Brighton & Hove is home for thousands of EU citizens

EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) applications

New figures released by the government show that 1,860 EU citizens in Brighton & Hove applied to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) between July and September 2020.

A total of 22,140 of the city's EU residents have now applied to stay in the UK after the Brexit transition period ends this year on 31 December.

The right to live and work in the UK

The EUSS secures the rights of EU nationals as they are now, protecting the right to live and work in the UK and guaranteeing access to housing, benefits, pensions and healthcare.

EU citizens living in the UK before 31 December, have until 30 June 2021 to apply to the scheme.

A new points-based immigration system comes into place from 1 January 2021 and everyone arriving into the UK next year, will be subject to the new rules.

We want our EU family to stay in Brighton & Hove

Councillor Marianna Ebel, chair of the council’s Brexit working group, said: “With less than a month before the EU transition ends, we are urging all our EU citizens to apply to the scheme.

"We are working with partners across the city to get the message out. We want our EU family to stay in Brighton & Hove.

“We market our city as a cosmopolitan, European destination and we want EU citizens to continue living, working and visiting our city.

"Brexit will not change that, it’s a fundamental part of who we are. 

“It is really encouraging to see that so many EU residents want to stay with us and have taken steps to protect their rights."

The EUSS application process is free and there is support available for anyone who needs it.

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