019, ahead of the Brexit date in March next year. Individuals that will not have lived in the UK for five years when the UK leaves the EU will be able to obtain "pre-settled status" and then apply for settled status at a later stage. According to the Office for National Statistics, there are 3.8 million Europeans living in the UK, while some 900,000 UK citizens are settled in Europe.