Family visas: apply, extend or switch

Overview

You need a family visa to live with a family member in the UK for more than 6 months.

Applying from outside the UK

You can apply for a family visa to live with your:

spouse or partner

fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner

child

parent

relative who’ll provide long-term care for you

If you’re visiting the UK for 6 months or less, check if you need a Standard Visitor visa or Marriage Visitor visa.

Extending your family visa

You can apply to extend your stay with your family member if you’re already in the UK on a family visa.

You can extend at any time before your current permission to stay in the UK expires.

If you’re extending to stay with the same family member, you’ll only get up to 28 days left on your current stay added to your new visa.

You must live in the UK for a certain amount of time before you’re eligible for settlement (‘indefinite leave to remain’). Before you extend your visa, check how much time you need to settle in the UK.

You might be able to apply to stay on the basis of your private life if you’ve lived in the UK for many years already.

Switching to a family visa

If you came to the UK on a different visa, you might be able to switch to a family visa to stay with your:

spouse or partner

child

parent

You can switch at any time before your current permission to stay in the UK expires.

If you do not meet the rules because of coronavirus (COVID-19)

If you do not meet the rules to enter or remain in the UK because of coronavirus, you might still be able to apply to extend your stay or switch to a family visa. Read the guidance for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents.

Fees

How much it costs depends on how you apply.

| Apply outside the UK | Apply in the UK

Cost if joining your partner, parent or child | £1,523 | £1,033

Cost for each dependant added to your application | £1,523 each person | £1,033 each person

Cost for an adult who needs to be looked after by a relative | £3,250 | £1,033

Let your bank know that a large amount of money will be coming out of your account - otherwise it might cancel your payment.

Healthcare surcharge

You might also need to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application.

If you’re applying to extend or switch in the UK

You’ll need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken.

Get a faster decision on your application

If you’re applying from the UK, you may be able to pay an extra £800 for the super priority service to get a faster decision.

You cannot use the super priority service if you’re applying as an adult coming to be cared for by a relative.

Once you’ve got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to arrive.

How long it takes

If you apply outside the UK a decision will usually be made within 12 weeks.

If you apply in the UK a decision will usually be made within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service.

If you use the super priority service a decision will usually be made:

by the end of the next working day after providing your biometric information if your appointment is on a weekday

2 working days after providing your biometric information if your appointment is at the weekend

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

It might take longer if your application is complex, for example you:

do not meet the minimum income requirement

cannot prove your knowledge of English

need to attend an interview

have not provided all the evidence that the Home Office needs

have a criminal conviction or another personal circumstance that needs to be reviewed

Other ways you can stay

You were the victim of domestic abuse or your partner died

You might be able to apply to settle in the UK if you had permission to stay in the UK as a partner when either:

you were the victim of domestic abuse

your partner died

Your family member has refugee status or humanitarian protection

You might be able to apply for ‘family reunion’ to join a partner or parent who has either:

refugee status in the UK

humanitarian protection in the UK

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you or a close family member started living in the UK before 1 January 2021, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme. Otherwise you need a visa or family permit to come to the UK.

Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.

When you cannot get a family visa

In some circumstances you cannot apply for, or switch to, a family visa.

Your family member has a work visa or student visa

You cannot apply for a family visa if your family member is in the UK temporarily on a work visa or student visa.

You can apply to stay with them as a dependant instead.

You have a visitor visa or a visa for 6 months or less

You’ll usually need to leave the UK to apply for a family visa if either:

you have permission to be in the UK as a visitor

your visa is for 6 months or less

However, you might be able to switch to a family visa in the UK if you have either:

a 6-month family visa as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner

permission to stay in the UK for the outcome of a family court case or divorce

Apply as a partner or spouse

To apply as a partner, you and your partner both need to be 18 or over.

Your partner must also either:

be a British or Irish citizen

have settled in the UK - for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence

be from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and have pre-settled status - they must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021

have a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa

have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK

You and your partner must intend to live together permanently in the UK after you apply.

If your partner has settled status you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme or for a family permit.

