Wouter & Lisa(42)

Lisa and I moved to London in 2019 — just before Brexit. I worked as an accountant at a Big Four firm, Lisa as an interior designer. We were lucky: as EU citizens living in the UK before 31 December 2020, we could apply for the EU Settlement Scheme. We received pre-settled status, giving us the right to stay for five years.

Pre-settled status is a temporary status. After five years of continuous residence in the UK you can apply for settled status — the equivalent of permanent residency. The crucial point: you must not have been outside the UK for more than six consecutive months. During COVID we went back to the Netherlands for four months, which was still within the limit. But it was stressful to keep track of.

The application for settled status was surprisingly simple. Through the EU Settlement Scheme app on your phone you scan your passport, upload a photo and answer a few questions. HMRC and DWP records are automatically checked to verify your residence. Within two weeks we both had settled status. No costs — the application is free.

With settled status you have the same rights as a British citizen, except voting rights in national elections. You can work without restriction, have full access to the NHS and other public services, and after one year of settled status you can apply for British citizenship if you wish. We're considering it — especially for the children who go to school here.

Richmond has become our home. It feels like a village on the Thames rather than a London borough. The children go to an excellent state school, we walk in Richmond Park (with the deer!) and the sense of community is strong. Council tax here is £200 per month for a Band F property. Richmond is expensive — we pay £2,400 for a three-bedroom house — but the quality of life is worth it.

Our most important advice to Dutch people who were in the UK before Brexit: make sure you have settled status. Pre-settled status expires, and if you miss it you can lose your rights. Check your status regularly via the online View and Prove tool. And keep all evidence of your residence — HMRC records, bank statements, tenancy agreements. You never know when you'll need them.