On 31 January 2020, the UK officially left the EU, and is no longer obliged to follow one of the key tenets of the European Union: the free movement of people. 

This means that, following this momentous date, EU citizens still living in the UK will need to secure their right to stay (if they hadn’t done so already).

At Monese, it’s our mission to help people thrive anywhere. This includes borderless workers, families, students, expats, retirees and other EU citizens living in the UK. 

As well as our highly multicultural customer base, we’re also proud to have a pretty diverse team in London, most of whom are EU (non-British) citizens. This makes the end of free movement very much an important issue for us and the reason we’re sharing our experiences with you today.

## The EU Settlement Scheme
The government’s solution to the end of free movement is something called the [EU Settlement Scheme](https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families "Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)"). This lets EU/EEA citizens and citizens of Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein, along with eligible family members, secure their residency in the UK now that Brexit has happened. The deadline to apply for this scheme is __30 June 2021__ and there’s no fee to apply. 

Once you’ve successfully applied to the scheme, you’ll be able to carry on working and living in the UK past this date without any issues. Depending on how long you’ve been in the UK, you’ll get either settled or pre-settled status. Whichever you’re eligible for and granted, you’ll be able to: 

- work in the UK
- be a part of the National Health Service
- enrol in education and study in the UK
- access public funds and benefits, if eligible for them
- travel in and out of the UK

## What’s been our experience with the scheme?
![Settled-Status-Visual-passport](//images.ctfassets.net/96dxy75w1gjr/6tdA2sXm9RBu8O8UVXjQNs/fb83111706c8fb4c6beb9ed227e834dc/Settled-Status-Visual.jpg)

Here a few of our fellow colleagues share their experiences with the scheme so far:

__Toomas__

“I’ve been in the UK since July 2020 and moved here from Estonia. I applied for pre-settled status in November last year and everything went smoothly. I just filled in the form and provided the necessary evidence. Getting a National Insurance number was trickier”!  

__Jiri__

“I came to the UK in 2005 from the Czech Republic. Applying for settled status back in September 2019 was pretty smooth for me. The whole process took two days. To apply, I needed to send my full name, email, phone number and had to scan my passport. After submitting my application, I got an email confirming my submission. Two days later, I received an email with the outcome: I’d been granted Indefinite Leave in the United Kingdom or settled status.

While I realise that for me the procedure was quick, I know others were a bit stressed because unlike me, they weren’t notified within days. They had to wait weeks”!

__Radu__

“I moved to the UK from Romania in 2017 so I applied for pre-settled status in April 2019. The process was extremely smooth: I had to scan my passport, which I did with their app on an Android phone. I stuck the biometric passport to the back of an NFC-capable device, and a few seconds later everything was done. 

A few days later I got an email from the Home Office saying they’re pleased to inform me that my pre-settled status for five years (until 2024) was granted. All in all, smooth sailing from start to finish. 

On their platform, they also provide a way for an individual to prove their right to stay: you can generate a one-time security code, which employers or whoever else needs to can easily check this”.

<br/><br/>

We’re strong believers in giving people everything they need to make the best decisions for their future and, of course, the freedom to thrive anywhere, wherever they may be. 

__That’s why we’re taking the opportunity to remind you that the deadline to apply and secure your right to stay in the UK is 30 June 2021.__

Have you signed up for the EU Settlement Scheme? How was your experience? Did you have any difficulties applying? We’d love to hear your thoughts, tips and stories. Get in touch via email at [community@monese.com](mailto:community@monese.com) or on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/MyMonese "Monese official Facebook page"), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/monese "Monese official Twitter page") or [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/monese/ "Monese official Instagram page").  

Settled-Status-Hero

Blog post > Our take on Settled Status

The end of free movement is very much an important issue for us and the reason we’re sharing our experiences with you today.

Our take on Settled Status

Sharing our own team’s experience with the EU Settlement Scheme

To say 2020 has been quite the whirlwind of a year would be an understatement. Given that, we’re looking forward to unwinding and celebrating the festive season (perhaps more so than any other year) in whatever way we can! 

We’ve asked our multicultural team here at Monese to share how they’re planning to celebrate the holidays amidst all the ongoing craziness due to Covid-19, plus what new spin they’ll put on local traditions under the circumstances. 

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## In Colombia  
Colombians certainly know how to party — and the Christmas and New Year’s period is no exception! In fact, it’s perhaps the biggest party of the year for many Colombians. Colombians usually celebrate the holiday season with something called *novenas*. This is when they start celebrating the Christmas period nine days in advance. It’s usually a time for family and friends to gather and pray together. But, traditionally, it's also filled with lots of food, drinking, dancing and singing. 

