Information for EEA and Swiss students

The UK left the European Union (Brexit) on 31 January 2020 and entered into a standstill transition period until 31 December 2020, as part of the UK-EU negotiated Withdrawal Agreement.

Most EU, EEA and Swiss nationals (and relevant family members), who are already residents in the UK before the end of the transition period, will need to apply for permission to remain in the UK with their rights protected in order to continue living in the UK.

This permission is called Settled Status or Pre-Settled Status and is granted under a application to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Most EU, EEA and Swiss nationals (and relevant family members) who are not already resident in the UK before the end of the transition period, will need to enter the UK with the relevant immigration permission under the UK immigration rules and may require a visa.

The deadline to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme is 30 June 2021. If you are currently absent from the UK because of remote study due to Covid or for another important reason, you may still be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme even if you are not currently in the UK. The UK government recently updated the guidance for EU Settlement Scheme applicants which makes some allowances for absences from the UK due to a Covid related reasons including remote study because of Covid. Please see our updated guidance for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme below

Detailed information about Brexit and the EU Settlement Scheme

EU Settlement Scheme

For EU, EEA and Swiss nationals and their relevant family members who have already arrived in or began living in the UK before the end of the transition period, the UK government have created a type of immigration permission called the EU Settlement Scheme to allow you to continue living in the UK with broadly the same rights as now.

The EU Settlement Scheme is open to applications now and any EU, EEA or Swiss national who wishes to continue living in the UK with their rights guaranteed will need to make an application to the EU settlement scheme before the deadline.

The International Student Advice team at LJMU have produced an information sheet with answers to FAQs about the EU Settlement Scheme.

The deadline to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme is 30 June 2021. If you are currently absent from the UK because of remote study due to Covid or for another important reason, you may still be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme even if you are not currently in the UK. The UK government recently updated the guidance for EU Settlement Scheme applicants which makes some allowances for absences from the UK due to a Covid related reasons including remote study because of Covid. Please see our updated guidance for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme below

Information sheet for applying to the EU Settlement Scheme

Guide to Completing an EU Settlement Scheme Application

To be granted status to stay in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme, you will need to make an application before the deadline (30 June 2021), meet the validity and eligibility requirements and have commenced your continuous qualifying residence period in the UK before the end of the Brexit Transition Period (11pm on 31 December 2020).

For more information on the requirements for the EU Settlement Scheme, please see the section on Applying to the EU Settlement Scheme.

The International Student Advice team at LJMU have produced a guide to completing the EU Settlement Scheme application

Information for Erasmus students

Following the end of the UK's exit from the European Union transition period on 31 December 2020, different rules for entry to and study in the UK will apply to EU, EEA and Swiss nationals.

Erasmus and other study abroad students coming to LJMU from EU and EEA member states or from Switzerland after the end of the Transition Period will come to the UK under the new UK immigration rules.

The International Student Advice team have produced an information sheet covering the different requirements for EU, EEA and Swiss students coming to study at LJMU if they arrive before or after the end of the transition period, and the different types of immigration permission if coming to the UK after the end of the transition period.

Information sheet for our EU/EEA Erasmus and Study Abroad students