What you’ll need to prove

You must be able to prove one of the following:

you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK

you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply

you are a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner and will marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arriving

If your wedding or civil ceremony has been delayed because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you might still be able to request an extension or apply to extend your stay. Read the guidance for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents.

You also need to prove you:

have a good knowledge of English

can financially support yourself and your dependants

If you do not meet these requirements you may still be able to apply for a visa or extend your permission to stay if:

you have a child in the UK who is a British or Irish citizen or has lived in the UK for 7 years and it would be unreasonable for them to leave the UK

there would be very significant difficulties for you and your partner if you lived together as a couple outside the UK that could not be overcome

it would breach your human rights to stop you coming to the UK or make you leave

If you’re applying as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner

You must prove that:

any previous marriages or civil partnerships have ended

you plan to marry or become civil partners within 6 months of arriving in the UK

If your wedding or civil ceremony has been delayed because of COVID-19, you might still be able to request an extension or apply to extend your stay.  Read the guidance for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents.

You will not be able to work during your engagement.

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for 2 years and 9 months on this visa. If you’re applying as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner, you can stay for 6 months.

After this you’ll need to apply to extend your stay.

If you extend or switch to this visa

If you extend your family visa or switch to this visa you can stay in the UK for 2 years and 6 months.

How to apply

You’ll need to prepare information and documents to provide with your application.

How you apply depends on whether you’re in the UK or not.

Outside the UK

You must apply online from outside the UK.

In the UK

You must apply online in the UK.

If you cannot pay the fee

Fill in the online fee waiver request form as well if you cannot pay the fee because you:

do not have a place to live and cannot afford one

have a place to live but cannot afford essential living costs like food or heating

have a very low income and paying the fee would harm your child’s wellbeing

Get help to apply online

You can get help with completing the online form if you:

do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device

do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you’re applying in the UK.

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

Applying with your children

You can add children to your application as dependants if both of the following apply:

they are under 18 when you apply, or were under 18 when they were first granted leave

they do not live an independent life

Your child is living an independent life if, for example, they’ve left home, got married and had children.

When you can settle permanently

The earliest you can apply to settle in the UK (called ‘indefinite leave to remain’) is after you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years continuously on a family visa as a partner.

You cannot include time you’ve spent in the UK:

on any other visa

as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner

The rules are different if you applied before 9 July 2012.

If you applied before 9 July 2012

You can only extend your family visa if all the following are true:

you were given permission to stay in the UK as a partner before 9 July 2012

you are not eligible to settle in the UK

you have not been granted or refused another visa

You must also prove that:

you and your partner have enough money to financially support yourself and your dependants without relying on public funds

you have knowledge of English

Apply as a parent

You can apply to live in the UK to care for your child.

If you’re eligible to apply as a partner, you must do that instead of applying as a parent.

Your child must either:

be under 18 on the date you apply

have been under 18 when you were first granted leave and not live an independent life

Your child must be living in the UK. One of the following must also be true:

they’re a British or Irish citizen

they’ve settled in the UK - for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence

they’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and have pre-settled status - they must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021

if you’re applying in the UK, they must have lived in the UK for 7 years continuously and it would not be reasonable for them to leave

If your child has settled status you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme or for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit.

If you do not meet the rules to enter or remain in the UK because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you might still be able to apply to extend your stay or switch to a family visa. Read the guidance for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents.

Parental responsibility

You need to have sole or shared parental responsibility for your child.

If you share parental responsibility, the child’s other parent must not be your partner. They must also either:

be a British or Irish citizen

have settled in the UK - for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence

If the child lives with their other parent or carer, you must have access to the child in person, as agreed with the other parent or carer or by a court order.

What you’ll need to prove

You must be able to prove that you’re taking an active role in your child’s upbringing and you plan to continue after you apply. For example you could provide letters from your child’s:

school confirming you take them to school or go to parent evenings

doctor, dentist, or health visitor confirming that you take them to appointments

other parent confirming how much contact you have with your child

If you provide a letter from the other parent, you’ll need to include proof of their identity. This should be an official document which has their signature on it, for example a copy of their passport, tax return or photocard driving licence.

