From 31st May, EU nationals will have only 30 days left to register on the EU Settlement Scheme. The deadline to register on this scheme ends on 30th June 2021.
This scheme allows EU citizens who arrived in the UK before 31 December 2020, to secure their right to continue to live and work in the UK by applying for settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). During her announcement on 24th May 2021, Home Secretary Priti Patel introduced the New Plan for Immigration which, amongst other reforms, gives authority to Border Force staff to check if an EU citizen has applied for or been granted status under the EUSS from 1st July 2021.
Until 30 June 2021, passports and ID cards from EU citizens may be accepted by landlords and employers as evidence for their legal right to work or rent property in the UK. As a reminder, pandemic driven virtual pre-employment checks are no longer allowed and employers are now required to have physical sight of employee documents during their Right To Work Checks.
Employers must have their HR records up to date and confirm that all their UK employees – whether based in the UK or presently remote working abroad – have the legal right to work in the UK. Now that lockdown rules are easing, Home Office audits and unannounced visits are expected to increase. We would advise employers and UK businesses to conduct an audit of their records to mitigate any risk of non-compliance. The Nathanson Partnership has a comprehensive program and can assist you with these audits and record keeping processes.
Please contact us for advice or further guidance on this matter.
