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| Settlement Scheme for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens |
Dear compatriots,
The Settlement Scheme for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens post-Brexit opened fully over the weekend and Swiss citizens and their family members are now able to apply. If you have British citizenship (including British-Swiss dual nationals) you do not need to do anything, and if you have Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) you do not need to apply but it is advantageous to do so (please see our FAQs). If you do not have either, you will need to apply to the scheme if you wish to stay in the UK beyond December 2020. You need to apply even if you are married to a British citizen, and children without British citizenship or ILR must also complete an application. You can start your application here.
There is no urgency; you have until June 2021 (or December 2020 in a no-deal Brexit scenario). Please do not worry if you have travel plans in the near future; both the Swiss and UK governments have confirmed that visas will not be required for Swiss citizens to enter the UK or for British citizens to enter Switzerland, including in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Since we last wrote to you, the UK government has abolished the fee for all settled status applications. You’ll be able to complete the application form online, with support over the phone or in person if needed. Trial phases have shown the process to be quick and straightforward in the vast majority of cases. When you apply, you’ll need proof of your identity (valid passport or national identity card) and your residence in the UK.
We continually update our FAQs to reflect the latest developments so please visit our website in the first instance with any questions you have. You’ll also find resources there including a video Q&A in which Ambassador Fasel gives a detailed update and addresses questions covering many different personal circumstances and all Brexit scenarios. We will film a Swiss colleague completing the Settlement Scheme application process on their phone and will add this clip to our website and share on our social media channels in the coming weeks.
Please note we will not be able to intervene with the Home Office in settled status applications or give individual legal advice. The following sources of help should cover every question and scenario:
- For eligibility please read our FAQs or visit the Home Office Settlement Scheme website.
- For additional information or support on the application process, get in touch with the EU settlement resolution centre via phone or their web query service.
If you cannot find the answers you are looking for at any of the above links, you can contact us by email. Please bear in mind that we are a small team, and with around 35,000 Swiss citizens to take care of we need to prioritise complex cases and the more vulnerable members of our community. You should continue to follow our Twitter and Facebook accounts and check the Embassy website and local pages of the Swiss Review for more information on all aspects of the Brexit process and how Swiss citizens are affected. Please share this information with Swiss friends and family who may not have registered their email address with us.
With
my best wishes, Alexandre Fasel
Ambassador |
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