If an EU national (say for example, a Spanish player) can evidence that he moved to the UK before 11pm on 31 December 2020, they will be eligible to apply either for ‘settled status’ or ‘pre-settled status’ under the EU Settlement Scheme, depending on how long he has been in the UK.
i. ≥ 5 years = player can apply for settled status;
ii. < 5 years = player can apply for pre-settled status.
Within 12 months of securing ‘settled status’, players (and managers) will be eligible to apply for naturalisation as British citizens. Players who apply for and receive ‘pre-settled status’ can be ‘upgraded’ to settled status upon completing 5 years of residence in the UK.
NB: All applications for settled/pre-settled status must have been made before 30 June 2021.
If an EU minor (say, for example, an Italian) currently playing at a UK club, wanted to transfer to another UK club, he would be able to do so, if he applied under the EU Settlement Scheme for ‘pre-settled status’.
From an immigration perspective, the EU minor would have exercised his EU free movement rights before 31 December 2020. From an immigration law perspective, the UK does not distinguish between England, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales, so once he obtains his pre-settled status, the player is eligible to work anywhere in the UK.
EU nationals who entered the UK by 11pm on 31 December 2020 would have been eligible for ‘pre-settled status’, provided they applied before 30 June 2021. Players who have been granted pre-settled status are exempt from fulfilling GBE requirements.
