This page provides updated information about withdrawal from the European Union (EU) including EU Settlement guidance for employees and managers.

  1. Table of contents

Information for Employees

Around 77 Council employees will need to apply to the EU Settlement Schemeif they wish to remain in the UK after Brexit. The deadline for applying is 30 June 2021 however due to the large volume of applications we would recommend applying as soon as possible.

The scheme allows employees that are EU, EEA or Swiss citizens and their families to continue living, working and studying in the UK, and ensures eligibility for:

  • Public services, such as healthcare and schools
  • Public funds and pensions
  • British citizenship, if you meet the requirements and want to apply

Anyone affected should discuss their intentions to stay in - or leave - the UK with their line manager.

The Council can also offer support if you need to obtain confirmation of residence status from the Home Office. For assistance contact the HR Helpdesk.

Who is eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme?

Except in a few cases, you'll need to apply if:

  • You're an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
  • Your family member is an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, but you are not

Family members

The EU Settlement Scheme covers all EU, EEA or Swiss citizens living in the UK and their family members. Family members do not need to be from the EU, EEA or Switzerland; they can come from anywhere in the world (referred to as non-EU citizen family members).

Family members of eligible EU, EEA or Swiss citizens

Non-EU citizen family members living in the UK by 31 December 2020 are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Your close family members that are not living in the UK by that date will be able to join you in the UK under current rules until 29 March 2022, as long as the relationship still exists. After 29 March 2022, such family members will be able to return to the UK by applying through the applicable UK Immigration Rules.

Children born or adopted after 31 December 2020, and future dependents, will also have their rights protected.

After the deadline

If you are unable to apply before the deadline of 30 June 2021, late applications can be submitted for eligible EU, EEA and Swiss citizens if there are reasonable grounds for not meeting the deadline. Please see the Home Office guidance for more information.


Guidance for managers

More than 70 Council employees will need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme if they wish to remain in the UK after Brexit.

The scheme allows employees that are EU, EEA or Swiss citizens and their families to continue living, working and studying in the UK, and ensures eligibility for:

  • Public services, such as healthcare and schools
  • Public funds and pensions
  • British citizenship, if you meet the requirements and want to apply

Who can apply to the EU Settlement scheme?

What do I need to do if I have a current employee affected by this?

You should speak to the employee about their intentions to stay in or leave the UK.

If they wish to stay in the UK, the employee will submit an application to the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021 (although they should be encouraged to apply as soon as possible). They may need some employment information or documents to support their application. The HR Helpdesk are available to help.

The Home Office has advised that it is the responsibility of the individual to make an application to the EU Settlement Scheme. An employer is not required to check that an employee has applied.

What happens after an employee has applied to the EU Settlement Scheme?

The employee will receive a letter from the Home Office to advise the outcome of their application. Employees can use the online service to show you their settled status in the UK. Their status is linked to the passport or national identity card that was used to apply for the scheme.

The online check will show the outcome of their application and whether they can work and live in the UK, detailing any restrictions.

How do I record this information?

We have adapted our systems to record settled status details. This guidance document advises how to record this information.

How to check and record EU Settled Status

What do I do if the employee intends to leave the UK?

You should discuss this with them and agree a leaving date – this would be dealt with as a normal resignation.

How does this affect recruitment checks?

You should continue to check that applicants have the right to work in the UK, following the Recruitment & Selection Policy and Recruitment Checklist.

As well as being able to use valid residence documentation or a passport or national identity card for recruitment checks, the applicant can also use the Home Office online checking service to prove their rights in the UK. They will be able to use the online checking service to show their right to work to an employer by letting them view their status online.

A copy of the online check should be retained and saved in docstore along with other recruitment check documents. The recruitment checklist, processes and systems will be updated in due course and the process will be automated where possible. Until this in place, you should email hrhelpdesk@falkirk.gov.uk with details of any new starts that are from EU, EEA or Switzerland with the name and check date and reference number from the online check.

The current framework for completing a "right to work" check for an EU, EEA or Swiss national is not expected to change until June 2021 (with the exception being that once pre-settled or settled status is in place, EU citizens will be able to evidence their right to work using the online right to work service, if they choose to do so). Employers will not be required to undertake retrospective checks on existing EU employees, even though the basis on which they are able to work in the UK will change.


Just Right Scotland: Factsheets for EU Citizens

JustRight Scotland is a legal centre for justice and human rights. They have a range of factsheets explaining the rights of EU citizens in Scotland to vote, work, and access healthcare, education, housing and benefits. The factsheets may be useful for EU citizens to find out what support they can access and for anyone wishing to understand the rights of EU citizens. They are available in English, Polish, Romanian, Lithuanian, Spanish and Italian.

JustRight Scotland was commissioned by the Scottish Government in addition to support provided by the Stay in Scotland campaign.