New to the UK > Can you apply for pre-settled status outside the UK?

Can you apply for pre-settled status outside the UK?

Wollit Team1 minute read · Updated 11th August 2024

Pre-settled status is part of the EU Settlement Scheme, which was set up as part of Brexit. This status allows EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens who started living in the UK before 31 December 2020 to stay in the UK for another five years so they can eventually qualify for permanent residency. It basically gives you the right to live, work, and access public services in the UK.

Generally, the EU Settlement Scheme is meant for people already living in the UK. However, if you were outside of the UK during the pre-settled status application window, you should have been also able to apply, as long as you can prove you had a valid reason to do so.

Here are some of these reasons:

If you are a family member of someone who has pre-settled or settled status in the UK, you may apply to join them. This applies even if you are currently outside the UK.
If you lived in the UK before 31 December 2020 but did not apply by the deadline, you can still apply for pre-settled status if you can show a good reason for your late application.
If you have a valid biometric residence permit or visa, you can apply for pre-settled status before your leave expires, regardless of your current location.

Does having pre-settled status improve my credit score?

While pre-settled status itself does not directly affect your credit score, it does give you the opportunity to access UK financial products, such as bank accounts and credit cards, which are essential for establishing credit.

Also, if you hold pre-settled status, you may be eligible to apply for loans and mortgages in the UK. However, of course, simply having pre-settled status won’t be enough to get approved. You will need to actively build your credit history to show that you’re a reliable borrower.

One of the ways to improve your score is to download a credit-building app like Wollit.

Wollit works by reporting a fixed fee monthly subscription as a loan repayment to the credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). This helps you build or rebuild your credit history by showing that you can pay debt on time. It can even report your monthly rent payment to Experian, adding another line in your credit report that shows lenders you're responsible and pay your bills when they’re due. In time, this will help you improve your credit score so you won’t need to be worried about passing a UK credit check.