More than 58,000 apply to stay in UK after deadline for post-Brexit settlement scheme

Published

4 years ago

August 12, 2021

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More than 58,000 applications were made to the EU Settlement Scheme in the month after the deadline had passed, new Home Office figures reveal.

EU citizens living in the UK had until 30 June to apply to stay in the country or lose their rights, under post-Brexit rules introduced by the government.

This is due to freedom of movement ending following the Brexit transition period.

But provisional Home Office data shows 58,200 applications to the scheme were received after the deadline up until the end of July.

The applications received after 30 June will include a mix of late submissions, those from family members, and requests to move from pre-settled to settled status, the government department said.

The figures also show more than six million applications (6,015,400) were submitted between the launch of the EU Settlement Scheme in March 2019 to its closing date of 30 June 2021.

More than 2.8 million of these (2,846,700) were granted settled status, allowing them permanent leave to remain.

And another 2.3 million (2,329,400) were granted pre-settled status, which means they need to reapply after living in the country for five years to gain permanent residence.

The Home Office said 8% of the applications were from “repeat applicants” (464,000), which suggests that around 5.5 million people had applied to the scheme before the deadline.

Over 100,000 applications (109,400) were refused, 80,800 were withdrawn or void, and 79,800 were deemed invalid.

An invalid application means the Home Office has decided someone is not eligible to apply or had failed to provide sufficient proof of residence.

Applicants had to prove their identity, show they live in the UK, and declare any criminal convictions to qualify.

Once they have been granted settled status, successful applicants can use the NHS, study, and access public funds and benefits, as well as travel in and out of the country.

The Home Office previously said that people will be able to submit applications once the deadline has passed, provided they meet the “reasonable grounds” for a late application.

These include:

• If a parent, guardian or council has failed to apply on behalf of a child
• A person has a serious medical condition which stopped them from applying on time
• If someone is a victim of modern slavery, is in an abusive relationship, is vulnerable or lacks the ability to make the digital application
• Other compelling or compassionate reasons, including in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Applications can be made years afterwards – if a child discovered later in life that they are undocumented, for example.

Campaigners say there are questions over exactly how many people are eligible to apply but have not.

In particular, they have raised concerns about the effect on vulnerable people, such as children in care.

Politics

More children from Gaza to be brought to UK for urgent medical treatment

Published

8 hours ago

August 3, 2025

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More children from Gaza to be brought to UK for urgent medical treatment

Efforts to bring Gazan children to the UK for urgent medical treatment are set to be accelerated under new government plans.

Under the scheme, reportedly set to be announced within weeks, more injured and sick children will be treated by specialists in the NHS “where that is the best option for their care”.

It has been suggested that up to 300 children could arrive in the UK from Gaza.

A parent or guardian will accompany each child, as well as siblings if necessary, and the Home Office will carry out biometric and security checks before travel, the Sunday Times has reported.

It is understood this will happen “in parallel” with an initiative by Project Pure Hope, a group set up to bring sick and injured Gazan children to the UK privately for treatment.

A government spokesperson said: “We are taking forward plans to evacuate more children from Gaza who require urgent medical care, including bringing them to the UK for specialist treatment where that is the best option for their care.”

More than 50,000 children are estimated to have been killed or injured in Gaza since October 2023, according to Unicef.

So far, three children have arrived in the UK for medical treatment with the help of the charity Project Pure Hope.

Around 5,000 have been evacuated in total, with the majority going to Egypt and Gulf countries.

Sir Keir Starmer said last week that the UK was “urgently accelerating” efforts to bring children over for treatment.

The government has also pledged another £1m to help the World Health Organisation in Egypt provide medical support to evacuated Gazans.

The prime minister told the Mirror: “I know the British people are sickened by what is happening.

“The images of starvation and desperation in Gaza are utterly horrifying. We are urgently accelerating efforts to evacuate children from Gaza who need critical medical assistance – bringing more Palestinian children to the UK for specialist medical treatment.”

Around 100 MPs have signed a letter urging the government to fast track the scheme.

Labour MP Stella Creasy, who co-ordinated the letter, said: “The commitment we all share to help these children remains absolute and urgent – with every day, more are harmed or die, making the need to overcome any barriers to increasing the support we give them imperative.

“We stand ready to support whatever it takes to make this happen and ask for your urgent response.”

Meanwhile, Project Pure Hope has been campaigning for months to create a scheme which would allow for the evacuation of 30 to 50 children.

The charity has raised the money to bring the children and their families to the UK, and cover their medical costs, privately.

Politics

The token is dead, long live the token

Published

8 hours ago

August 3, 2025

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The token is dead, long live the token

Crypto tokens have failed retail investors through insider concentration and poor design. Regulation and tokenized real-world assets offer hope for revival.

Politics

Clampdown on social media ads for Channel crossings unveiled

Published

17 hours ago

August 3, 2025

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Clampdown on social media ads for Channel crossings unveiled

Anyone who advertises Channel crossings or fake passports on social media could face up to five years in prison under new government plans.

Research suggests about 80% of migrants arriving to the UK by small boat used internet platforms during their journey – including to contact agents linked to smuggling gangs.

While it is already illegal to assist illegal immigration, ministers hope the creation of a new offence will give police more powers and disrupt business models.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is also planning to introduce a fast-track scheme to tackle the asylum backlog, meaning decisions will be made within weeks.

It comes as official figures show more than 25,000 people have arrived on small boats so far in 2025 – a record for this point in the year.

Ms Cooper said it is “immoral” for smugglers to sell false promises online, adding: “These criminals have no issue with leading migrants to life-threatening situations using brazen tactics on social media.

“We are determined to do everything we can to stop them, wherever they operate.”

The new offence prohibiting the online promotion of Channel crossings is set to be included in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill already going through Parliament.

Officials from the National Crime Agency already work with tech giants to remove such posts – with more than 8,000 taken offline last year.

A Preston-based smuggler who was jailed for 17 years had posted videos of migrants thanking him for his help.

Meanwhile, Albanian smugglers have created promotions for £12,000 “package deals” which claim to offer accommodation and a job in the UK on arrival.

The Conservatives have described the measures as “too little, too late” – and say automatic deportations are the only way to tackle small boat crossings.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “Labour still has no clear plan to deter illegal entry, no effective enforcement and no strategy to speed up removals. This is a panicked attempt to look tough after months of doing nothing.”

It comes as protests outside hotels believed to be housing asylum seekers continue in towns and cities across the UK.

Several demonstrators were detained – with police breaking up brief clashes – outside the Thistle City Barbican Hotel in north London yesterday.

The government is legally required to provide accommodation and subsistence to destitute asylum seekers while their claims are being decided, most of whom are prohibited from working.