How many EU citizens are there in Sunderland? Figures revealed as settlement applications open ahead of Brexit

The government has officially opened its EU Settlement Scheme, which would give those living or working in the region permission to stay after June 30, 2021.

County Durham and Newcastle both have the largest numbers of EU citizens out of the North East’s 12 local authorities, with about 12,000 each.

There are about 28,000 living in Tyne and Wear, with more than half, about 18,000, living north of the Tyne.

About 3,000 EU Citizens live in Sunderland with a further 1,000 in South Tyneside, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The scheme is intended to give EU nationals the security of knowing they can stay in the UK in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Theresa May has today scrapped fees for applying for settled status.

The had to be due to cost £65 for over-16s and £32.50 for under-16s – although anyone with ‘indefinite leave to remain’ (ILR) in the UK, a valid ‘UK permanent residence document’ or with ‘pre-settled status’ could apply for free.

Council area – total pop. – EU citizen pop. (ONS)

North East – 2,615,000 – 59,000

Tyne and Wear – 1,123,000 – 28,000

Sunderland – 276,000 – 3,000

County Durham – 518,000 – 12,000

Darlington – 104,000 – 5,000

Hartlepool – 92,000 – 2,000

Middlesbrough – 140,000 – 5,000

Northumberland – 311,000 – 4,000

Redcar and Cleveland – 133,000 – 1,000

Stockton-on-Tees – 194,000 – 2,000

Tyne and Wear – 1,123,000 – 28,000

Gateshead – 199,000 – 6,000

Newcastle upon Tyne – 295,000 – 12,000

North Tyneside – 204,000 – 6,000

South Tyneside – 148,000 – 1,000

James Harrison

James Harrison , Local Democracy Reporting Service