Settled vs pre-settled status

Last reviewed 13 August 2026 · Reviewed by the BritainTest editorial team

Under the EU Settlement Scheme, EU, EEA and Swiss citizens (and their family members) who were living in the UK before Brexit could get one of two statuses: settled or pre-settled. The difference comes down to how long you had lived here. This guide explains both, and how they relate to settlement and citizenship. It is general information, not immigration advice.

What the scheme is

The EU Settlement Scheme was set up so that EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their families who were resident in the UK by the end of the Brexit transition period could keep their right to live here. The main deadline to apply has passed, though late applications may still be possible with reasonable grounds. Check the current position on GOV.UK.

Here is the difference at a glance:

Settled status

Settled status is usually granted once you have 5 years' continuous residence. It is a form of indefinite leave to remain: there is no time limit, and you can live and work in the UK freely. Like other ILR, it can lapse if you spend too long outside the UK (for settled status the limit is longer, 5 continuous years). It is also a route to citizenship.

Pre-settled status

Pre-settled status is for people who had less than 5 years' residence when they applied. It is temporary leave rather than settlement, and it lapses more quickly if you are absent (after 2 continuous years). The idea is that you hold it until you reach five years and can move up to settled status.

Moving to settled status

Once you reach 5 years' continuous residence, you can move from pre-settled to settled status. This can happen automatically in many cases, or you can apply. The Home Office has also been extending pre-settled status before it expires so that no one loses their rights simply because they have not upgraded yet. Because this is an evolving area, confirm your own position on GOV.UK.

Neither is citizenship (and the test)

This is the key point: neither settled nor pre-settled status is British citizenship. Becoming a citizen is a separate application: our how to become a British citizen guide sets out the route, usually after holding settled status for a period. And while the EU Settlement Scheme did not require the Life in the UK Test, citizenship does. Our Life in the UK Test for EU citizens guide explains exactly when the test comes in.

This page explains settled and pre-settled status and is for study and preparation only. It is general information, not immigration advice, and does not determine your eligibility for settlement or citizenship. For official rules and any updates, rely on GOV.UK; GOV.UK guidance controls if anything here differs.