Thousands apply for settled status

More than 50,000 EU nationals submitted applications for settled status following Brexit in the first weekend the scheme went live, the Home Office has said.

The scheme went into operation on Saturday, with more than three million EU citizens thought to be eligible to apply by December 2020.

Some 230,000 applications were submitted during a test period, bringing the total so far to more than 280,000, of which 210,000 have been concluded.

More than 1,500 staff are working on processing applications, but there were a number of complaints over the weekend from people struggling to access or operate the online system.

Under the new scheme, EU citizens who are already resident in the UK will continue to have the right to live and work in Britain and use public services, such as healthcare, schools and pensions.

Applicants must prove their identity, show they live in the UK and declare any criminal convictions. An identity document check app has been developed to allow applicants to verify their identity.