The BRP card in the drawer, status 'somewhere in the system', and the airline at check-in wants 'proof that you have the right to return' – the digital revolution of the Home Office has affected every Pole in the UK. This guide clarifies the situation as of 2026: how eVisa works and what to do before December 31, 2026 (the last call for old BRP cards), after how many years of absence you really lose your status (the rules are more lenient than forums claim), what the major automation of EUSS in April 2026 entails – and how much a British passport costs today in formal terms: naturalization is now £1,839. The basics of settled status are described in our older guide – here we go deeper, according to the current gov.uk pages and the organization the3million.
eVisa: your status exists only digitally
Set up and maintain your UKVI account
Physical immigration documents have been replaced by eVisa in a free UKVI account (gov.uk/evisa). Important deadline: an expired BRP card can still be used to set up an account only until December 31, 2026 – if someone in the family has not done this yet, this is the last moment with the simplest path.
Link the passport you travel with
The most common cause of problems at airports: traveling on a new passport that is not in the UKVI account. After each passport exchange, update the document in your account (service 'Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details'). Share codes (for employer, landlord) are valid for 90 days and are reusable.
Have a plan B for system failures
The organization the3million has been documenting systemic eVisa issues (identity errors on accounts, 'View & Prove' failures) since 2024 and is campaigning for a physical backup proof. Practically: before traveling, take screenshots of your status, save your case number, and if the carrier cannot verify your status – have them contact the carrier support hub Border Force (this is the official path from gov.uk).
Absences: when do you really lose your status
| Status | Rules (as of 2026) |
|---|---|
| Settled status | Expires after 5 consecutive years outside the UK (the counter resets upon return). After a longer break, a returning resident visa remains (£726, requires 'strong ties'). |
| Pre-settled status | Beware of outdated forums: status automatically expires only after 5 years of absence (not after 2!) and is automatically extended by 5 years before its expiration. However: long breaks still disrupt the 'continuous residence' needed for settled status. |
| Path to settled status | Relaxation from July 2025: you can now meet the 5-year continuity requirement also with the '30 months of presence in the last 5 years' variant – an alternative to the classic rule of 'max 6 months of absence per year'. |
EUSS automation from April 2026: The Home Office is mass automatically extending pre-settled status (about 6 weeks before expiration) and upgrading to settled for individuals with a digital footprint in HMRC/DWP – but this same machine also has a reverse arm: individuals with excessive absences receive a 'minded to curtail' notice with 28 days to respond with evidence. Practical conclusion: current contact details in your UKVI account are not a formality – they determine whether you can defend yourself in time. Regularly check your inbox (including spam).
British citizenship: numbers for 2026
- When you can apply: usually 12 months after obtaining settled status (spouses of British citizens – after 3 years of residence, without a one-year wait).
- Absence limits: a maximum of 450 days outside the UK in the last 5 years and 90 days in the last year.
- Costs: naturalization £1,839 (application £1,709 + ceremony £130 – after increases in April 2025 and 2026), Life in the UK test £50 (24 questions, 45 minutes; exempt: under 18 and over 65), required English (standard B1).
- Dual citizenship works both ways: the UK accepts it, Poland does too – with the principle that you appear only as a Pole before Polish authorities (practical consequences, including the obligation of a Polish passport at the Polish border, are described in our guide on dual citizenship at the border).
- Children born in the UK: a child born when the parent already had settled status is automatically British – and by virtue of the Polish parent, also a Polish citizen. Register the birth certificate at the Polish USC (transcription through the consulate) and obtain a Polish passport for the child.
- Context of changes: the government reform 'earned settlement' (consultations closed in February 2026) extends the path to settlement for new immigrants – EUSS rights arise from the withdrawal agreement and according to the prevailing interpretation remain outside its scope, but keep an eye on announcements as details are still in flux.
Polish matters in the UK
- Four offices: the embassy in London and consulates general in Manchester, Edinburgh, and Belfast; visits only through e-Konsulat. Polish passport for adults: £123 (discounts for students, seniors, KDR; free from 70 years).
- Travel: as a holder of settled/pre-settled status, you enter the UK without ETA, and the biometric ID card remains accepted 'indefinitely' – travel details (ETA £20 for families from Poland, customs, pets) in the guide on travel between Poland and Great Britain.
- Bringing family: The EUSS family permit only covers relationships existing before the end of 2020 – a spouse married later goes through the standard (expensive and with an income threshold) family visa. Plan this before the wedding, not after.
Annual review for Poles in the UK (do this today): (1) log in to your UKVI account – is your current passport and email there? (2) family: does everyone (including children!) have an account and eVisa, and was the old BRP used before December 31, 2026? (3) count absences if you have pre-settled – the '30 months in 5 years' variant may already give you settled; (4) planning citizenship – check the 450/90 days limits before booking a long stay in Poland; (5) for a child born in the UK, arrange both passports. The basics of status – in our guide on settled status after Brexit.
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