European nationals living in the UK want a guarantee that they can stay in the country after Brexit, according to a campaign group.
European nationals living in the UK must have a guarantee they can remain after Brexit, campaigners say.
The "Three Million" group will hand in a letter to Downing Street later, calling for assurances that they will not be used as "bargaining chips".
The Three Million group is demanding assurances they will not be used as "bargaining chips".
The government says it wants to protect EU nationals, but member states will need to protect British citizens too.
Meanwhile, the think tank British Future wants a "fair" cut-off date for any settlement and citizenship changes.
Some 2.8 million EU nationals currently live in the UK.
The government says it wants to protect the 2.8 million EU nationals living in the UK, but member states will need to protect UK citizens too.
The pressure group wants those living here before Article 50 is triggered to be given permanent residence.
The Three Million group is delivering a letter to Downing Street later on Monday, alongside 10 groups representing the 1.2 million British citizens living in the EU.
They will present their letter to the government alongside 10 groups who represent the 1.2 million British citizens living in the EU.
It wants EU citizens living in the UK to be given permanent residence before Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - getting Brexit negotiations with the EU under way - is triggered, which the government says will happen by the end of March.
"We are not bargaining chips," it reads. "We are people".
"We are not bargaining chips," the letter reads. "We are people".
'Anxious future'
'Anxious future'
The delivery of the letter coincides with the release of a report by think tank British Future, which agrees with the Article 50 cut-off point.
The report by British Future, which describes itself as an "independent, non-partisan think tank", recommends the triggering of Article 50, as "a fair and legally watertight cut-off date", after which changes to the settlement and citizenship rights of other EU nationals "might apply".
The inquiry was carried out by a panel, including MPs and other politicians from across the political spectrum and representatives of other public bodies. It called for the current EU permanent residence system to be converted into "indefinite leave to remain" status, which is already available to other international migrants living in the UK.
It calls for the current EU permanent residence system to be converted into "indefinite leave to remain" status, which is already available to other migrants living in the UK.
But it also believes the complex and expensive process should be streamlined and costs capped.
But it also says the process should be streamlined and costs capped.
Panel member Owen Tudor, TUC head of EU and international relations, said: "EU nationals working in the UK and making a contribution are anxious about what happens to them when Britain leaves the EU. They need to know about their future rights to live and work here.
British Future's report says it is "morally wrong to use EEA+ (the EU plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland) nationals in the UK as bargaining chips to secure the rights of UK nationals in Europe".
"Everyone agrees this needs to be resolved quickly and fairly. Our inquiry now has practical recommendations for how to do it".
Labour MP Gisela Stuart, who headed Vote Leave during the referendum campaign and chaired the British Future panel, said: "Britain should make clear at the start of the Brexit negotiations that EU citizens already here before that date can stay.
A statement from the government said it wanted to guarantee future residence for EU nationals already living in the UK, but this depended on the 27 countries of the union.
"This would send a clear signal about the kind of country the UK will be after Brexit and the relationship we want with Europe."
"The Prime Minster and other ministers have been absolutely clear that they want to protect the status of EU nationals already living here," he said.
A government spokesman said: "The prime minster and other ministers have been absolutely clear that they want to protect the status of EU nationals already living here.
"The only circumstances in which that wouldn't be possible is if British citizens' rights in European member states were not protected in return".
"The only circumstances in which that wouldn't be possible is if British citizens' rights in European member states were not protected in return".
But British Future's report said it was "morally wrong to use EEA+ nationals in the UK as bargaining chips to secure the rights of UK nationals in Europe."
"EEA+" refers to the EU plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
Labour MP Gisela Stuart, who headed Vote Leave during the referendum campaign and also chaired the panel for the think tank, said: "Britain should make clear at the start of the Brexit negotiations that EU citizens already here before that date can stay.
"This would send a clear signal about the kind of country the UK will be after Brexit and the relationship we want with Europe.
"We should expect reciprocal deals for Britons living in European countries, but Britain should make the first move to demonstrate goodwill".
EU leaders have refused to negotiate on the issue or any others in relation to Brexit before the Article 50 mechanism is triggered.