Andrea (from Colombia, lives in Estonia): “Due to the virus, my family back in Colombia are still celebrating novenas but just among our immediate family. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to travel to Colombia this Christmas period to join them. Still, we have a small Colombian community here in Tallinn, so we're celebrating with each other".

## In Scotland
Scotland’s big holiday celebration is Hogmanay on New Year’s Eve. Due to Covid-19, Edinburgh's Hogmanay, a world-renowned event, has been cancelled this year; however, families are still finding ways to celebrate — like eating the traditional steak pie on New Year’s Day! As for Christmas, one Moneser has found both pros and cons to the coronavirus restrictions around the holidays. 

Jess (from Scotland, lives in England): “I have a big family, so normally we have more than 15 people on Christmas day, but it’ll just be six this year, which is a shame. Regarding Christmas shopping, I’ve done it pretty much all online! I've spent less because I’ve not been browsing in shops like I normally would and just picking stuff up. Everything I’ve bought I've been looking specifically for and searched for deals”. 

## In Poland
In Poland, the most important date of the holiday season is Christmas Eve. The tradition is to fast the whole day and wait until supper for a grand feast of 12 meals (but no meat)! After dinner, everyone gathers to sing Christmas carols. Christmas presents are set under the tree, and they aren’t open until the first star rises in the sky. The little ones usually sit by the window, waiting for the first one to appear. 

Karolina (from Poland, lives in Ireland): “I’ve ordered all my Christmas presents online this year! I’m not seeing my mom for the first time in my life this Christmas because of Covid. However, I’m going to have some family come over to my place,  and we’ll connect with my mom on Skype to eat together”.

## In England
With recent developments of a new Covid-19 strain detected in the UK, travel restrictions are changing rapidly. So, before you head anywhere, it’s best to check the latest Covid-19 limitations for your [tier](https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-local-restrictions "UK Gov Covid-19 local restrictions ") and travel rules. The government has also published guidelines for making your [Christmas bubble](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-a-christmas-bubble-with-friends-and-family/making-a-christmas-bubble-with-friends-and-family "UK Gov Christmas bubble ") so you can celebrate the holiday with friends and family as safely as possible. This means there’s still a chance you can partake in the traditional Christmas meal on the 25th with your nearest and dearest. The main meal typically consists of roast turkey, vegetables and stuffing.

Joe from England: “I’m going to get a Covid test before I visit family locally, to try and make sure I don't infect them. I’m planning to buy gift cards, so I don't need to go to shops much because I don't want to risk catching Covid and then giving it to my family when I meet them at Christmas”. 

## In Romania
In Romania, the holiday season is more than a month-long affair! It kicks off on 30 November on St. Andrew’s Day and lasts until 7 January with the celebration of Saint John the Baptist. In between, there are other major holidays such as Great Union Day, Saint Stephen’s Day and Saint Nicholas’ Day where the tradition is to polish your boots and leave them by the doorstep. Children who were well-behaved throughout the year will get candies and gifts in their boots (and a whip or a stick if they’ve been naughty).  

Monica (from Romania, lives in Portugal): “Food is the main part of any holiday in Romania and Christmas is a true feast for the senses! There are a lot of pork meals. We also have *sarmale*, which is stuffed cabbage and *cozonaci* — a sort of sponge cake with nuts, cocoa and Turkish delight. It’s similar to the Italian panettone but more consistent. Tradition says it must be prepared on Christmas Eve”. 

 <br />  

It’s safe to say that regardless of the outbreak and continued lockdowns across Europe, nothing is bringing down our Christmas spirit this time of year! How are you celebrating the holidays in 2020? Let us know on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/MyMonese/ "Monese official Facebook page"), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/Monese "Monese official Twitter page"), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/monese/ "Monese official Instagram page") or email us at [community@monese.com](mailto:community@monese.com "Email us") to share your merry traditions with us.  

Happy holidays! 🎄

Moneser Christmas - 1920x1080

Blog post > How Monesers are celebrating the holidays 

How Monesers are celebrating the holidays 

Learn all about our different traditions for Christmas and New Year’s 

With some children around the world headed back to school and others doing distance learning, back to school costs may look a little different for many parents this year under current coronavirus circumstances. As many of our own Moneser parents prepare their little ones for the back to school season, we asked them how their spending has differed this year versus other years. They had plenty to share. 