English language and financial requirements

You must also prove you:

have a good knowledge of English

can financially support yourself without claiming public funds

If your child or any other dependants live with you, you must also prove you can financially support them without claiming public funds.

If you do not meet the English language and financial requirements you can still extend your permission to stay if:

your child in the UK is a British or Irish citizen or has lived in the UK for 7 years

it would be unreasonable for them to leave the UK

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for 2 years and 9 months on this visa. After this you’ll need to apply to extend your stay.

If you extend your family visa or switch to this visa you can stay in the UK for 2 years and 6 months.

How to apply

You’ll need to prepare information and documents to provide with your application.

How you apply depends on whether you’re in the UK or not.

Outside the UK

You must apply online outside the UK. You must also complete Appendix 5.

In the UK

You must apply online in the UK.

If you cannot afford to pay the fee, you must also apply online to waive the fee. You might not have to pay the fee if you:

do not have a place to live and you cannot afford one

have a place to live but cannot afford your essential living costs like food or heating

have a very low income and paying the fee would harm your child’s wellbeing

Read the guidance for parents before applying.

Get help to apply online

You can get help with completing the online form if you:

do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device

do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you’re applying in the UK.

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

Applying with other children

You can add other children to your application as dependants if one of the following applies:

they are under 18 on the date you apply

they were under 18 when they were first granted leave on a family visa and do not live an independent life

When you can settle permanently

The earliest you can apply to settle in the UK (called ‘indefinite leave to remain’) is after you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years continuously on a family visa as a parent.

You cannot include time you’ve spent in the UK on any other visa.

The rules are different if you applied before 9 July 2012.

Apply as a child

You can apply for a family visa to join your parent in the UK.

You may not need a family visa if at least one of your parents has indefinite leave to remain or proof of permanent residence. Check if you can apply to settle in the UK.

If your parent has settled status you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme or for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit.

You were born in the UK

You’ll get the same permission to stay as your parent if you were born in the UK.

If you’re under 18

You can either:

be added to your parent’s next application as a dependant

apply separately

To apply separately, you’ll need to know what kind of permission to stay in the UK (‘limited leave to remain’) your parent has.

If you’re over 18

Your parent can only include you in their application as a dependant if you:

got permission to come to or stay in the UK (‘leave to enter or remain’) on a family visa when you were under 18

do not live an independent life

are applying from inside the UK

You’re living an independent life if, for example, you’ve left home, got married and had children.

You were born outside the UK

Whether you can apply depends on your age and how your parent applied.

If you’re under 18

You must:

not be married, in a civil partnership or living an independent life

be financially supported without claiming public funds

One of your parents must also be applying or have applied for a visa or to extend their permission to stay as a:

partner - and the partner they’re joining is your other parent

parent - and they have sole parental responsibility for you

Otherwise, you might still be eligible to apply if there are serious reasons to let you come to, or stay in the UK and there are plans for your care.

If you’re over 18

Your parent can include you in their application as a dependant, or you can apply separately yourself. You can only apply if you:

got permission to stay in the UK (‘leave to remain’) on a family visa when you were under 18

do not live an independent life

If your parent cannot include you in their form and you’re in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for Private Life in the UK (10-year route).

Apply from outside the UK

You’ll need to prepare information and documents to provide with your application.

Apply at the same time as your parent

Which form you need to fill in depends on whether your parent is applying to enter the UK as the partner of one of the following:

a British or Irish citizen

a person with indefinite leave to remain

a person settled in the UK - for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence

a person from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who has pre-settled status - they must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021

a person with a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa

a person with refugee status or humanitarian protection

If they are applying as one of these, you must fill in the Appendix FM online form.

If they are not, you must fill in both:

the online application form

the Appendix 1 paper form

Apply separately

Which form you need to fill in depends on whether your parent has leave to enter or remain in the UK on a 5 or 10-year route to settlement as the partner of:

a British or Irish citizen

If they do, you must fill in the Appendix FM online form.

