OVER two thirds of Hampshire’s EU citizens have successfully registered for the EU Settlement Scheme.

News that 28,790 applications by Hampshire residents to the Government’s EU Settlement Scheme have been successfully concluded has been welcomed by Hampshire County Council.

Cllr Andrew Joy, Hampshire County Council’s executive member for communities, partnerships and external affairs, said: “These latest figures show an increase of 13 per cent from December and mean than 69 per cent of Hampshire’s 43,000 EU citizens have signed up to the scheme which is very encouraging.”

The EU Settlement Scheme is designed to protect the rights of EU citizens living in the UK. It involves an online registration process, which has been designed specifically to enable those EU citizens, already lawfully based in the UK, to remain living and working in the UK after 30 June 2021. The latest figures are those of March 312020.

Cllr Joy added: “Those Hampshire’s EU residents who have not yet applied to the scheme, and wish to do so, still have time to register. I would also like to take this opportunity to reiterate that we consider these residents part of the Hampshire ‘family’ – who are greatly valued.”

Support and advice is available for those needing help with the online form or assistance with complex cases at the Citizens Advice Bureau. Citizens Advice Bureau Southampton has been funded by the Home Office to provide an EUSS support service to help vulnerable people in the region, and the Southampton Registration Service is offering an ID scanning service. Guidance about how to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme is set out on the Government’s webpage.

The Home Office support services and application routes have now all fully reopened in line with public health guidance. This includes the reopening of the postal route for submitting identity documents for applicants who are unable to use the EU Exit: ID Document Check app to verify their identity.

The EU Settlement Resolution Centre continues to provide support seven days a week by email and telephone, in line with public health guidance to work from home where possible.

There continues to be a range of support available online, by email and telephone for those who have questions or need help applying.

Applicants can use the EU Exit ID Document check app to complete the identity stage of their application.