Many EU citizens living in the UK ask how long they can leave the country without losing their status under the EU Settlement Scheme. The answer depends on which status you hold, and the rules are set out on the government's GOV.UK website. This is general information only, not personal immigration advice — always check the official GOV.UK page, as rules change.

Settled status: up to five years abroad

A person with settled status can spend up to five years in a row outside the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man without losing it. If they enter the UK for any length of time during that period, they can leave again for another five years. For Swiss citizens the limit is shorter, at four years in a row, with the same reset rule on re-entry.

Pre-settled status and continuous residence

Pre-settled status lapses automatically if someone spends more than five years in a row outside the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. After five years of continuous residence, a person with pre-settled status may apply for settled status. For a first settled-status application, continuous residence usually means being in the UK for at least six months in any 12-month period, and the applicant or a family member must have been living in the UK by 31 December 2020. Longer absences do not break continuity in several cases, including up to 12 months for an important reason such as childbirth, serious illness, study or an overseas work posting, compulsory military service, and time abroad as a Crown servant or armed forces family member.