EU Pre-Settled Status Upgrade Expanded - New 30-in-60 Month Test from April 2026
13 Apr 2026
If you or a family member holds EU pre-settled status, a change made on 9 April 2026 means you may be automatically upgraded to full settled status without needing to submit a new application.
The Home Office expanded its automated upgrade system to use a simpler residency test. Instead of checking for continuous month-by-month residence under the original Withdrawal Agreement rules — which required no more than six months' absence per year over five consecutive years — the system now looks for at least 30 months of HMRC tax payments or DWP benefit records within your most recent 60 months. If your records meet this threshold, the Home Office will upgrade your status automatically and notify you by email. You do not need to do anything to trigger the check.
Not everyone will be upgraded automatically. The system cannot process cases where an individual has no sufficient HMRC or DWP records, is under 18, is a non-EEA family member, holds another UK immigration status alongside their EUSS status, or has derivative rights. If you do not qualify for an automatic upgrade, your pre-settled status will continue to be extended by five years — giving you more time to build sufficient records or apply manually. You can apply for settled status yourself at any point if you believe you meet the five-year continuous residence requirement.
The distinction between pre-settled and settled status matters. Settled status is harder to lose and provides stronger long-term protections under the Withdrawal Agreement, including permanent residence rights. If you are unsure whether you have been upgraded, check your status via the Home Office online service using your share code.
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