Switching From Pre Settled to Settled Status

autohr img By Vipul Jain
30 Jan, 2025

Do you live in the United Kingdom and already have pre-settle status under the EU settlement scheme? If yes, then the validity of the pre-settled status is last for 5 years, and it will be extended automatically at the end of the 5 years for the next 5 years. So, if you have pre-settled status, then there is no need to reapply for it after the expiry. The home office will notify citizens with pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme through email or extension. When we talk about the pre-settled status to settled status, you need to apply for it once you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years. If your pre-settled status is extended, then it means that you get more time to apply or switch from pre-settle status to settled status under the EU settlement scheme. 

So, if you want to convert your pre-settled status to settled status, then there are some rules and regulations that you need to follow some guidelines. If you are spending time and staying in the Channel Island or the Isle of Man, then it will also count as the time you are living in the UK. 

On the other hand, citizens are not eligible to get settled status after 5 years in some cases, which are as follows: citizens will not be able to get or convert pre-settled status to settled status if they spent six or more months outside the UK in any 12 months. If the person has pre-settled status as a family member of an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen and their family member’s situation has changed. So, if you also want to update your pre-settled status to settled status then this blog belongs to you. 

Know Your Stay in the UK for 5 Years

When we calculate the 5 years you lived in The United Kingdom, it depends on whether you are a citizen of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland or not. Let's check if you are a citizen of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland. 

Pre-Settled to Settled Status for Citizen of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland: 

Want to know when your 5 years started? If yes, then it will start from the date you started staying in the United Kingdom. There are ample citizens that 5 years will be started from the date when they got pre-settled status, but it's not. If you have pre-settled status, then you can easily apply for settled status before your pre-settled status expires. Additionally, we also suggest that applying for settled status as soon as you have lived in the UK for 5 years is good for you. So do you want to know what if you are not living in the EU countries? If yes, then stay connected next, we will talk about the citizens who live outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland.

If You’re a Citizen of a Country Outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland

When we talk about the rules when your 5 years of residence starts, then it depends on if you’re a close family member or an extended family member. Both are different; let's check them out. 

You’re a close family member if you’re a: husband, wife, or civil partner, dependent parent or grandparent, child or grandchild under 21 years old, and dependent child aged 21 or over

Either the day you arrived in the UK or the day you became a close relative of an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen, whichever happened first, marks the beginning of your five years. For instance, your five years begin on the day you marry a German national after arriving in the UK. Whether or whether a Swiss, EU, or EEA citizen had established or pre-settled status at the time is irrelevant.

You’re an extended family member if you’re a: long-term partner who isn’t married or in a civil partnership, brother or sister, aunt or uncle, niece or nephew, or cousin. 

So if citizens have a family permit then their living time will be started from the day when they arrive. However, if you did not have then your 5 years starts the day you got a residence card.

After knowing about pre-settled status to settled status, are you curious to know about what would happen if you did not switch settled status after 5 years? Stay connected with us and read the next part of this blog to resolve your query. 

What Would Happen If You Did Not Switch Pre-Settled Status to Settled Status After 5 Years?

If you did not convert your pre-settled status to settled status after 5 years, then two things happen that you can or cannot. 

  • You can apply for settled status during the extension of your 5-year pre-settled status
  • Citizens can fill out new application forms to get pre-settled status for another 5 years

Apply for Settled Status at the Time of the 5-year Extension Period

Citizens can apply to switch their pre-settled status to settled status when they lived in the UK for five years continuously. Alongside you can also add the time together from your original period of pre-settled status and the extension period. 

Apart from this if you applied to convert your pre-settled status to settled status for family members under the EU settlement scheme then you can check your family members have also been extended. If it is not extended, then you can contact the EU Settlement Scheme Resolution Centre.

Contact Details of EU Settlement Scheme Resolution Centre

  • Telephone: 0300 123 7379
  • From outside the UK: +44 203 080 0010 
  • Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8.30 pm
  • Saturday and Sunday, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm
  • Also, raise a query on GOV.UK and get a reply within 5 working days.

Fill Out a New Application to Extend Pre-settled Status for Another 5 Years

To get an extension of pre-settled status, you should apply before it ends.

Citizens can add periods of pre-settled status together. They can apply for the pre-settled status when they lived in the UK for 5 years in a row.

Additionally, people living in the UK can get pre-settled status again by applying as a family member. They can only apply for this if they have a family member from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland who has pre-settled or settled status and must be living in the UK by 31 December 2020.

On the other hand, if you did not apply as a family member, then maybe you can get pre-settled status again if both of the following apply:

  • Time spent outside the United Kingdom before 31 December 2020
  • When you were back in the UK by 31 December 2020

What if You Are Out of the Uk for More Than 6 Months?

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As we all know, British Citizens spend more than 6 months outside the United Kingdom within any 12 months. Then they are not able to get settled status.

