The UK authorities have received more than 6 million applications from European citizens wishing to remain in the UK after Brexit. Britain’s Home Office said on Friday that 5.1 million of them had been approved, describing them as “successful”.
The UK government has promised EU citizens that they will retain the same rights to live, work and receive social benefits in the UK after Brexit. They could have lived in the country before December 31, 2020 and registered through a programme, the EU Settlement Scheme before June 30, 2021.
In total, about 6 million applications were received, of which 400,000 were in the month of June. The Interior Ministry said 5.1 million of them had been approved. People who have been in the country for less than five years are granted temporary (previously resident) status. They can apply for permanent status once they have been in the country for five years.
“Having more than 6 million applications is an unprecedented achievement, and I am delighted that we have been able to secure the rights of so many European citizens – our friends, neighbors and relatives,” British Home Secretary Priti Patel said in a statement.
The ministry stresses that the rights of the people awaiting the decision – about 570 thousand – have been preserved in the meantime, and that the investigation of less complex cases will be completed in the coming days.
