UK Home Office Faces Legal Challenge Over EU Residency Revocations

The UK Home Office faces a judicial review regarding its policy to strip residency rights from 1,473 EU citizens, a decision advocacy groups argue breaches the Brexit withdrawal agreement. Officials claim these individuals were granted settled or pre-settled status in error, citing procedural failures such as missing passport documentation during initial applications.

The legal challenge, brought by the campaign group the3million, seeks a broader determination on the legality of these revocations, which could impact the residency security of thousands of long-term residents. The Home Office began notifying individuals of the revocations in late 2025.

Residency Status in Dispute

The UK Home Office

The Home Office asserts that those whose status was revoked were not eligible beneficiaries under the withdrawal agreement. The agency maintains that affected individuals can submit new applications or appeal decisions. However, individuals facing revocation report significant risks to their employment, housing, and family reunification rights, creating widespread personal and legal instability.

Legal Precedents Emerge

Recent administrative court rulings have prompted the Home

Office to concede errors in specific cases. In one instance, the Home Office withdrew a decision claiming a claimant's pre-settled status was "granted in error," acknowledging that the date a physical Italian passport was received did not determine Italian citizenship.

The pending judicial review could clarify whether the Home Office's policy is lawful. The outcome will be critical for EU citizens residing in the UK, establishing a precedent for similar cases.