With an EEA Family Permit, you can join an EEA family member in the UK and gain the right to work and study in the UK for up to six months. During this time, you can also enter and leave the country without restriction. Successful applicants can avoid delays at passport control or even the risk of refused entry.
It is important that you take care when completing the online application form and ensuring you satisfy the eligibility requirements. Failure to complete the form correctly may result in a rejected application.
Importantly, EEA family permits will no longer be valid after 30 June 2021 and no new applications will be accepted. Family members should instead consider options such as the EUSS family permit if you are a close family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who was living in the UK by 31 December 2020.
The EEA Family Permit allows close family members of EEA nationals living in the UK to accompany them to the UK or join them at a later point. Close relatives include siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews or nieces.
To qualify for an EEA Family Permit, you must come from outside the EEA and be related to your UK-based family member in accordance with certain conditions.
The EEA Family Permit is valid for six months. During this time, you can enter and leave the UK as many times as you wish.
Your EEA national family member must have full health insurance ( comprehensive sickness insurance ) if they are studying or financially independent.
You may be eligible for an EEA Family Permit on the basis that you are a close family member or a dependant family member of an EEA national living in the UK. The relationship must have started by 31 December 2020.
You may also qualify if your relative is not yet living in the UK but is planning to enter the UK with you, within six months of your permit application.
To be considered for a UK family permit, you must be related to your UK-based family member as their:
Note that unmarried partners must be able to prove they are in a relationship and have been living together as if married, for at least two years.
In a change to the rules, ‘extended’ family members of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen can no longer qualify for an EEA family permit.
It may also be possible to obtain an EEA Family Permit if one of the following conditions apply to your situation:
The family member you are seeking to join in the UK must also meet certain eligibility requirements for your EEA Family Permit application to be successful.
As mentioned previously, your family member must already be in the UK by 31 December 2020, they must either be a ‘qualified person’, have been granted permanent residence .
To be considered a ‘qualified person’ your family member must meet one of the following criteria:
If your family member qualifies as a student or a financially independent person, they must have comprehensive health insurance.
You must be outside the UK to apply for an EEA family permit.
As part of your EEA Family Permit application, you are required to prove your dependency if you are dependent on your EEA family member. This includes:
An EEA family permit is valid for 6 months. You can leave and enter the UK as many times as you need within that time.
An EEA Family Permit for the non-EEA family member is usually issued for a period of 5 years, after which the non-EEA family member can make an application for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (also known as ‘ILR’ or ‘permanent residence’).
The EEA family permit application is free.
It is no longer possible to apply for a UK residence card. After 30 June 2021, any existing residence cards will no longer be valid.
To remain in the UK after 30 June, you would need to apply for EU settled status, on the basis you:
Non-EEA family members of a UK citizen or person who has been granted ‘indefinite leave to remain’ may be eligible to apply for a different type of UK visa to secure a longer term stay.
Two common types of UK family visa are:
DavidsonMorris is a leading UK immigration law firm. Our legal team will provide you with a professional, friendly, reliable service to help you proceed with the most appropriate route for your circumstances and to avoid any issues or delays with your application. For support with your family permit application, contact us .
The family permit allows non-EEA family members of qualifying EU nationals to join their relative in the UK.
Yes, you can work and study on a family permit, and you can travel in and out of the UK without restriction during the six months of the permit.
The EEA and EUSS family permits are both free.
The family permit is valid for six months.
Last updated: 13 January 2021