Deadline looms for workers’ settled status applications

Time is running out for thousands of foreign farmworkers who are yet to apply for permission to remain living and working in the UK.

Following the UK’s exit from the EU, European Economic Area (EEA), EU or Swiss citizens must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme before 30 June.

Dedicated settlement charity, Settled, warned that failure to apply could mean some workers may even be deported.

According to Settled, thousands of workers and their employers still do not realise the deadline is so close and what is needed to apply.

Business owners must ensure all staff have complied, because they could face punishment for employing workers who do not have the right to work in the country, the charity said.

See also: How to apply for settled status and skilled worker visas

Settled Midlands area service co-ordinator Pawel Kolodziej said: “Many workers face difficulties in applying because they don’t have access to the technology required to complete forms.

“Others face a language barrier or have missing documents and are struggling to replace them because embassies are overwhelmed.”

How to apply

The worker needs to make the application online via the government website page Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

The employee will need:

• A valid passport or national identity card
• A digital photo of their face.

If applicants have a biometric passport of identity card, documents should be scanned and uploaded using the EU Exit: ID Document Check app.

Alternatively, they can be sent in the post and digital photos uploaded using the online application form.

The employee will also need to provide proof of continuous residency in the UK.

For this they will need their national insurance number.

Charity help

Settled offers free support for EU nationals with little English or IT skills via its website.