EEA Family Permit: Closed, and What You Can Apply For Now
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What happened to the EEA Family Permit?
- If your family relationship existed before 2021, the Settlement Scheme route is usually the one to look at first. It is free.
- The EEA Residence Card and the old appeal route under the 2016 Regulations are both closed.
Which route applies to you?
EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit:
- Your relationship to the EU national existed by 31 December 2020
- Your EU family member has settled or pre-settled status, or is applying for it
- You are a spouse, partner, child, parent or dependent relative
- It is free, and there is no fixed application deadline for eligible people
Family visa, Appendix FM:
- Your relationship began after 31 December 2020
- Your partner is a British citizen or is settled through another route
- You will need to meet the income requirement of £29,000 and the English requirement
- This is the same route as the spouse visa and the unmarried partner visa
The EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit
Extended family members
- Other dependent relatives, where dependency can be evidenced
- A relative being cared for by the EU national on serious health grounds
These are assessed more closely, and evidence of the relationship and dependency matters most.
Close family members
- Spouse or civil partner
- Unmarried partner in a durable relationship
- Child or grandchild under 21, or dependent
- Dependent parent or grandparent
Where the deadline still bites
Some groups had later cut-off dates. Swiss nationals' spouses and partners had until 1 January 2026. If you think you are close to a deadline, take advice quickly.
The key date
The relationship must generally have existed by 31 December 2020. A child born or adopted after that date to a qualifying parent can still be included.
What it leads to
Pre-settled status, then settled status after five years, then British citizenship if you choose.
How long it lasts
Six months to travel to the UK. Once here, you apply to the Settlement Scheme itself for pre-settled or settled status.
What it costs
Nothing. There is no application fee and no health surcharge for the permit itself.
Who it is for
The family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss national who has status under the Settlement Scheme, where the relationship pre-dates 2021.
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Documents you will need
Cost Breakdown
In our clients' own words.
"This is the second time AY&J has helped us with a visa application. Words cannot express our gratitude for all her help and professionalism."
“Professional and comprehensive service that was faultless. The attention to detail and the guidance provided in completing the spouse visa application and the required documentation were perfect. My consultant lawyer was extremely helpful and was always accessible to answer any questions I had at any time. I would highly recommend the service.”
“After our ILR rejection, AY&J pursued our case through Administrative Review and Judicial Review. The team was open, honest, knowledgeable and attentive to every detail. They kept us informed at every stage, supported us throughout an extremely difficult journey and helped us regain confidence in our case.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Refusals and appeals
It depends on why you were refused. If it was a fixable evidence gap, reapplying is often quicker. If the decision was wrong in law, an appeal or review is the route. We will tell you which.
Refusals and appeals
These usually carry a right of appeal on human rights grounds. The common reasons are the income requirement, the English requirement, or doubts about the relationship.
Refusals and appeals
You can usually ask for an administrative review, and an appeal may be available where human rights are engaged. Often, fixing the evidence and reapplying is faster.
Refusals and appeals
No. The Immigration (EEA) Regulations 2016 are revoked, and appeals cannot be brought under them. The route now depends on which application you made.
Family visa alternative
The Settlement Scheme Family Permit is free. The Family visa carries a fee and a health surcharge. Where the Settlement Scheme route is open to you, it is almost always the better option.
Family visa alternative
It is not, in substance. It is the same Appendix FM route. Our Spouse Visa and Unmarried Partner Visa pages set out the detail.
Family visa alternative
For the Family visa, yes, at CEFR A1 for the first application, rising at later stages. The Settlement Scheme route has no language requirement.
Family visa alternative
£29,000 a year, the same as the spouse and unmarried partner routes. Savings of £88,500 are an alternative.
Settlement Scheme permit
Yes. Pre-settled status, then settled status after five years, then British citizenship if you choose.
Settlement Scheme permit
Spouses, civil partners, durable partners, children and grandchildren under 21 or dependent, and dependent parents or grandparents. Other dependent relatives are assessed more closely.
Settlement Scheme permit
Six months to travel to the UK. Once here, you apply to the Settlement Scheme for pre-settled or settled status.
Settlement Scheme permit
Nothing. There is no fee for the permit and no health surcharge.
Which route applies
The Settlement Scheme route is closed to you. The standard Family visa under Appendix FM is the route, the same one used for spouse and partner visas.
Which route applies
Yes, for eligible people, and there is no fixed deadline for most of them. The relationship generally has to pre-date 2021.
Which route applies
It closed at the same time, along with the Immigration (EEA) Regulations 2016 that governed it. Existing valid cards were replaced by status under the Settlement Scheme.
Which route applies
No. The route closed on 31 December 2020. If you are joining an EU family member, two routes remain. The EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit, or the standard Family visa.
EU Family Route Insights
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