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### School supplies shopping 
One of the first questions we asked our parents was if their children were headed back to school or doing remote learning — and (luckily for parents) most of them were going back! But as expected, some schools had a few extra requests this year on what should be included in the children’s backpacks.

Rui from Lisbon: “In Portugal, the schools are reopening, and my kid is attending preschool. The school has requested a pair of clothes in a bag, a pack of tissues and some plastic bags for used clothes. They also requested an extra pair of shoes so that when kids arrive at school, they can change their footwear and not use the ones from outdoors. It was also advised to have hand sanitiser and masks, despite not being mandatory to wear”.

Tom from Birmingham: “Both of my children went back to school last week. We bought masks and hand sanitisers despite UK children not being expected to wear masks in class. There are lots of other incidental purchases, too, like sealable plastic bags and printer ink. The schools have been expecting the children to print out work”.

Sarah from London: “We’ve had to buy hand sanitiser for each child but no masks as they are under 11”.

Kirsty from Nottingham: “Both my children are in school. My son is six, and my daughter is four, so she has just started this week. We have to provide all the kids’ pens and pencils in a pencil case that is kept on their desks at school, so there is no sharing. They also have to take a drink in a flask. No reading books are sent home, so we're being prompted to purchase reading books for home”.

Olga from London: “My son is still in kindergarten, and when it comes to wipes and sanitisers, everything is provided by the nursery. We only had to bring indoor shoes that they change into each morning when they arrive. This wasn't a requirement before”.

But not all of our Moneser parents, specifically those in Estonia, were required to make any extra, miscellaneous, pandemic-related purchases for their kids — just if they wanted to. 

Triinu from Tallinn: “In Estonia, everything is quite normal. I just sent my two kids to first grade, and we only bought normal school stuff: notebooks, pencils, paper, art supplies — nothing extra. But then again, Estonia is probably different from southern European countries. I haven’t seen anyone wearing a mask in school yet”.

Eve from Tallinn: “I have two school kids, and I’ve added hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes into their school bags”.

Puneet from Tallinn: “My daughter just started going to preschool. We did buy some sanitiser spray, new bags and a few toys. It’s quite safe here in Tallinn, so no extra precautions.

### Has spending gone up?
When we asked our parents if their back to school spending had risen significantly due to all the extra asks from the schools, surprisingly, many said their expenses were either the same or less than previous years. This is including and factoring in unusual expenses they normally wouldn’t have bought, such as extra laptops, work stations and ride-sharing transportation for their children.

Sarah from London: “We’re spending less as working from home means childcare hours are shorter without the commute”.

Eve from Tallinn: “In the springtime, they had to share one computer for homework. So we did buy a second one to be on the safe side if homeschooling starts again. I think I’m spending about the same — the PC would have been on the list anyway, just maybe not so soon”.

Rui from Lisbon: “Spending is the same. Most costs are going towards ride-sharing — I’ve tried to avoid my kid having exposure to public transport. Besides that, all normal”.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" align="center"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">👨‍🏫 Are your kids going back to school this year?</p>&mdash; Monese (@monese) <a href="https://twitter.com/monese/status/1303706176119545857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

We also polled our [Twitter](https://twitter.com/monese/status/1303706176119545857) community and found that most of you are also sending your kids back to school this year (81.5% versus 18.5% who are doing remote learning). Now we’d like to ask you as well: how has your back to school spending differed in 2020? Are you spending more or less on your kids? Let us know on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/MyMonese/), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/monese), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/monese/) or email us at [community@monese.com](mailto:community@monese.com).

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Blog post > Back to school: what Moneser parents are spending on

Back to school: what Moneser parents are spending on

From extra trainers, ride-sharing and lots of printer ink, here’s what school supply shopping looks like in 2020

The world may be at a standstill, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find ways to celebrate one of the most beloved holidays of the year: Easter! Given that so many countries are on lockdown, we thought you might want to learn how our diverse group of Monesers from across our offices plan to celebrate this year. What twist on tradition will they take this year, under the circumstances? Read on to find out!

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### In Poland
Poles participate in many different Easter customs such as painting intricately designed eggs, blessing easter baskets full of food and creating palms of willow branches for good luck. One funny Easter tradition this Central European country partakes in is known as *Śmigus-Dyngus*. Poles will douse each other with water on Easter Monday &mdash; both family members and strangers! 

