Home Office to allow EU citizens who missed residency deadline to stay in UK

U-turn means ‘lack of awareness’ of the EU settlement scheme has been restored as reasonable grounds for late application

The Home Office has made a significant U-turn on the rights of EU citizens who were in the UK before Brexit, allowing those who missed the deadline to apply for post-Brexit permanent residency cards to remain in the country.

However, campaigners say the decision must be backed by more explicit wording in guidance to case workers – or EU citizens will end up having to “beg” for their rights to be recognised.