Thousands could end up accidental illegal citizens

Brexit: Some EU residents may not know they have to apply to stay in UK

Thousands of EU nationals could inadvertently become illegal residents in the UK after Brexit, a new report warns.

Domestic abuse victims, children and the elderly are among those at risk of losing their right to remain in Britain, despite meeting the required criteria to stay, according to experts.

This could be because they struggle to provide documentation and complete a registration process, or do not realise they need to apply to continue living in the UK legally.

The potential gap was highlighted in a paper by the Migration Observatory at Oxford University.

Its director Madeleine Sumption said: “The Home Office is clearly keen to create a system that is easy and straightforward to use and most EU citizens should be able to sail through a simplified application process with little difficulty.

“But for a minority of people, the process will be more difficult.

“Many of these are already society’s most vulnerable – whether it is because they are socially isolated, have been victims of exploitation, or face personal barriers such as mental health or poverty.”

Many people simply won’t realise they need to apply, Ms Sumption added.

She said: “We know from other government programmes like child benefit that people often don’t apply for something even when it’s really in their interests to do so.”

Later this year the Home Office will launch an application system for EU nationals seeking to remain in Britain after Brexit.

Those who have been in the country for five years by the end of 2020 will be able to apply for settled status – meaning they are free to continue living and working in the UK.

People who have arrived by December 31, 2020, but do not have five years’ residence will be able to apply to stay until they have reached the threshold, at which point they can seek settled status.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We are well aware of the challenges of ensuring that three million EU citizens and their family members living here understand the need to apply and have the ability to.

“That is why we have already launched a national awareness campaign and are holding monthly meetings with EU citizens’ representatives to understand their needs.”

Picture: Getty Images. Some EU citizens living in the UK may not realise they have to fill in forms to stay after Brexit, meaning they may end up having to leave.