The right to settled status

EU citizens whose homes are in Scotland have to apply for permission to stay here after Brexit.  However, the Human Rights Consortium Scotland, and many other civil society organisations, are calling for EU citizens to have the automatic right to stay. 

Many people will miss out on settled status because they lack paperwork, face additional barriers such as language, or simply don’t apply on time.  People who have experienced domestic violence, those who have been trafficked, street homeless, older people and those who are isolated are all at particular risk. 

If EU citizens don’t get settled status before the deadline, they will be resident in the UK unlawfully and at risk of deportation, and of infringement of many of their basic rights.

In a series of short films coordinated by the Human Rights Consortium Scotland, EU citizens and organisations that work with them have been speaking about some of the problems around settled status.

The Consortium is calling on MPs, peers and the UK Government to amend current Brexit legislation to enable all EU citizens simply to register to prove their right of residence – instead of getting permission from the Home Office.