If they do not, you must fill in both:

the online application form

the Appendix 1 paper form

Apply from the UK

If you’re already in the UK, you must apply online.

Fill in the online fee waiver request form as well if you cannot pay the fee because you:

do not have a place to live and you cannot afford one

have a place to live but cannot afford your essential living costs like food or heating

have a very low income and paying the fee would harm your child’s wellbeing

You can also check if you’re eligible for a different type of visa.

Get help to apply online

You can get help with completing the online form if you:

do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device

do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you’re applying in the UK.

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

Apply as an adult coming to be cared for by a relative

You must be outside the UK to apply and need long-term care from a parent, grandchild, brother, sister, son or daughter who is living permanently in the UK.

One of the following must also apply to the relative:

they’re a British or Irish citizen

they have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK

If your family member has settled status you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme or for a family permit.

You must prove all of the following:

you need long-term care to do everyday personal and household tasks because of illness, disability or your age

the care you need is not available or affordable in the country you live in

the person you’ll be joining in the UK will be able to support, accommodate and care for you without claiming public funds for at least 5 years

you’re 18 or over

How long you can stay for

How long you can stay depends on the status of your family member.

If your family member is British, Irish or settled in the UK

Your stay is unlimited. You will not need to apply to extend or settle.

If your family member has pre-settled status

They must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021. You can stay as long as your family member stays. You’ll need to apply to extend or settle when they do.

If your family member has refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK

You can stay as long as your family member stays. You’ll need to apply to extend or settle when they do.

How to apply

You’ll need to prepare information and documents to provide with your application.

You must apply as an adult dependent relative online and complete Appendix 1.

Apply to extend your stay

Apply online to extend your stay in the UK.

Apply on the basis of your private life

You can only apply on the basis of your private life if you’re already living in the UK.

You must be able to prove that you’re:

under 18 and you’ve lived in the UK continuously for at least 7 years, and it would be unreasonable to expect you to leave the UK

between 18 and 24 and you’ve lived continuously in the UK for more than half your life

18 or over, have spent less than 20 years in the UK and would have very significant problems living in the country you’d have to go to - for example, you do not speak the language and could not learn it

25 or over and you’ve been in the UK continuously for 20 years

Your family members can apply on the same application - you’ll be considered separately.

How to apply

You must apply online.

If you cannot pay the application fee

Fill in the online fee waiver request form as well if you cannot afford to pay the fee because you:

do not have a place to live and you cannot afford one

have a place to live but cannot afford your essential living costs like food or heating

have a very low income and paying the fee would harm your child’s wellbeing

Get help using a computer to apply online

You can get help with completing the online form if you:

do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device

do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you’re applying in the UK.

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

Knowledge of English

You may need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply.

When you do not need to prove it

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English or take a test if one of the following is true:

you’re applying as a child

you’re applying as an adult coming to be cared for by a relative

you’ve been in the UK on a family visa for 5 years and you’re extending it as a partner or parent

you’re over 65

you have a physical or mental condition that prevents you from meeting the requirement

You also will not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of one of the following countries:

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

the Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Canada

Dominica

Grenada

Guyana

Jamaica

Malta

New Zealand

St Kitts and Nevis

St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

USA

How to prove your knowledge of English

You can prove it with an academic qualification, or by taking a test.

Academic qualifications

You can prove your knowledge of English if you have a degree or academic qualification that was taught or researched in English.

If your qualification is from a UK university or college, you only need your degree certificate.

If your qualification is from a university or college outside the UK

You’ll need to provide a certificate from Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) to show that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree or higher and that it was taught in English.

There are 2 kinds of certificate:

a statement of comparability

a visa and nationality statement

You need a statement of comparability if you got your qualification from a university or college in one of these countries:

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

the Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Dominica

Grenada

Guyana

Ireland

Jamaica

Malta

New Zealand

St Kitts and Nevis

St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

USA

If you got your qualification from a university or college in any other country, you need a visa and nationality statement.

Take an approved English language test

You can prove your knowledge of English by passing an approved English language test.

