Check if you can get pre-settled status or settled status | UK Settlement Scheme guide

Check your eligibility now: you could get pre-settled status or settled status under the UK Settlement Scheme. If you lived in the UK continuously for five years or more, you qualify for settled status; if not, pre-settled status applies. There are four quick checks you can complete online to confirm your eligibility and avoid delays. This approach made it easier for families to plan ahead.

Przygotowanie four categories of documents: identity proof (passport lub national ID), evidence of nationality and legal status, records of residence, and details about family links. Identity proof is your passport or national ID card. For nationality and legal status, include documents that confirm citizenship or status in the UK. For residence, gather tenancy contracts, council tax bills, or bank statements covering the required window. If you’re joining a close family member, add evidence of the relationship; for marriage, a marriage certificate helps. If you work, attach letters from employers and recent pay slips to show continuous presence. If you left the UK for part of the period, include travel stamps and explanations.

Upgrade to settled status after you reach five years of lawful residence. If you couldnt reach the five-year mark yet, you stay on pre-settled status. The upgrade unlocks more complete rights, including work with employers, access to healthcare, and education. Your level of status affects what you can do in the UK, and good documentation supports your case. If a lawyer lub court review is needed, you can rely on professional guidance. A physiotherapist planning to stay in the UK can keep practicing with settled rights after upgrade.

Next steps: create a GOV.UK account, complete the online application, and upload your documents. Check your status in your digital profile, and keep evidence ready for future checks. If you have a question about joining a partner or spouse due to marriage, contact a lawyer for advice. If you are leaving the UK temporarily, coordinate with your employers and immigration options. This guide helps you stay compliant and secure the rights you earned through your residence.

Check if you can get pre-settled status or settled status: UK Settlement Scheme guide; How does continuous qualifying residence work

Check if you can get settled status now: if you have reached five years of continuous qualifying residence in the UK, apply for settled status; if not, apply for pre-settled status and plan for an upgrade once you reach five years. Use the helpline or the official page to confirm your specific situation and gather the right forms.

Continuous qualifying residence means you must live in the UK for five years (60 months). You can be absent for up to 6 months in any 12-month period without breaking continuity; longer absences are allowed for important reasons (up to 12 months) such as pregnancy, study, work, or serious illness. Absences beyond these limits can affect eligibility depending on length and pattern of time away.

Prepare by gathering documents that show your residence: rental agreements, utility bills, payroll records, or school letters. Use the official forms and submit an online application; the update process confirms your status after you reach five years. The page lists resources for people with different circumstances, including dual citizens or those who moved between countries, and those with grandchildren who rely on you.

Once granted, settled status confirms rights to work, study, and access healthcare; it remains valid after reviewing your case and confirming with the Home Office. Millions have already benefited, and you can share your status with employers and institutions. If you monitor the July update and any transition rules, you stay aligned with civil rights protections and practical steps for daily life in England and beyond. Keep your record current via the helpline and your account page, and rely on provided resources for ongoing guidance.

If you lived in England or on islands with separate administrations, verify whether your residence counts toward the five-year total. If you moved, update your address and check how a change affects your continuous residence. The scheme offers clear steps to claim or update your status, with support provided by the helpline to help you resolve complex cases and ensure your family–including grandchildren–remains eligible. Also share the page with others who may need this guidance, and use the update process to confirm your status on the official page.

Am I eligible for pre-settled or settled status? Key criteria explained

Apply for pre-settled status if you’re a resident with a qualifying residence in the UK and haven’t reached 5 years of continuous residence yet. If you reach 5 years, you can receive settled status; the government awards both statuses through the Settlement Scheme.

Your eligibility rests on a qualifying residence through a clear route such as working, studying, or a family relationship with a British citizen or settled resident living together (cohabitation). Providing evidence matters: a receipt, tenancy agreement, payroll slip, or official letter from an employer helps validate your claim. The details you submit should be accurate and can be validated by the government to verify your history.

Continuous residence is the core threshold. It means living in the UK without long absences; typically no more than six months outside in any 12-month period, with exceptions for serious reasons. If you leave the country, keep records showing your intent to remain a resident and your ties to the UK. Reaching five years of continuous residence opens the route to settled status, and you can upgrade when you meet the threshold.

Crimes and withdrawal: The government checks details and may refuse or withdraw status if new crimes appear or if your conduct undermines eligibility. You cannot conceal material facts; providing accurate information is essential. The government validates your history against official records, and where needed, may request additional documents. If you have prior offenses, explain the context and timing when you apply; the outcome depends on the details you provide.

Rights after approval: If approved, you receive a digital status that gives you the right to work, study, access healthcare, and more. You can leave and re-enter the UK under defined rules, and the pre-settled status lasts until you reach five years of continuous residence, at which point you may upgrade to settled status. This modern framework offers a stable route for long-term residency.

