The UK has left the European Union

Are you an EU citizen living in Scotland? The deadline for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members (who were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020) was 30 June 2021. If you applied to the EU Settlement Scheme, or successfully applied for a UK visa (including permission to stay) using the ID Check app or by visiting a Visa Application Centre or Service and Support Centre, you can find helpful information for status holders and applicants on the UK government page: EU Settlement Scheme: information for status holders and applicants.

From Thursday 1 July 2021, EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members are now required to obtain a valid UK immigration status to be in the UK, either through the EUSS, if they were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 or are a joining family member, or through a valid visa. 

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may be asked to show their digital status to prove their right to work. Other departments, such as HMRC, DWP and the NHS, will have automatic access to their status to check a person’s eligibility for free healthcare, benefits and access to public funds. More information on immigration status can be found here: Your immigration status: an introduction for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens.

Pending applications

Anyone who made an application by the 30 June 2021 deadline will have their existing rights protected, pending the outcome of their application. 

Switching from pre-settled status to settled status

If you hold pre-settled status, you can apply to switch to settled status as soon as you’re eligible. This is usually after you’ve lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for 5 years in a row (known as 'continuous residence'). You do not need to have held pre-settled status for 5 years before you can apply to switch to settled status. See more information on switching from pre-settled status to settled status.  

Planning to travel

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens with an EUSS status should register documents you plan to travel on via the View and Prove service. This will make re-entering the United Kingdom quicker. Find out more.  

Help from the Citizens Rights Project

If you now have settled or pre-settled status, the Citizens Rights Project has produced some useful resources explaining the process of proving your status and updating a new ID document on the digital profile. Posters, leaflets, and video presentations are available in multiple European languages. You can download them for free in this link. 

If you are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme but still haven’t applied for settled or pre-settled status you can still do so, even after the deadline of 30th June 2021. However, late applications are discretionary, so applicants must explain and prove why they were unable to apply before the deadline. Free support with late applications is still available from the Citizens Rights Project. Residents in Scotland who need help with their late EUSS application can contact us.

The Home Office has produced the following 'At a Glance' leaflets: 

• Factsheet for late applicants
• Factsheet for those who have status already or a pending application OK 

Over 4,000 EU citizens living in Dundee were originally given ‘pre-settled’ status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) because they did not have the five years of continuous residency required to obtain full settled status.   

From September 2023, people who have pre-settled status will automatically have their status extended by 2 years before it expires if they have not obtained settled status. The process will be automated by the Home Office and reflected in the person’s digital status. They will be notified of the extension directly. This will ensure that nobody loses their immigration status if they do not apply to switch from pre-settled to settled status. 

There is still a requirement of continuous residency. This requires a citizen to be in the UK for at least six months in each twelve-month period over the period of continuous residency, although a citizen can be outside for more than six months for one of the following reasons:  

• one period of up to 12 months for an important reason - for example, childbirth, serious illness, study, vocational training, an overseas work posting or because of COVID-19 
• compulsory military service of any length 
• time spent abroad as a Crown servant, or as the family member of a Crown servant 
• time spent abroad in the armed forces, or as the family member of someone in the armed forces 
• working in the UK marine area 

It is advised that EU citizens intending to be out of the UK for more than six months contact the EU Settlement Resolution Centre to check that the reason for travelling won’t affect their continuous residency and eligibility for full settled status. 
Support and advice is available from: 

EU Settlement Resolution Centre 
Call 0300 123 7379 Mon to Fri from 8am to 8pm or weekends from 9.30am to 4.30pm 
 
Citizens Advice Bureau 
(EU Citizens Support helpline) 
Call 0800 916 9847 Mon to Fri from 9am to 5pm  
 
Citizens Rights Project (multilingual) 
Complete online contact request form 
 
Dundee City Council (Council Advice Services)  
Call 01382 41188 (Option 2) Mon to Fri 9.30am to 4.30am 
Email: welfare.rights@dundeecity.gov.uk 

If you are a UK citizen living in the EU it is important that you understand your rights now the UK is no longer a member of the EU. Guidance on residency, healthcare, working, and other topics for UK nationals who moved to European countries before 1 January 2021 can be found on the gov.uk website.  

It is important to fully understand implications of living in each individual EU member country, but guides to living in each can be found on the gov.uk website.

The 20,000 students who attend Dundee's two universities and college make up around one in seven of the population - the highest figure in Scotland. They contribute greatly to the city, culturally and economically. 

As an international student, you will need to pay tuition fees for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Tuition fees vary depending on the institution you want to attend and the course you want to study. Your college or university will provide you with information on how and when to pay your tuition fees.  

Only EU nationals who are 'settled' or 'pre-settled' in the UK will remain eligible to apply for home tuition fees providing they meet the residency conditions. 

You can find advice for EU students who are studying or planning to study in the UK, as well as advice on the Erasmus programme and other relevant information on the gov.uk website.

The Council has established a Brexit Advisory Team to advise members on how to mitigate the risks associated with Brexit. 

The Council's Brexit Advisory Team, established between 2016 and 2022 advised our Elected Members on risks and mitigations associated with Brexit.  

Issues for Dundee include: 

• The impact on EU citizens living and working in the city. 
• The ending of EU funding for projects and uncertainty about replacement funding. 
• Implications for the workforce of the Council and other major employers. 
• Impact on the local economy, including on businesses and academic institutions.  

A series of reports on the impact of Brexit have been submitted to the Council’s Policy and Resources Committee (renamed as City Governance Committee in 2023) over recent years. The latest reports are: 

• Brexit Update June 2022 (376KB PDF)
• Brexit Update January 2022 (276KB PDF)

For previous reports, please visit the Council’s Committee reports portal and search for Brexit.