You must pass at least level A1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale for your first visa application. You can choose to take a higher level test.

If you pass level B1 level or higher, the test will be accepted if it’s still on the list of approved English language tests when you apply for settlement after 5 years.

If you cannot take an English language test because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you might be able to apply for an exemption. Read the guidance for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents.

If you want to settle permanently in the UK within 5 years

You may have to pass a higher CEFR level if you want to stay in the UK after 2.5 years. What you need to do depends on what CEFR level you passed for your first visa.

If you passed:

level A1 you’ll need to pass level A2 in speaking and listening

level A2, B1, B2, C1 or C2 you can use the test again for your application if it’s still on the list of approved English language tests

If you were given an exemption, you’ll need to pass a test at level A1.

Read the English language requirement: family members guidance.

Give proof of your income

You and your partner must have a combined income of at least £18,600 a year if:

you’re applying as a partner

you want to settle in the UK (get ‘indefinite leave to remain’) within 5 years

You must prove you have extra money if you have children who:

are not British or Irish citizens

do not have pre-settled status

are not permanently settled in the UK

You might not need to prove you have extra money if your children are citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland and they do not have pre-settled status or are not permanently settled in the UK. Check the guidance in appendix FM 1.7: financial requirement for more information.

If you need to prove extra money for your children, you’ll need to earn an extra:

£3,800 for your first child

£2,400 for each child you have after your first child

This is called the ‘minimum income requirement’.

You may be able to use your savings instead of income.

How you prove you have the money depends on how you got the income.

If you’ve experienced a loss of income because of coronavirus (COVID-19), for example if you’ve been furloughed or you’re self employed, you might still be able to apply. Read the guidance for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents.

What counts as income

You and your partner can use:

income from employment before tax and National Insurance (check your P60 or payslips) - you can only use your own income if you earn it in the UK

income you earn from self-employment or as a director of a limited company in the UK - check your Self Assessment tax return

cash savings above £16,000

money from a pension

non-work income, for example from property rentals or dividends

If you’re using income from self-employment or employment, you’ll need to prove you or your partner received that income for 6 months or more.

What proof you need to give

You’ll need to provide proof of your income with your application. If you or your partner are employed, you could include:

bank statements showing you or your partner’s income

6 months of payslips

a letter from an employer, dated and on headed paper

The employer’s letter should confirm:

you or your partner are employed there

the job title or position you or your partner hold

how long you or your partner have worked there

the type of contract (for example, permanent, fixed term)

what you or your partner earn before tax and National Insurance

how long you or your partner have been paid your current salary

the payslips are genuine

You’ll be told exactly what documents to provide when you apply online.

Check the guidance in appendix FM 1.7: financial requirement if:

you or your partner’s income is more complicated

you or your partner have taken maternity or paternity leave in the last 6 months

you want to combine different income sources

The detailed guidance also explains the evidence you need to provide for each of the types of income you’re relying on.

If you cannot meet the minimum income requirement

You need to show you and your partner meet the minimum income requirement if you want to settle in 5 years as a partner.

If you do not meet the requirement, you may be able to settle in 10 years.

When you do not need to meet the income requirement

You may be able to settle in 5 years without meeting the minimum income requirement if either:

you’re applying as a parent

you get certain benefits, for example Disability Living Allowance or Carer’s Allowance.

You need to show you and your family have enough money to adequately support and accommodate yourselves without relying on public funds. The caseworker considers your income and housing costs.

Check the guidance in appendix FM 1.7: financial requirement for more information

Information you must provide

You’ll need to have information and some evidence ready when you make your application. Include information for you and any dependants applying at the same time.

You’ll need to provide:

all your names

your date of birth

your current passport or other valid travel ID

copies of the photo page and any visa or entry stamps in your previous passports

a copy of your biometric residence permit, if you have one

details of any previous immigration applications you’ve made

details of any criminal convictions

your national insurance number, if you have one

your parents’ date of birth and nationality if you’re applying from outside the UK

your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test

a certified translation of any document that is not in English or Welsh

You’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa if you’re applying outside the UK.

