European Residence

European Residence Documents

Now that the UK has left the EU free movement is finishing, and EEA nationals and their family members are losing a lot of the rights they previously held. The statuses under the old rules of EEA Residence Card and EEA Permanent Residence are being abolished and are being replaced by the new statuses of Pre-Settled Status (for those who have been in the UK for less than five years) and Settled Status (for those who have been in the UK for five years or more).

It may still be possible for EEA nationals and their family members to submit Pre-Settled Status and Settled Status applications in some circumstances, although the main deadline of 30 June 2021 has passed.

Close family members of EEA nationals (who may be either EEA nationals or non-EEA nationals) can only apply for a Family Permit to join their EEA family member in the UK if the family relationship already existed before 31 December 2020 and if it still exists now.

Not all family members can now apply for a Family Permit to join their EEA family member. Extended family members such as siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins can no longer apply and only in some cases can parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren.

Close family members who were not in a family relationship with their EEA national family member before 31 December 2020 and who want to join them in the UK will now have to apply under the standard UK family immigration rules (in most cases Appendix FM), if they qualify.

At Get UK Visa we have extensive experience of European visa applications and we will be able to assist you.