New to the UK > How long does pre-settled status last?

How long does pre-settled status last?

Wollit Team2 minute read · Updated 14th September 2024

Pre-settled status is a special immigration status for EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens and their family members who moved to the UK before the end of 2020. If you have pre-settled status, you can live and work in the UK for up to 5 years from the date you received this status.

How do I get pre-settled status?

To qualify for pre-settled status, you must meet these conditions:

You started living in the UK before 31 December 2020.
You have lived in the UK for less than 5 continuous years.
You may also qualify if you have a valid UK residence card or visa.

If you didn’t apply by the deadline, you might still be able to get pre-settled status if you have a good reason, like being sick.

Your family members are still eligible to apply for the scheme, as long as you have pre-settled or settled status yourself, and their relationship with you started by 31 December 2020 (unless you’re a Swiss citizen).

How long can I stay outside the UK?

With pre-settled status, you can leave the UK for up to 6 months in any 12-month period without losing your status. However, if you stay outside the UK for more than 5 years in a row, you will lose your pre-settled status.

What if I lose my pre-settled status?

If you lose your pre-settled status, you will need to apply for a visa to stay in the UK. If you are a family member of an EU, Swiss, or EEA citizen, you may be able to reapply for the EU Settlement Scheme.

Can I work and study in the UK?

Yes, if you have pre-settled status, you can work, study, and access public services in the UK. You may need to show proof of your right to work or study to employers or schools.

How to move from pre-settled to settled status?

To change from pre-settled to settled status, you need to have lived in the UK for 5 continuous years. The time starts counting from when you first moved to the UK, not from when you got pre-settled status.

You can apply for settled status as soon as you meet the 5-year requirement. The application is free, and you can do it through the EU Settlement Scheme.

If you don’t apply for settled status before your pre-settled status expires, the Home Office may automatically extend your pre-settled status for an additional 2 years. However, they can cancel this extension if they think you no longer meet the requirements, like spending too much time outside the UK.

Does pre-settled status affect my credit score?

No, having pre-settled status does not directly affect your credit score. Your credit score is based on your financial history, not your immigration status.

However, having pre-settled status might impact your ability to get a loan or mortgage. Some lenders may see pre-settled status as temporary and may hesitate to lend money. They might want you to have settled status or a longer period of residence in the UK before they approve your application.

Being on pre-settled status (as opposed to settled) can also mean that you’re still quite new to the UK. You might have a “thin credit file” which can actually affect your credit score.

This is why it’s so important to establish and build your credit history as soon as you can, if you’re new to the UK.

One of the ways to do this 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 any credit check ever again.