You’ll need an email address to make an online application.

You’ll also need to:

give proof of your finances

prove your knowledge of English

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances - for example a sponsorship form from your family member in the UK.

You’ll be told how to provide your documents when you apply.

If you’re unable to provide specified documents because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you might still be able to apply. Read the guidance for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents.

Your partner’s details

If you have a partner, you’ll be asked about their:

name

date of birth

nationality

passport

right to be in the UK, for example they’re a British citizen

You’ll also need to give details of:

any people your partner was previously married to, in a civil partnership with or had children with

evidence of marriages ending, for example a divorce certificate

anyone your partner supports with money, for example their parents

Proof of relationship

If you’re applying as a spouse or partner, you’ll be asked about:

your relationship with your partner, for example how you met and how often you see each other

how long you’ve lived together - you’ll need to provide proof like council tax bills

things you pay for together

whether you’re your partner’s carer

Your previous partners

You’ll need to include details of anyone you previously married or had children with. Include evidence of marriages ending, for example a divorce certificate.

Children

You’ll need to give details of your children (and your partner’s children if you have one). You’ll be asked about all children, even if they’re not applying.

You’ll need to give details of:

their name

their nationality

their date of birth

their passport details

who the child normally lives with

any other people with parental responsibility for your child, for example your step children’s other parents

how you’re involved in their day to day life

arrangements you have to see the child - for example the courts have granted you access

the child’s extended family

any countries your child has visited or lived in

Your life outside the UK

You’ll need to give details of:

countries outside the UK you’ve lived in and visited

family and friends in the countries where you were born or have nationality

After you apply

You’ll need to attend an appointment to provide your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo). You’ll be told how to make an appointment when you apply.

Getting your documents back

You can ask for your passport and other documents to be returned if you’ve provided them with your application but need them urgently.

You might have to cancel your application to get your documents back.

If your application is approved

You’ll get a biometric residence permit.

You can:

work

study

You cannot work or study if you’re applying for a visa or extending your stay to get married or become civil partners.

You cannot:

usually get benefits or other public funds for you or your dependants

apply to settle in the UK until you’re eligible


Apply for a permit to join your EU or EEA family member in the UK

Overview

You may be able to get a permit to come to the UK if you’re the family member of either:

an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

a ‘person of Northern Ireland’

The EEA includes the EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

The family of some British citizens can also get a permit.

You must be outside the UK to apply.

There are 2 different family permits:

the EU Settlement Scheme family permit

the EEA family permit

What family permits are for

A family permit makes it easier to travel with your family member to the UK or to join them there.

It lets you come to the UK for up to 6 months. You can work and study, and come and go as many times as you want.

Without one, you might not get a boarding pass or may be refused entry into the UK.

You can stay longer in the UK if you’re eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme. You can either:

apply for a family permit before you come to the UK, and then apply to the EU Settlement Scheme once you’re here

apply to the EU Settlement Scheme from outside the UK, if you’re eligible to do so

EU Settlement Scheme family permit

You can apply for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit if you’re the close family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who was living in the UK by 31 December 2020.

Find out more about applying for an EUSS family permit to join an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.

You can also apply:

if you’ve lived in the EU, EEA or Switzerland with an eligible family member who’s a British citizen

if you have the right to stay in the UK as the family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who has died, left the UK, is no longer your spouse or civil partner or with whom the family relationship has broken down - this is called ‘retained right of residence’

EEA family permit

The EEA family permit is ending on 30 June 2021. You will not be able to apply for one or use it to travel to the UK after then, even if the expiry date on it is later. To come to the UK after 30 June 2021, you might be able to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit.

You can apply for an EEA family permit if you’re the close family member or unmarried partner of a person from the EU, EEA or Switzerland. Your family relationship must have started by 31 December 2020.

If you apply for an EEA family permit and do not get a decision by 30 June 2021, you’ll need to apply for a different way to travel to the UK, such as an EU Settlement Scheme family permit.

Find out more about applying for the EEA family permit to join an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.

