Until Wednesday, the deadline for registration in the European Union Citizens Registration System [EU Settlement Scheme, EUSS], the respective national identification documents were accepted to prove the right to work, study or receive social support.

But on Thursday the new system of proof of immigration status, entirely digital, made through the portal of the British Government (https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status) come into force.

The citizen has to enter the profile with the number of the document he used to get resident status, permanent or temporary, and enter the date of birth, after which he receives a six-digit access code by telephone or email.

In this profile, in addition to confirming status, you can choose the option to share status with someone, such as your employer or other entity, in the form of a code.

This code is then used, together with the date of birth, to confirm the right to residence, work, health or education services, housing and social support.

The British Government argued from the outset that proof of digital residency prevents problems such as loss, forgery or deterioration over time.

But activists have repeatedly warned of problems caused by the lack of physical proof, as profile prints or email confirmation of EUSS registration are not accepted.

A recently published academic study by the UK in a Changing Europe group warned of the difficulties and risks that the electronic process poses for info-excluded, whether they are elderly, homeless or other types of vulnerable people.

One of the authors, Catharine Barnard, a professor of law at the University of Cambridge, said that many people do not even have a Smartphone to access the portal.

Without proof of status, or a certificate of application, people lose their rights to live and work and access health, education and social services in the United Kingdom.