With less than 30 days for Europeans to apply for settled status, real estate and construction employers are being urged to help European staff with outstanding applications, says global immigration lawyers Fragomen.

EU nationals have until 30 June to apply for settled status or face becoming illegal immigrants overnight. EU nationals without settled or pre-settled status will be unable to work, open a bank account, access healthcare or rent a home.

There is no legal responsibility for employers to check whether an employee has applied or been granted settled status, but we are urging employers to help staff and their families apply, said Ian Robinson, Partner at Fragomen, who added: “Over 5.4m people have applied for settled status in the past two years, with 53% having been granted settled status and 44% granted pre-settled status, yet there are many Europeans that have yet to apply.

“Employers face a tricky challenge in that there is no legal basis in which they can ask staff if they have applied or obtained settled or pre-settled status. In fact, they potentially face discrimination claims if employers insist staff tell them. We would, however, urge employers to talk to all their staff, not just those who are European nationals and offer help and guidance with applications. There is now a degree of urgency to act.”