You may also be eligible for an EEA family permit:

with a ‘derivative right of residence’ - you might have this if you’re the primary carer of a British, EU, EEA or Swiss dependant, the primary carer’s child, or the child of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who previously worked in the UK

if you can make a ‘Surinder Singh’ application after living in an EEA country or Switzerland with a British family member

with a ‘retained right of residence’ - you might have this if you have the right to stay in the UK as the family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who has died, left the UK or is no longer your spouse or civil partner

Fees

Both family permits are free.

After you’ve applied

If your application is successful, check how long your permit lasts and when you can apply to stay longer in the UK.

EU Settlement Scheme family permit: join an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

You can apply for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit to come to the UK if all of the following are true:

you’re the eligible family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, or a ‘person of Northern Ireland’

your family relationship began by 31 December 2020

your family member was living in the UK by 31 December 2020

your family member is in the UK already or traveling with you to the UK within 6 months of your application

The EEA includes the EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Children who were born or adopted after 31 December 2020 may also be eligible, if they’re the child of either:

an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen’s spouse or civil partner

Eligible family members

You can join your:

spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner

child or grandchild aged under 21

dependent child or grandchild of any age

dependent parent or grandparent

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

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 engaged or formed your partnership after 31 December 2020

you’re still together when you apply

Who you can join

The person you’re joining must be one of the following:

an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

a person of Northern Ireland

someone who lived in the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen before also getting British citizenship

an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who is exempt from immigration control

an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who travels regularly to work in the UK but lives outside of the UK (also known as a ‘frontier worker’)

a British citizen who also has dual EU, EEA or Swiss nationality and was settled in the UK before 16 July 2012 without using their free movement rights (also known as a ‘McCarthy’ case)

Your family member must meet the eligibility criteria for the EU Settlement Scheme even if they have not applied or cannot apply. This means that they:

were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020

pass criminal record checks

If you’re joining a person of Northern Ireland

To be an eligible person of Northern Ireland, the person you’re joining must:

have been born in Northern Ireland

have British, Irish or dual British and Irish citizenship

At the time of your family member’s birth, one of their parents must have been:

a British citizen

a Irish citizen

a dual British and Irish citizen

entitled to reside in Northern Ireland with no restriction on their period of residence

If you’re joining an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who lived in the UK before getting British citizenship

To be eligible the person you’re joining must:

be an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

have become a naturalised British citizen after working, studying or being self-sufficient in the UK

If you’re joining an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who is exempt from immigration control

The person you’re joining must be:

an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

exempt from immigration control

They cannot also be a British citizen.

If you’re joining a frontier worker

The person you’re joining must:

be an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

have been working in the UK by 31 December 2020 as an employee or self-employed person

be primarily resident in another country that is not the UK

have been a frontier worker continuously since 1 January 2021

They cannot also be a British citizen.

Documents you must provide

You must provide:

a valid passport

evidence of your relationship to your EEA family member, for example a marriage certificate, civil partnership certificate or birth certificate

You can provide a valid national identity card instead of your passport if you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.

If the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen family member you are joining has applied to the EU Settlement Scheme you must provide their application number.

If they have not applied to the EU Settlement Scheme you must provide both:

their valid EU, EEA or Swiss passport or national identity card

evidence that they would be eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme if they had applied

You’ll have to show that they meet the other eligibility criteria for the EU Settlement Scheme even if they cannot apply - for example, if they have British as well as EU, EEA or Swiss citizenship.

Evidence if you’re a spouse or civil partner

If you’re a spouse or civil partner, you must show that you were engaged or formed a civil partnership  by 31 December 2020.

To do this, you must provide either:

a marriage or civil partnership certificate

a document issued under the EEA regulations as the spouse or civil partner of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen - for example a family permit or residence card

If you’re married to or in civil partnership with a Swiss citizen who was resident in the UK by 31 December 2020, the rules are different. You may be eligible if you got married or entered into your partnership any time before 1 January 2026, and the relationship still exists when you apply.

Evidence if you’re an unmarried partner

If you’re an unmarried partner you’ll need to provide evidence that you were in your long-term relationship by 31 December 2020.

