EU nationals WILL be allowed to remain in the UK after Brexit, the Government has announced.
The Department for Exiting the EU today published a range of details on how “settled status” will work for the three million EU citizens living in Britain once we leave the bloc in 2019.
It is thought the majority of EU nationals already settled in the UK will be entitled to stay as Brexit Secretary David Davis seeks to address the issue ahead of the next round of negotiations.
The Brexit Department revealed details of a technical document sent to the European Commission as part of Brexit talks, setting out "how the new system will be streamlined, low-cost and user-friendly".
In a statement, the Government said: ”We expect the majority of cases to be granted.”
The document says EU nationals will be given a two-year grace period to apply for settled status after Britain leaves the EU.
It commits to keeping the cost of an application to "no more" than that of a British passport and to introducing a "digital, streamlined and user-friendly application system”.
And it also gives EU citizens a statutory right to appeal if their application is denied and commits to making decisions "solely on the criteria set out in the Withdrawal Agreement, with no discretion for other reasons for refusal".
EU citizens will not be required to have comprehensive sickness insurance or to provide fingerprints.
Brexit Secretary Mr Davis said: "We have been clear that safeguarding the rights of EU citizens is our top priority in negotiations.
“We will support everyone wishing to stay to gain settled status through a new straightforward, streamlined system."
Home secretary Amber Rudd said: “EU citizens living in the UK make an enormous contribution to our country and we want them to stay... We know that there is some anxiety among EU citizens about how the process of applying for settled status will work so I hope this document provides some further reassurance.”
Applicants will be asked to declare any criminal convictions and be checked against UK security databases.
The Government said: ”This is a reasonable measure to keep the country safe from those who have committed serious crimes.”