Settled status: how long you can stay outside the UK without losing it

Many EU citizens living in the UK ask how long they can leave the country without losing their status under the EU Settlement Scheme. The rules are set out on the government's GOV.UK website.

Settled status: up to 5 years outside the UK

A person with settled status can spend up to 5 years in a row outside the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man without losing it. If they enter the UK for any length of time during that period, they can leave again for another 5 years.

For Swiss citizens the limit is shorter, at 4 years in a row. The same rule applies: entering the UK for any length of time starts a new 4 years.

Pre-settled status

Pre-settled status lapses automatically if someone spends more than 5 years in a row outside the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. After 5 years of continuous residence, a person with this status may apply for settled status.

Continuous residence when moving to settled status

Getting settled status usually requires 5 years of so-called continuous residence. For a first application, this means being in the UK for at least 6 months in any 12-month period. Applicants must also show that they or a family member were living in the UK by 31 December 2020.

A longer absence does not break continuity in several cases. These are:

• one period of up to 12 months for an important reason, such as childbirth, serious illness, study, vocational training or an overseas work posting,
• 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.

What settled status gives you

According to GOV.UK, settled status makes it easier to prove your right to live in the UK permanently. It also allows people who meet the requirements to apply for British citizenship.

What this means for you

Before a longer trip, such as moving back to Poland, it is worth checking which status you hold. With settled status the limit is 5 years in a row, and a short return to the UK starts a new period. With pre-settled status the same 5-year threshold applies, but gaps in residence may also affect the continuity needed for settled status. People should check individual cases on GOV.UK or with an immigration adviser.