Settlement Applications for EU Nationals & Non-EU Family Members in UK

If you are a European Economic Area (EEA) national already living in the UK before 31 December 2020, you automatically have the right to live, work and study in the UK. 

Countries included in the EEA are: 

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK. 

* Note: Nationals of Switzerland, Bulgaria and Romania also have the same rights as EEA nationals.

If you are a Non EEA/EU Citizen, and you are not currently residing in the UK, but are a Family member of an EU Citizen who is currently residing in the UK, an EEA Family Permit is the first type of EEA/EU application you would need to apply for in order to enter the UK.

An EEA Family Permit is a form of entry clearance to the UK and is designed to make movement around the Member States easier for non-EEA family members.

EEA Family Permit holders are able to enter, live and work in the UK, on the basis of them being a dependent of a citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA).

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. It is advisable to submit an application for the pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, however, in order to be able to legally remain in the UK. See below for more details. 

Before the 30th of June 2021, in order to remain in the UK, EU nationals and their family members must apply for pre-settled status, to confirm their immigration statuses in the UK. This is regardless of whether or not the EEA National and/or their family members already have a Residence Permit or a Residence Card. 

The application is available for EU Nationals and/or their family members who will have lived in the UK for less than 5 years by the 31st of December 2020.

Deadline to Submit the Applications:

The deadline to submit the application for pre-settled status is the 30th of June 2021. 

How long is it valid until?:  The Pre-Settled Status Document is valid for 5 years (the same as the previous The Residence Card/Registration Certificate). 

Settled Status:

All EEA Nationals and their family members can apply for settled status if they have lived continously in the UK for 5 years or more, on or before the 31st of December 2020, providing certain requirements are met. 

The deadline to submit this application is the 30th of June 2021.