Jagoda from London: “I used to set my alarm for first thing in the morning to avoid getting hit with ice water! If I had the opportunity to be with my parents in Poland this year, we’d likely paint eggs, bake some traditional cakes and have Sunday breakfast”. 

### In Portugal
In Portugal, one tradition this time of year includes baking and eating the *folar*. It’s a savoury bread that comes with a boiled egg in the centre and represents the rebirth of Christ. Codfish is a staple on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. That is until Easter Sunday when the Portuguese feast on roasted lamb. Other traditions include godchildren gifting their godparents an olive branch, flowers, Easter almonds and chocolates.

Tomás from Lisbon: “Ever since my nephews were born, we’ve gone to my grandmother's house each year. We use her garden to hide chocolate eggs in the bushes and trees, and my nephews and cousins search the garden to find the eggs the ‘Easter Bunny’ hid. Due to Covid-19, we won’t be able to make it out to my grandmother’s house this year, so we're doing the same thing in my sister’s backyard. It’s not as big, but still &mdash; something fun to do with the little ones amidst the crisis”. 

### In Lithuania
Forget the Easter Bunny. In Lithuania, they have the Easter Granny! She’s the one to deliver sweets and eggs for all the children to hunt down this time of year. Lithuanians also have several Easter-related superstitions, such as burying a decorated egg at the front of their house to keep their family safe from harm.

Karol from London: “In Lithuania, we're quite proud of our Easter palms, especially the ones made around the capital, Vilnius. My grandmother used to gather flowers, dry, dye and tie them into a palm, and sell them at markets’. 

### In Romania
As the majority of Romanians are Orthodox, so are their countless Easter traditions and customs. Knocking eggs together end-to-end is a popular tradition. Two eggs are cracked together by two people with one person saying ‘Christ is risen’ and the second, ‘Indeed he is’. Also, Orthodox Easter usually falls on a different Sunday – this year it’s a week later, on April 19th.

Monica from Lisbon: “For most Romanians (especially religious ones), it’s very important to go to church the night before Easter to light a candle and bring the ‘resurrection light’ into our homes. On our way back home, we share the holy candle fire with others we encounter on the way. Because we’re social distancing, this won’t be possible this year, but we’ll still partake in many of the usual activities at home &mdash; like knocking and painting eggs”! 

### In Italy
Italians are used to celebrating Easter with grand parades and gatherings throughout the towns. Unfortunately, many have been cancelled as confinement restrictions will continue to be enforced throughout April. But this doesn’t mean Italians won’t find other ways to celebrate the holiday. During Easter, Italians feast on *Pizza Sbattuta* (a sponge cake), salty cakes, hard-boiled eggs, ham and *corallina*, a traditional salami. 

Jessica from London: “In Italy, it’s all about food! On Sunday, we have Easter lunch with traditional lamb. We have a special sweet, panettone-like bread called *Colomba* in the shape of a dove (a white dove carrying an olive tree branch is considered the symbol for Easter). This year is going to be strange as we can’t celebrate together. Still, to keep up spirits, everyone will hang an olive tree branch outside the door to keep up with the tradition. We’ll be having our food via video call! And we’re organizing cooking classes through WhatsApp to prepare typical dishes together”.

Has the coronavirus outbreak affected your Easter plans this year? Let us know what you’re doing to celebrate instead or what cool Easter traditions you’ll be keeping! Get in touch on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/MyMonese), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/monese), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/monese) or email us at [community@monese.com](mailto:community@monese.com).

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Blog post > The unique Easter traditions of Monesers

The unique Easter traditions of Monesers

And how we’re all celebrating this year 

At Monese, we are lucky to work with an incredible team of all gender identities and backgrounds. Today we join the world in celebrating International Women’s Day, and want to use this as an opportunity to shed light on the amazing women of Monese.

We spoke to our colleagues who identify as female to find out about their experience working here and get their view on what the industry could to do to improve conditions for women. 
We first asked what International Women’s Day means to them. Their responses were hopeful, and reminded us of the work still to be done:

> "A celebration of women's rights and equality." - Simone, Head of Risk and Compliance

“It's an opportunity to shed light on the problems women around the world still face in 2019. It’s easy to forget that a lot of countries in the world still lack the basic rights for women and they face issues such as not being able to decide over their own body, not having the right to vote, drive, own a business, or being seen as inferior to a man.” - Ella, AML Investigator

![international-womens-day-lisbon2](//images.ctfassets.net/96dxy75w1gjr/5p0UaEI5hCO1w5vGsUwE8L/c8225241bbc31ff556ae9ddbe392d7c9/international-womens-day-lisbon2.jpg)

