From 9 April 2026 the Home Office checks 30 months of tax and benefit payments in the last 60 months to grant settled status automatically, and will begin removing pre-settled status from people who have clearly ceased to be continuously resident.
The Home Office published its policy paper EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status automation update on 9 April 2026. It reports progress on automatically converting pre-settled status to settled status and sets out the next steps.
By the end of 2025 the EUSS had provided over 5.8 million EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens, and their eligible family members, with status. The main application deadline was 30 June 2021, but the scheme remains open to late applicants with reasonable grounds for missing it and to eligible joining family members. At the end of 2025 an estimated 1.4 million people held pre-settled status. In 2025 the Home Office introduced a process to convert eligible pre-settled status holders to settled status without a further application. To the end of 2025 there had been 87,000 automated grants.
Wider automation. On 9 April 2026 the Home Office introduced improvements to the automated system. It now checks for 30 months of tax and benefit payments in the last 60 months to confirm UK residence, rather than applying the rules set out in the Withdrawal Agreement. The Home Office says this will increase the number of people automatically granted settled status.
Some groups cannot be converted automatically: EEA citizens without 30 months of tax or benefit payments in the last 60 months; those granted pre-settled status who later obtained another UK immigration status; non-EEA national family members; joining family members of any nationality; those under 18; and those with other eligibility requirements, such as derivative rights. Where settled status cannot be granted automatically, pre-settled status will continue to be extended by five years. Pre-settled status holders can still apply for settled status as soon as they are eligible.
Removal of pre-settled status. From 9 April 2026 the Home Office will begin removing pre-settled status from individuals who have clearly ceased to maintain continuous residence in the UK. First checks use tax and benefit data and any evidence of criminal conduct. Where eligibility for settled status can be established, the person's digital status is converted automatically. Where it cannot, second checks use Home Office travel data. People who have been outside the UK longest will be reviewed first, starting with those outside the UK for the last 5 years.
Safeguards. Before a decision to remove pre-settled status, individuals will be contacted using the email address and telephone number on their UKVI account and given the opportunity to provide evidence of their UK residence or reasons for their absence. Additional time will usually be given where required. Status will only be removed where it is proportionate to do so. Caseworkers will consider the reasons for and length of any absences, the reasons for not returning sooner, and other relevant factors such as age, health or integration. Any decision to remove pre-settled status will be subject to a right of appeal.
What this means for applicants
Pre-settled status holders who cannot be converted automatically will need to apply for settled status in the usual way, and can do so as soon as they are eligible. Before any decision to remove pre-settled status, the Home Office will contact the person using the email address and telephone number on their UKVI account. The person can then provide evidence of UK residence or reasons for absence. If removal is considered disproportionate, the person keeps pre-settled status and can apply for settled status once they have been resident in the UK for 30 months in the last 60 months.
Related guide
Sources
- EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status automation update, Home Office, 9 April 2026