Brexit: EU citizens working for us

We welcome applications from EU citizens and will support you to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme - including paying your application fee

The UK is set to exit from the European Union on 29 March 2019. EU citizens can continue to apply for jobs and be employed by the Trust after 29 March 2019. However, all EU citizens and their family members who want to stay in the UK beyond 31 December 2020 need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. The scheme allows EU citizens and their family members to continue to live, work and study in the UK. It also means as an EU citizen, you can continue to access public services like healthcare, schools and benefits.

If you are an EU citizen and join the Trust between now and 31 December 2020, we will pay the application fee when you apply for settled status.

If you are an UK citizen and currently work for us

We have over 1,500 EU nationals working with us who make a massive contribution to patient care every day. We are really want our EU citizens to stay at the Trust and will support you to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme – including paying your application fee.

Eligibility for the EU Settlement Scheme

To apply to the scheme you need to be an EU citizen or a non-EU family member of an EU citizen. You also need to be resident in the UK by 31 December 2020, which is the end of the planned implementation period. If you have been resident in the UK for more than five continuous years when you apply, you will be eligible for settled status. If you have been resident for less than five years when you apply, you will be eligible for pre-settled status. You do not need to apply if you are an Irish citizen.

When to apply

The EU Settlement Scheme will be fully operational by 30 March 2019. EU citizens and their family members have until 30 June 2021 to apply and your rights remain the same until then, provided you are resident in the UK by 31 December 2020.

Cost of applying

If you are a member of staff and an EU citizen, the Trust will reimburse you £85 to cover the cost of your application to the EU Settlement Scheme. 

Your status

If you receive settled status, it means there is no time limit on how long you can stay in the UK. This is also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’ in the UK. If you receive pre-settled status (also known as ‘limited leave to remain’), it means you can stay in the UK for a period of five years. If you receive pre-settled status, you can apply for settled status once you have been in the UK for five years. You only have to pay once; if you have been granted pre-settled status, it will be free for you to apply for settled status after the UK leaves the EU.

Find out more about settled and pre-settled status on the Government website