EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit

The EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit is for non-EEA citizens who wish to travel to and enter the UK in order to join or accompany a close family member who is a relevant EEA citizen, or an eligible person of Northern Ireland or an eligible naturalised British citizen, or family members of British citizens who have lived with that British citizen in another EU country prior to 31 December 2020.

Requirements for the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances.  You may wish to speak to an immigration lawyer for an individual expert advice.

Eligibility requirements

You will need to satisfy the following eligibility requirements to qualify for the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit:

  • you need to be joining family member of a relevant EEA citizen (an EEA citizen who holds either Settled Status or Pre-Settled Status, or has applied and is waiting for a decision)

  • you will be accompanying the EEA citizen to the UK or joining them in the UK within 6 months of the date of application

  • your family relationship began prior to 31 December 2020

  • You can apply if you’re one of the following family members:

    • spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner

    • child or grandchild under 21

    • dependent child or grandchild over 21

    • dependent parent or grandparent

    This includes family members who were adopted under an adoption order that’s recognised in UK law.

    You can also apply if you’re one of the following family members of the spouse or civil partner:

    • their child or grandchild aged under 21

    • their dependent child or grandchild over 21

    • their dependent parent or grandparent

    Spouses and civil partners of Swiss citizens

    If you’re married to or in a civil partnership with an eligible Swiss citizen, the rules are different.

    You’ll still be eligible if:

    • you got married or formed your civil partnership between 31 December 2020 and 1 January 2026

    • you’re still married or in a civil partnership when you apply

  • The following persons are considered relevant EEA citizens:

    • EEA or Swiss nationals who have been granted ‘pre-settled’ status or ‘settled’ status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or who have made an application and are awaiting the outcome

    • Irish citizens who meet the criteria for ‘pre-settled’ or ‘settled’ status under the EU Settlement Scheme (they do not need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme)

    • Eligible persons of Northern Ireland (persons who have British, Irish or dual British and Irish citizenship, were born in Northern Ireland and have at least one parent who held British, Irish or dual citizenship (or without any restriction on their period of residence) at the time of their birth) who meet the criteria for ‘pre-settled’ or ‘settled’ status under the EU Settlement Scheme (even though they cannot apply)

    • British citizens who also have EEA or Swiss citizenship and who lived in the UK as an EEA or Swiss citizen before gaining British citizenship

  • The Home Office does not charge an application fee for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit.

    Applicants for EU Settlement Scheme Family Permits are also not required to pay the Immigration Health Charge.

  • Your EU Settlement Scheme family permit will be valid for 4 months if you are arriving after 01 April 2021.

  • If you wish to stay in the UK beyond the validity period of your EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit then you will need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

    The deadline for applying to the EU Settlement Scheme was 30 June 2021, the end of the ‘Grace Period’. However, joining family members arriving after 01 April 2021 can apply within 3 months of arrival (and prior to the expiry of their family permit), or show reasonable grounds for not applying within this period.