We have a simple message for the 55,000 citizens of other EU countries living in Ealing: Please stay.

Ealing Council believes diversity is one of the borough’s greatest strengths and the council has been flying the European flag above Ealing Town Hall in solidarity with you all for some time now. You make fantastic contributions to life in our borough, to our local economy and to our communities here. We do not want Brexit to cause you to leave.

As I have stated before, we want you to stay and we want to support you in any way we can through the next year as we go through the transition process before the UK leaves the EU at the end of 2020.

In April 2018 Ealing councillors voted to support all EU citizens in the borough and we want to continue to assure you that you are valued and welcome in Ealing.

If you have any problems applying for settled status, please contact the registrars office at the council by calling 020 8825 7809 to book an appointment.

The government has set various rules around the process for settled status and remaining in the UK. Those who already have five years’ continuous lawful residency in the UK will be eligible for settled status.  Others will be able to remain in the UK to build-up five years’ continuous residence provided they apply for pre-settled status.

The deadline for applying will be 30 June 2021, though you must have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020. If you are joining a family member in the UK you may be able to apply after this date.

Read more on this on the council’s dedicated webpage on settled status.

In addition, you can find out further information, links and advice on the council’s Brexit information pages.