EU citizens in UK receive letters saying residency rights granted ‘in error’
Hundreds of EU citizens living in the United Kingdom have received unexpected letters from the Home Office informing them that their post-Brexit residency status was granted ‘in error’ — leaving many facing the prospect of losing the right to remain in a country they’ve called home for years, sometimes decades.
What the letters say
The correspondence, which began reaching recipients in recent weeks, states that settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme was awarded incorrectly. In some cases, recipients had held that status for three or more years before being notified of the alleged mistake. The letters instruct individuals to respond within a set window — typically 28 days — or risk having their status revoked entirely.
For many, it’s come completely out of nowhere. One recipient, a Portuguese national who has lived in London for eleven years and works as a nurse in the NHS, described opening the letter as ‘one of the worst moments of my life.’
Who is affected and why
It’s not entirely clear how many people have received these letters. Migrant rights organisations estimate the number could run into the hundreds, though they warn the full scale may be larger. The errors appear to stem from administrative failures at the time of original applications — cases where individuals may have applied under the wrong category, or where supporting documentation was misread or miscategorised by Home Office caseworkers.
But here’s the thing: the mistakes weren’t made by the applicants. In virtually every case advocates have reviewed, the fault lies with the department’s own processing system.
That distinction matters enormously.
Legal and political reaction
Immigration lawyers and campaign groups have moved quickly. The 3million, an organisation representing EU citizens in post-Brexit Britain, has called the situation ‘deeply alarming’ and demanded an immediate suspension of all revocation proceedings pending an independent review. Several MPs have also raised the matter with the Home Secretary.
A Home Office spokesperson said the department is ‘committed to ensuring the EU Settlement Scheme operates fairly and accurately,’ and that anyone who receives a letter has the right to make representations before any decision is finalised. Still, critics say 28 days is an inadequate timeframe for people to gather legal support, particularly those without fluency in English or access to specialist advice.
What happens next
Legal challenges are already being prepared. At least two law firms have confirmed they’re pursuing judicial review applications on behalf of clients who received the letters. And advocates say they expect the numbers to grow once word spreads further through affected communities.
For those caught up in this mess right now, the uncertainty is brutal. Some have children in British schools. Some own property. Some have British partners. They built lives here in good faith, under a scheme the government itself designed and promoted.
Whether the courts, or political pressure, can force a faster resolution remains to be seen. But the clock is already ticking for hundreds of people who were told, not long ago, that their future in the UK was secure.
