In the media today there is coverage of a new app the Home Office is developing to support EU citizens who apply for settled status.
EU citizens in the UK
There has been some media coverage of the simple, online application process we are developing for EU citizens to apply for settled status, following a meeting between Home Office officials and Members of the European Parliament yesterday. Some of the coverage has led to misinterpretation on social media about how the application process will work.
We are developing from scratch a new digital, streamlined, user-friendly scheme for EU citizens to safeguard their right to stay in the UK after we leave the EU. Technology will play an important role in making applications simple.
As part of the application process for settled status, applicants will need to verify their identity, much like a British person applying for a UK passport would do.
The app we are developing will be an optional part of the application process which will help people to do this. No one will be required to use the app, but it will offer EU citizens an easy and convenient way of verifying their identity. There will be alternative non-digital routes available to all applicants for this part of the application.
We are in discussions with technology companies about the digital aspect of this part of the process to ensure as many people as possible can use the app. Further details about the application process for settled status will be set out in the coming months and the scheme will go live on a voluntary basis at the end of the year.
EU citizens living in the UK can read more and sign up for updates on Gov.UK. More information for journalists on the agreement we have reached with the EU can be found in our factsheet.