What counts as continuous qualifying residence and common interruptions

Track absences carefully; if you approach six months outside the UK in any rolling 12‑month period, ask your office and your employer to confirm how it affects your continuous residence for presettled or settled status.

• Continuous residence basics: to qualify for settled status you need a five‑year qualifying period in the UK. If you have less than five years, you can apply for presettled status and upgrade later.
• Absence limits: normally, you may be outside the UK for up to six months in any 12‑month period. A single gap of up to 12 months can be allowed for a valid reason, such as sickness (including mental health), pregnancy or childbirth, caring for a relative, or a work posting abroad. The type of absence matters, and you should have evidence to support it.
• Posting and linked employment: if your employer arranges a temporary posting abroad, the time away can count as part of your continuous residence because it is linked to your employment. Ask for a written letter from your employer confirming the posting and dates.
• Travel examples: short holidays to places like switzerland or iceland count toward the 12‑month window, but they still count toward the six‑month rule in any 12 months. If you travel below six months in total for the year, you stay on track.
• Evidence you may need: keep letters from employers, medical notes if sickness or mental health affected your absence, and any official notices. This available evidence helps you confirm that your absence does not break continuity.

Common interruptions and risks to watch for are shown below with practical steps you can take. Always ask your office or an immigration adviser to confirm specifics for your case, because outcomes depend on dates and total time away.

1. Sickness and mental health

If sickness or mental health requires a longer stay abroad, you may extend beyond six months once, up to 12 months, with supporting medical or professional evidence. Keep copies of GP letters, hospital notes, and any disability or treatment plans. This gives you a practical path to show the absence was beyond your control and linked to care needs.

2. Posting by your employer

Formal posting abroad is treated as linked to your employment. Ensure a posting letter covers dates and location; this remains valid even if you are away for work. If you return to the UK after the posting, the time outside can stay within the continuity period, not counted as a withdrawal from residence.

3. Other important interruptions

Pregnancy, childbirth, or caring responsibilities often require a longer stay. If you have an absence for another year or more, obtain written justification and keep evidence. Absences for studies or training outside the UK may count differently, so check with the office for a confirm of how this affects your five‑year clock.

4. Visits to the UK and other stays

Short stays in the UK or outside for essential reasons do not reset your clock, but frequent or extended trips can affect continuity. Plan travel so that the total time away below the limits remains obvious in your records. If a gap occurs, document the purpose and dates and keep letters from employers or medical providers.

Practical steps you can take now:

• Maintain a clear year-by-year record of all absences that shows dates and reasons.
• Ask your employer to provide a posting letter if you expect to be abroad for work, and keep the email trail told by HR.
• When you reach a potential boundary, contact the Home Office office for guidance and to confirm how the interruption affects your status; this gives you time to adjust plans.
• If you hold presettled status now, plan to accumulate five years of continuous residence to upgrade to settled status; otherwise you may need to start with presettled again if you withdraw an application or move apart from the UK for long periods.

Key terms to note: the five‑year clock runs in the UK; after June you may be closer to a decision if your absences were managed with an employer’s linked postings or documented sickness. If you withdrawal a pending or current application, you can reconsider later, but you must meet the residence criteria anew. The presettled status card remains a pathway to formal settlement, with the option to upgrade once you have the required continuous presence. Use the below checklist to prepare your file.

• Document your five years of residence and all absences.
• Collect employer letters for any postings and sickness leave.
• Store medical and accommodation records for mental health or sickness cases.
• Keep a calendar with dates and durations for each trip outside the UK.
• Verify dates and statuses with the office if you plan to switch from presettled to settled or to address a withdrawal scenario.

Below is a concise reference: year counts, travel limits, and the path to a presettled card and eventually settled status, including relevant steps if you need to change course or reapply after withdrawal. Apart from formal approvals, your personal records will be the best guide in proving continuous residence over time. If your situation involves indefinite ILR or other statuses, discuss how this interacts with the Settlement Scheme at your office and with your employers, and keep available evidence handy.

Documents you’ll need before you apply

Prepare now: gather the documents you’ll need and use scanning to save clear copies for your online application; keep originals ready in case you’re asked to show them.

Identity documents: Your passport or national ID card confirms who you are. If you’re applying for a dependent child, include their document as well. If a document isn’t available, you may be referred to alternative evidence from the Home Office or a regulated source.

Residence evidence: Provide evidence showing you reached the UK by 31 December 2020; you are likely to need multiple documents. Acceptable items include bank statements, payslips, utility bills, tenancy agreements, council tax letters, and letters from employers.

