5 years
You can live outside the UK for 5 years without losing your settled status. With indefinite leave to remain, you can only live outside the UK for 2 years. Find out what you need to apply for settled status. Find out more about applying to the Windrush Scheme on GOV.UK.

Can I live abroad with settled status?

If you want to spend time outside the UK If you have settled status, you can spend up to 5 years in a row outside the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man without losing your status.

Can you work in UK without settled status?

If you were living in the UK before 1 January 2021, you may continue to live and work there. However, you need to to have settled or pre-settled status. Any of your family members who do not have British or Irish nationality will also have to apply.

Can I work with settled status?

If you already have settled or pre-settled status, you can choose to use that status to prove your right to work now (instead of your passport or national identity card), but it will only become mandatory to evidence your EU Settlement Scheme status after the 30 June 2021.

five years
Once the five-year qualifying period is complete and settled status is obtained, an applicant can spend up to five years outside the UK without losing that status.

If you were living in the United Kingdom before 1 January 2021, you may continue to live and work there. However, you need to have settled or pre-settled status. The deadline for applying was 30 June 2020. If you move to the UK on or after 1 January 2021, new rules apply.

Can a child with settled status apply for British citizenship?

If you got settled status from the EU Settlement Scheme after your child was born. Your child will automatically be a British citizen if both of the following apply: they were born after 30 June 2021. you were eligible for settled status on 30 June 2021 – even if you hadn’t applied by that date.

How long can you live outside the UK without losing settled status?

If you’re a Swiss citizen, you and your family members can spend up to 4 years in a row outside the UK without losing your settled status. If you have pre-settled status, you can spend up to 2 years in a row outside the UK without losing your status. You will need to maintain your continuous residence if you want to qualify for settled status.

What happens to EU citizens living abroad after Brexit?

Brexit: What changes for EU and UK citizens living abroad? After Brexit day on Friday 31 January, nothing will immediately change for European Union (EU) citizens living in the UK, or UK citizens living in the EU. So when will things change – and what happens then?

Can you apply for the EU Settlement Scheme from outside the UK?

Information for applicants to the EU Settlement Scheme who are applying from outside the UK. You can apply for status under the EU Settlement Scheme from outside the UK. You must use the EU Exit: ID Document Check app to verify that you’re entitled to apply from outside the UK.

How does a family of a settled person visa work?

The family of a settled person visa allows people from outside of the EEA to join a family member in the UK, who is a British citizen, has indefinite leave to remain in the UK, or is in the UK under asylum or humanitarian protection laws.