The Home Office published its response on 11 June 2026 to the Independent Monitoring Authority's report on delays in EU Settlement Scheme decisions, accepting recommendations 2, 4 and 7 and not accepting the other four.
First published 11 June 2026.
On 11 June 2026 the Home Office published its response to the report by the Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens' Rights Agreements (IMA), "An Inquiry by the Independent Monitoring Authority into delays in issuing decisions on applications to the EU Settlement Scheme". The IMA published the report on 11 March 2026. The inquiry began in September 2023 and drew mainly on evidence gathered in 2023 and 2024.
The Home Office says the report does not show systemic delays in the current operation of the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). It agrees with the IMA that the Withdrawal Agreement requires applications to be decided within a reasonable timeframe.
Figures to 31 March 2026
- 5.8 million people held status: 1.3 million pre-settled and 4.5 million settled.
- 8.8 million of 8.9 million applications received (99%) had been concluded.
- Around 103,820 automated grants of settled status had been made to eligible pre-settled status holders.
- 109,020 applications were awaiting a decision, according to internal management information that is not quality assured to the standard of the published statistics. Of these, 74,994 (68.8%) had been pending for three months or less, and 68,003 (62.4%) were applications to convert from pre-settled to settled status.
- 171 cases at the Suitability stage were awaiting an overseas conviction certificate, and 12 were awaiting clarification from another UK agency on the status of overseas criminal proceedings.
Recommendations
Accepted: Recommendation 2 (prevent misrouting of applications, delays in allocation and duplicated evidence requests), Recommendation 4 (escalation mechanisms with other agencies on overseas conviction certificates) and Recommendation 7 (transparency and communication with applicants whose applications are not decided within published processing times).
Not accepted: Recommendation 1 (data on the impact of delay on different groups), Recommendation 3 (monitoring of service from other agencies), Recommendation 5 (communication with public authorities on children and vulnerable adults) and Recommendation 6 (engagement with advocacy groups and stakeholders).
On processing times, the Home Office says it generally takes up to a month to decide an application where no further information, evidence or checks are needed. It says a decision may take three months where more information or evidence is needed, and may take six months or more in certain circumstances, for example where the applicant has a relevant criminal record.
Grant funding for voluntary and community organisations helping vulnerable applicants ceased on 31 March 2026. From 1 April 2019 to that date the Home Office provided £32.5 million. The Resolution Centre continues to assist applicants seven days a week by telephone and email.
The Home Office also says the UK raised the issue of overseas criminal records information with the EU at the meeting of the Specialised Committee on Citizens' Rights on 13 May 2026.
What this means for applicants
The response sets out no new rule. The Home Office says people with a pending EUSS application keep their rights in the UK, including the right to work, until the outcome of the application and any appeal. They can show those rights with a digital Certificate of Application, or with existing pre-settled status. Where an overseas conviction certificate is required, the Home Office says it tells the applicant the case will be on hold until it is received, and the applicant can obtain the certificate directly from their embassy or home country.
Related guide
Sources
- Response to the IMA report into delays in issuing EUSS decisions, Home Office, 11 June 2026