EU Settlement Scheme FAQs

The EU Settlement Scheme will grant you permission to come and go from the UK as you please. 

If you have pre-settled status, you can leave the UK for up to two years, and your status will remain valid. However, if you wish to qualify for settled status after five years, you must not have any absence of more than six months at a time, or 12 months for certain reasons, such as a year studying abroad.

If you have settled status, you can leave the UK for up to five years, and your status will remain valid.

EU Settlement Scheme

If you have settled or pre-settled status, you will be able to work in the UK without restriction.

Arriving in the UK on or after 1 January 2021

EU/EEA and Swiss students will be required to apply for a visa through the new Student immigration route from 1 January 2021. If you choose to come to the UK on or after 1 January 2021, you: 

• Will pay a fee for the visa application and Immigration Health Surcharge;
• Will need to provide proof that you can pay for any course fees, plus £1023 per month for living costs;
• Will be restricted to study on a full-time basis, at the University of Edinburgh;
• May be subject to a limit on how long you can study for in the UK;
• May have to leave the UK to make a new visa application if, for example, you want to make changes to your studies;
• Will be restricted on the number of hours you can work, and what type of work you can do.

Your time in the UK will not lead to permanent residence.

Student visa

Arriving in the UK on or before 31 December 2020

If you arrived in the UK on or before 31 December 2020, you should have applied under the EU Settlement Scheme prior to 30 June 2021. Please note there is provision to make an application after the deadline in cases where the Home Office thinks there are 'reasonable grounds' for missing the deadline. Please contact us if you would like advice on this.

EU Settlement Scheme

No, anyone who has settled, or pre-settled status will be eligible for healthcare through the National Health Service.

National Health Service

You may be absent from the UK for up to two years, and your pre-settled status will remain valid. However, to qualify for settled status after five years, you must not be absent for more than six months in any 12 month period, with some exceptions - for example, if you are seriously ill, or wish to study a year abroad, you may be absent for up to 12 months.

This means that you must be able to pick any two dates that are 12 months apart during the 5 year qualifying period, and you must not have been absent for more than 6 months (counting all absences in that time). An absence of up to 12 months for an important reason will not be counted for purposes of calculating residency. There are also exceptions made for absences due to Covid-19.

EUSS and Covid-19 absences 

Your settled status will remain valid while you are outside the UK for five years (four years for Swiss nationals).

You may be absent from the UK for up to two years, and your pre-settled status will remain valid. However, to qualify for settled status after five years, you must not be absent for more than six months in any 12 month period, with some exceptions - for example, if you are seriously ill, or wish to study a year abroad, you may be absent for up to 12 months.

This means that you must be able to pick any two dates that are 12 months apart during the 5 year qualifying period, and you must not have been absent for more than 6 months (counting all absences in that time). An absence of up to 12 months for an important reason will not be counted for purposes of calculating residency. There are also exceptions made for absences due to Covid-19.

EUSS and Covid-19 absences