New rules for pre-settled status – now in force!
- Zjednoczenie Polskie
- Jul 20
- 1 min read
From 16 July 2025, new, more relaxed rules apply to the granting of settled status and the automatic transition from pre-settled status to permanent status.
This is an important change for people who have been outside the UK for some time and have previously feared losing their right to permanent status.
What has changed?
Before the change: | After the change (from 16/07/2025): |
|---|---|
If someone with pre-settled status left the UK for more than 6 months in a year, they lost continuity of residence and the right to apply for settled status could be lost. | This counts as a total of 30 months of stay in the UK over the last 5 years . This does not have to be continuous! |
The most important information
✅ New rules are already in force
✅ You only need to stay in the UK for 30 months within 5 years
✅ No need to prove continuity
✅ Applies to holders of pre-settled status
FAQ – frequently asked questions
What does this mean in practice?
If someone lived in the UK for a total of 2.5 years in the last 5 years – for example from 2019 to 2022 – and then left – they can still apply for permanent status.
How to document your stay?
For example, payslips, bills, confirmation of employment, bank statements, letters from offices – everything that confirms actual stay in the UK – are required.
Do I need to submit a new application?
If the status has not changed automatically – yes, you can and should submit the application yourself.