The deadline for applying to the EU settlement scheme is next Wednesday 30 June, but those receiving letters will be told they have up to 28 days to apply before potentially opening themselves up for enforcement action.

Immigration minister Kevin Foster has rejected calls to extend the deadline in spite of a surge of late applications, The Guardian reports.

He said: “Put simply, extending the deadline is not the solution to reaching those people who have not yet applied, and we would just be in a position further down the line where we would be asked to extend again, creating more uncertainties.”

The Home Office has received 5.6 million applications for settled status so far. There are around 400,000 applications which have yet to be processed.

Given the size of the backlog, those applying will be given a “certificate of application” which Mr Foster said they could “rely on as proof to access their right to work or rent” and to access the NHS.