Brexit information for staff

The UK formally left the European Union (EU) on 31 January 2020. A transition period applied until 31 December 2020. From 1 January 2021 EU, EEA or Swiss citizens citizens moving to the UK to work will need to get a visa under the new UK’s Points-Based System (PBS) in advance.

Settled status

EU citizens and their family members (including non-EU citizens), resident in the UK by 31 December 2020, need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue to live, work and study in the UK beyond 30 June 2021. Even if they have lived in the UK for many years, or have a UK permanent residence document, they still need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. They do not need to apply if they have indefinite leave to remain or enter, but they can if they want to. Irish citizens do not need to apply, but they can if they want to. The deadline to apply is 30 June 2021.

Under the EU Settlement Scheme, qualified applicants can be granted ‘settled status’ if they have been in the UK for five years or more which gives the right to remain in the UK with no time limit. Qualified applicants who have been in the UK for less than five years, can be granted ‘pre-settled status’. This gives them the right to remain in the UK for up to five years, after which they can apply for ‘settled status’.

This status means also that they can continue to be eligible for:

  • public services, such as healthcare and schools
  • public funds and pensions
  • British citizenship, if they meet the requirements and want to apply.

See ‘What is settled status and how to apply?’ section below for more information about the process.

As a transition measure, recruiting managers can continue to accept the passports and national identity cards of EU citizens (without having to determine if they are an existing resident or someone who has arrived in the UK for the first time from January 2021 onwards) as evidence of their right to work up until 30 June 2021. Recruiting managers are not required to make retrospective checks for existing workers.

HR colleagues continue to be available to staff and managers to provide support and guidance as appropriate.

Information for EU staff

EU research funds

Travelling to the EU

Procurement

More information

You can find more information on Brexit and universities from the following websites.