Apart from this, in some cases, when you are outside the UK for up to 12 months, you can still be able to get settled status such as: 

  • Any ‘important reason’ including pregnancy or study
  • Reasons related to coronavirus - including shielding, caring responsibilities, and following guidance not to travel, and more. 

Let's check out the reasons why you can also get a settled status after being outside the UK for up to 6 months in a year. 

Outside of the United Kingdom Because of COVID-19

If you are not able to stay in the United Kindom longer than 12 months because of the coronavirus, then do not worry. It will not going to break the continuity of your residence. 

You must be out of the UK for at least 12 months in order to qualify for settled status. The remaining period after a year is not included. "I You won't lose your continuity of residency if you spend two periods of six to twelve months outside of the UK as long as: One time served a crucial purpose. One period was for a coronavirus-related reason. Your initial five years of living outside of the UK are counted against your settled status. The second period's first half-year is also included. The remainder of the second term following six months is not included.

Outside the United Kingdom Because of Military Service

If you are serving in the military and have to live outside the United Kingdom for more than 12 months then it will not break your continuity or residence.

There are some citizens who are retired and stopped serving in the military who are also able to get settled status if they’ve lived in the UK for less than 5 years. If you are among them then you can find out how to apply for converting your pre-settled status to settled status if you’re retired or had to stop working.

What if Your Pre-settled Status as a Family Member and Your Situation Has Changed? 

Before reaching the 5 years your relationship with your family member has been changed then maybe you are not able to apply for settled status. Alongside it also depends on what changes will occur.

Change of circumstances
Impact on status & eligibility
If your family member has died
Still get settled status after 5 years if:
Candidates lived in the UK as their family member for at least 1 year before they died
If the candidate’s aged under 21 and their in education
If the citizen doesn’t apply, they can’t get settled status.
If your relationship has ended
You can’t get settled status unless an exception applies. There are exceptions if:
you were married or in a civil partnership for at least 3 years
you and your ex-partner have a child under 18 and live in the UK and you have responsibility for your child or contact with them.
your relationship ended because of domestic abuse
If your family member left the UK
You can only get settled status after 5 years if either:
you’re aged under 21 and you’re in education
you’re responsible for a child aged under 21 who is in education
If these don’t apply, you can’t get settled status.
If you’re no longer dependent on the family member
Still apply to get a settled status after 5 years if you got pre-settled status as:
a dependent child aged under 21
a dependent parent
The rules are different if you have pre-settled status as another type of dependent relative – for example as a dependent child aged 21 or over. You can only get settled status if you’re still dependent – or if you were dependent on 31 December 2020.

Documents Required to Apply to Switch to Settled Status

  • your identity document - your passport, national identity card, or biometric residence card or permit
  • a mobile number
  • an email address
  • your National Insurance Number
  • proof of your relationship if you're applying for a child or another family member - find out what evidence you can use

If you want to switch your pre-settled status to settled status, then you need certain documents to apply for a settled status under the EU settlement scheme. 

Choose Visament to Resolve Your Pre-settled to Settled Status Queries

After going through this blog, readers will get to learn about the switching from pre-settled status to settled status under the EU settlement scheme. Above, we discussed various things related to pre-settled and settled status for British citizens. Still, if you are facing any issues related to the EU settlement scheme and need assistance then hire Visament.

It is one of the finest immigration service providers that deals in passport, visa, NRI, OCI, and other services. Additionally, if you choose this immigration service provider then you will get 24*7 customer support, enjoy speedy approvals, inexpensive prices, and many more. 

Frequently Asked Questions

To change your pre-settled status to settled status in the United Kingdom, you need to apply for settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) online.

To apply to switch from pre-settled status to settled status in the UK, you will need your identity document, an email address, your National Insurance number, a mobile number, and evidence of continuous residence in the UK for at least 5 years. Alongside, you also submit other documents like payslips, tenancy agreements, or utility bills, depending on your situation. By providing all these documents, you can easily apply to change your pre-settled status to settled status.

A citizen from the United Kingdom can live outside the UK for an infinite period of time without losing their citizenship.

To prove your living in the United Kingdom for naturalization, you need to submit tenancy agreements, employer letters confirming your UK employment, utility bills, bank statements, and sometimes even council tax bills.

By providing tenancy agreements, council tax bills, P60s, letters from employers confirming employment dates, passport stamps showing your entries and exits from the UK, dated payslips, and bank statements, you can prove your 5 years of continuous residence in the United Kingdom for citizenship.

To convert your pre-settled status to settled status, you don’t need to pay any fees. There is no cost to convert pre-settled to settled status.

Yes, you need to update your passport after getting settled status in the UK. candidates have to update their passport details on their EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) account with the Home Office.

The new immigration rules in the UK in 2024 change the extensions for pre-settled status, the minimum salary for visas, and restrictions on care workers bringing dependents.

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