As one of our colleagues pointed out, it is also a reminder of the sweeter things in life:

> “It reminds me that sometimes it is OK to eat whole box of chocolate at once.” - Polina, Recruiter 

We asked why they had come to work at Monese, and what they enjoyed about working here. What came up again and again was Monese’s mission, ethos and its people: 

> “The fact that a bunch of strangers coming from different countries and different environments work together for a great purpose.” - Karolina, Content & Community Manager

> “Progressive. Forward thinking. Smart team members. Great product, purpose and opportunity to become something even greater - and be part of that journey.” - Sophie, Commercial Partnerships Lead

> “I learn something new every day. The company is giving me the possibility to learn and gain new experiences. I feel I'm trusted and appreciated.” - Triinu, HR Manager

![celebrating-international-womens-day-tallinn](//images.ctfassets.net/96dxy75w1gjr/2odPZ8V1kgDhriDCpHv0yc/9f2a9268fcf78a9d494233dd06077444/celebrating-international-womens-day-tallinn.jpeg)

Finally, we asked what the finance and tech industries could do to better support women: 

> “A lot more needs to be done to ensure women are given the right opportunities like their co-workers to grow and evolve through the ranks, lead teams and develop the company. Therefore, this industry needs to promote this as part of their values, culture and vision.” - Ambreen, Head of Monese Business Accounts

> “Even knowing that women often underestimate themselves, not to make use of it, but to offer equal salary instead.” - Solomiya, Data Scientist 

> “Don't make it seem that we have to choose between a career and family - you can be a mother and an amazing employee. The same goes of course for men.” - Jagoda, IT Business Analyst 

It was fantastic to hear the women of Monese speaking so positively about the culture and opportunities Monese affords every employee. We strongly encourage everyone to have a healthy work/life balance regardless of their gender identity, with a view to helping employees excel no matter their personal situation.

It was also a reminder that we still have a lot of work ahead of us to make sure women are better represented. Inclusion is a fundamental value of Monese, and something that we are working continuously to improve.

Celebrating International Womens Day London Copy

Blog post > Celebrating International Women's Day

We asked the women of Monese what the day means to them.

Celebrating International Women's Day

We asked the women of Monese what the day means to them

Country Tag > United Kingdom

At Monese, we’re building a financial service that’s unrestricted by national boundaries or financial borders; one that speaks your language wherever you happen to live.

You can see a lot of this international mindset in our team – a highly diverse group of people from all walks of life, working together from four different countries to craft the next-generation money management platform.

![monese-hiring-tallinn-2019](//images.ctfassets.net/96dxy75w1gjr/1T6DYf5LwtsKP90Ww1ysfF/80c592e411f04383bd947d8cc314ce0a/monese-hiring-tallinn-2019.jpg)

Building the right kind of environment, in this context, is no easy task – it requires like-minded people who share our values and can comfortably operate in a collaborative environment, breathing life into everything we do. And we need the right talent to support our growth...

## Introducing Career Hunt 2019
Now in its second year, Estonia’s [Career Hunt](https://careerhunt.eu/ "TALLINN 2019") initiative is designed to draw the world’s top tech talent to Tallinn, to match them with the country’s biggest tech companies. It was started by the Estonian Government via its Work in Estonia programme.
The top 25 candidates will get flown into Tallinn, with all of their expenses paid, to meet their potential employers and learn more about living in the Nordic tech hub.

The competition is nothing to scoff at – over 5,500 people applied last year, out of which 23 made the trip for the final, face-to-face round of interviews. Seven of them started new jobs in the country shortly after! 

## Join us as an Android Developer
We fully support this programme, and we’re excited to play our part. So if you’re an Android Developer, come joined a seasoned, cross-functional team of developers, analysts, designers and growth hackers to craft the next generation of mobile money account features for our Android apps.

[Apply now](https://jobbatical.com/job/423230329/android-developer-monese-tallinn-estonia "Jobbatical")

You’ve got until March 21st to enter. See you in Tallinn!

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Monese Career Hunt Tallinn

Blog post > Join Monese at Career Hunt Tallinn 2019

Apply for the chance to get an all-expenses-paid trip to Tallinn, to meet us and learn more about working in Estonia!

Latest articles

Our take on Settled Status

How Monesers are celebrating the holidays

Back to school: what Moneser parents are spending on

The unique Easter traditions of Monesers

Celebrating International Women's Day

Join Monese at Career Hunt Tallinn 2019

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