Relationships and dependents: To prove a parent-child link, provide birth certificates for the child, and if applicable, your marriage or civil partnership certificate; include documents showing the child’s residence as well.

Windrush and exceptions: If you’re a Windrush affected person, consult the Windrush scheme and related guidance; there are exceptions and additional routes for verification.

Other items: Provide your National Insurance number, evidence of current address, and any letters from public services that show your rights to work or study. Providing copies along with originals helps speed up the check.

Medical and supporting notes: If a medical condition applies, attach a letter from a GP or hospital detailing how it affects your life in the UK.

Losing documents and further steps: If you’re losing or have lost key papers, contact the Home Office to discuss exceptions and what alternatives can be used. Gather replacements where possible and keep both digital and paper copies.

Done and take action: After you’ve done gathering, take time to check each item and ensure you want to provide clear scans; print and save copies, and be ready to upload when you apply in july or later. If some documents were sent to you by email, print a copy for your records.

How to verify your residence history online and correct errors

Confirm your residence history online using the official Settlement Scheme service. If you spot an issue, fix it before 11pm to reduce the impact on your decision. Train your eye for common issues and follow these concrete steps to verify each entry and gather the right evidence when corrections are needed.

1. Sign in to the Settlement Scheme portal with your GOV.UK account and open the Residence history panel. Review each entry carefully and note any discrepancies.

2. For each day you spent in the UK, check the location, start date, and end date. If an entry exists that doesnt reflect your stay, or if you see a date that looks wrong, use the Edit option or add a missing entry. If an entry exists but is inaccurate, flag it for correction.

   • If an entry exists but you disagree with the status, such as visitor or short stay, update the status and attach supporting evidence.
   • Be aware that some days may be recorded under different states or categories; ensure those states match your actual residence.

3. Gather additional evidence to support corrections. Useful documents include tenancy agreements, council tax records, bank statements, healthcare registrations (GP enrollment), and payroll or credit statements. Upload these as additional evidence when you submit corrections.

   • Having healthcare records or proof of a UK address helps when you correct days you spent in the country for work, study, or training.

4. Consider the counts and potential exceptions. Each corrected day affects your overall residence history, and corrections depend on the type of entry. If a correction touches multiple days, address them one by one to avoid confusion and without creating gaps.

5. Submit the corrections through the online forms. Attach the evidence and provide a short note describing what you are changing. The system will show the correction history and current status. Youre able to confirm edits and track progress.

6. Monitor the response. Corrections can take longer than five working days. If you dont see an update, you can add additional documents or reopen the request. For complex cases, use the help link to describe your issue and request a review.

7. Special cases and practical tips. If your days include vocational training, a short course, or temporary stays, document those dates clearly and explain how they count toward residence. Ensure there are no exceptions for days you intended to count; those entries will count toward your totals.

8. Final check and awareness. After updates, re-check the profile to confirm that all entries align with your records. If you find new issues, repeat the verification process. Counts you’ve verified now will inform your eligibility outcomes in the future.

Remember: the accuracy of your residence history influences your pre-settled or settled status. By systematically reviewing, collecting relevant evidence, and using the forms correctly, you reduce errors and speed up the overall process. If you need to reference evidence later, export a copy from the portal and store it for healthcare or credit-related inquiries with confidence.

When to apply and what to expect during processing

Apply as soon as you are eligible to stay under the scheme. Gather identity documents, proof of residence, and evidence related to your vocational training or stay in the UK. Then complete the online form in one session; missing data will delay review. Youll want to train with the official checklist to ensure nothing is missing, and payment comes with your application.

After submission, biometric data must be captured at a local centre. Youll receive a biometric appointment notice; either you attend the appointment or use an alternative option if offered. Expect a letter announcing the decision; the time frame can be four weeks for straightforward cases, or longer for complex checks. A second verification may be requested if something needs confirmation.

Missing documents are the main reason for delays. Each missing requirement should be addressed; when they are flagged, the case is paused and you receive a letter telling you what to send for them. Respond promptly; failing to respond could cause you to lose time. If you are told a document doesn’t meet the criteria, adjust and resubmit. Those with restrictions or a mental health mention may have additional checks, but this does not automatically block approval. Use clear copies of documents to avoid confusion and show that you match the information you provided.

What happens after a positive decision depends on your history. If you reach five years of continuous lawful stay, you may be granted permanent status. If you have four years or less, you typically receive pre-settled status and will need to complete the remaining period to reach permanent residence. The status you receive comes with a letter that shows your rights and any restrictions; keep this letter safe and show it when you need to prove your stay. For those in local roles or as a servant in certain setups, the outcome still ties to the residence record, not the job title. If you want to travel, plan ahead, as travel rules may vary with your status, and remember what comes with your approval so you dont lose access to benefits or rights.