EU Nationals are advised to apply to the Settlement Scheme

01 September 2020

EU (and EEA and Swiss nationals) living in Jersey are being advised to apply to the Jersey-EU Settlement Scheme as soon as possible. All EU nationals, except those holding Irish nationality, who wish to continue living and working in Jersey from 1 January 2021 will need to apply.

EU nationals who arrive before 1 January 2021 will be eligible for the scheme, and applications can be made up until 30 June 2021.

The scheme, which protects EU nationals’ rights to live and work in Jersey, was launched in February 2019 and has so far received more than 12,500 applications. However, there are still a significant number of EU nationals who have yet to apply. Any EU national that will arrive in Jersey after 31 December 2020 will require a visa to work, and their employer will need a work permit.

Home Affairs Minister, Connétable Len Norman, said: “The Settlement Scheme protects the rights of the more than 20,000 EU nationals living and working in Jersey to remain here from the 1 January 2021.

“Whilst we have had a significant number of applications since the scheme launched, there remains a sizeable portion of our EU community who are yet to apply.

“Understandably, the impact of COVID-19 will have been a key focus for Islanders over the last few months. However, the need for EU nationals to apply remains unchanged, and it is important that anyone wishing to remain in the Island from next year applies to the scheme before the deadline.”

External Relations Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, said: “EU nationals living and working in our Island form an integral part of our community: they contribute socially, economically and culturally to the prosperity of Jersey.

“As a consequence of Brexit, EU nationals living and working in Jersey could have faced uncertainty from the beginning of next year. The Jersey-EU Settlement Scheme removes this uncertainty and ensures that people who have made Jersey their home can remain here for as long as they wish to.

“I strongly urge those EU nationals who wish to continue living, working or studying in the Island from the beginning of next year to apply as soon as they can.”

Applications to the scheme are free of charge.

Due to COVID-19, the final step in the application process cannot be completed at this current time. However applicants’ rights will be in place as long as the application has been made. An online solution will be launched in September allowing applicants to complete the process remotely.