Nationals of countries requiring UK entry clearance who have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme and await a decision must hold a visa or visa exemption document to travel; a certificate of application is not enough.
Key facts
- Who: People who have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme and are waiting for a decision, who are not from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, and who are nationals of a country requiring UK entry clearance
- From: Updated 8 October 2026 (Border Force guidance)
- Source: Entering the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme and EU Settlement Scheme family permit
Border Force guidance sets out what people need to enter the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme or the EU Settlement Scheme family permit rules. It has separate pages for people from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland and for people from other countries. Both pages show "Updated 8 October 2026".
On the page for people who are not from those countries, the guidance covers two groups who have applied and are waiting for a decision: those who were living in the UK by 31 December 2020, and joining family members who were not. For both, it says a national of a country requiring UK entry clearance must have one of these to travel to the UK:
- a visa
- a visa exemption document, for example a valid biometric residence card issued by the UK, or a valid EU Settlement Scheme family permit
The guidance states that a certificate of application to the EU Settlement Scheme is not evidence of a visa or visa exemption document.
Other points on the same page for applicants awaiting a decision:
- Applicants must enter the UK with their passport or travel document.
- The passport should be linked to (or, for joining family members, registered on) their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account, so a carrier can confirm permission to travel.
- Applicants who cannot update their UKVI account should get a share code and give it to their carrier.
- Nationals of a country that can get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) do not need an ETA to travel to the UK.
- A Border Force officer may ask for evidence that the applicant qualifies for status under the EU Settlement Scheme. For those living in the UK by 31 December 2020, that includes evidence of continuous residence since then. Without such evidence, entry may be refused.
- Joining family members may be asked to show an in-date EU Settlement Scheme family permit involving the same sponsor. An expired permit can still be relied on while a Home Office decision is awaited, but not where the application has been refused and an appeal is pending.
- Joining family members who applied while in the UK as a visitor and then leave the UK may not be permitted to re-enter pending the outcome, including any appeal.
What this means for applicants
A national of a country requiring entry clearance cannot use a certificate of application as a visa or visa exemption document to travel to the UK. They need a visa or a valid exemption document, such as a valid biometric residence card or EU Settlement Scheme family permit.
Their passport should be linked to, or registered on, their UKVI account. Anyone who cannot update their account should get a share code and give it to their carrier. A Border Force officer may ask for evidence that the applicant qualifies, and without it entry may be refused.
Related guide: EU citizens' rights
Sources
- Entering the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme and EU Settlement Scheme family permit, Border Force guidance, GOV.UK
- If you're not from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, Border Force guidance, GOV.UK