This usually means showing that you had been living together for 2 years. Evidence could include:

bank statements, utility bills or official correspondence that shows you and your partner at the same address

documents showing joint finances, like a tax return

birth certificates or custody agreements showing that you shared responsibility for children while living together

You’ll also need to provide evidence that:

you’re still together when you apply

if you were resident in the UK before 1 January 2021, evidence that you were legally resident during that time

Evidence if you’re a dependent child, grandchild, parent or grandparent

You’ll have to provide evidence that you’re related to your EU, EEA or Swiss family member, such as a birth certificate.

You’ll also have to show that you are dependent on them if:

you’re over 21 and a dependent child or grandchild of your family member

your family member is under 18 and you’re their dependent parent or grandparent

Examples of the evidence you can provide include:

bank statements or money transfers that show you depend on them financially

evidence that you depend on them for health care, for example a letter from a hospital consultant

If you’re a dependent parent or grandparent, you will not need to show dependency if your spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner has successfully applied for either:

an EU Settlement Scheme family permit

the EU Settlement Scheme as the dependent parent of your EEA family member

Evidence if you’re the family member of a person of Northern Ireland

You’ll need to provide a birth certificate or passport showing that your family member was born in Northern Ireland.

If they qualify as an Irish citizen alone, you must provide their original passport or national identity card and not a copy.

You must also provide evidence that, at the time of your family member’s birth, one of their parents was:

a British citizen

a Irish citizen

a dual British and Irish citizen

entitled to reside in Northern Ireland with no restriction on their period of residence

Evidence if you’re joining a person who is exempt from immigration control

You’ll need to provide evidence showing that:

they are exempt from immigration controls, for example a letter from a UK or foreign ministry

they’d meet the other eligibility criteria for the EU Settlement Scheme if they made an application before 1 July 2021 (even though they cannot actually apply)

Evidence if you’re joining a frontier worker

You’ll need to provide their frontier worker permit, or evidence that shows that they would be issued one if they applied.

Evidence if you’re joining a person with dual citizenship

You’ll need to provide evidence that shows:

your family member is a British citizen - for example a copy of their passport

they’d meet the other eligibility criteria for the EU Settlement Scheme if they made an application before 1 July 2021, even though they cannot apply

If you’re applying on the grounds that your family member was settled in the UK before 16 July 2012
without using their free movement rights (also known as a ‘McCarthy’ case), you’ll have to show that on 16 July 2012 you had either:

a right of permanent residence in the UK

a document issued under EEA regulations, for example a residence card

Apply for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit

You must apply online for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit.

You must be outside the UK to apply.

There’s no deadline for applications.

EU Settlement Scheme family permit: join a British citizen

You can apply for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit to come to the UK before 29 March 2022 if you’ve lived in an EU or EEA country or Switzerland with an eligible family member who’s a British citizen.

The EEA includes the EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

You must have lived with them in that country before 1 January 2021, and be:

their spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner

under 21 years old, and are their child or grandchild

21 years or older, and are their dependent child or grandchild

their dependent parent or grandparent

another dependent relative

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

The country that you lived in together must have been your main residence. Your British family member must also have been working (including on a posting with HM Armed Forces), studying or self-sufficient in the country while there.

The relationship with your family member must have existed before 1 February 2020 for you to be eligible to apply, unless you have reasonable grounds for not returning to the UK before 1 January 2021.

Documents you must provide

You must provide:

your valid passport (or ID card if you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen)

your British family member’s valid passport

evidence of your relationship to your British family member, such as a marriage certificate, civil partnership certificate or birth certificate

Both you and your British family member must provide documents proving that you lived in an EU or EEA country (or Switzerland) as your main residence. The documents must show:

that you’ve lived together in that country

your addresses

time spent living at each address

any proof of renting or buying a home

You must also provide proof that your British family member was working, self-employed, self-sufficient or studying in the country where you’ve lived together.

Examples of proof include employer’s letters, wage slips, contracts, bank statements, proof of tax registration, or proof of enrolment and attendance for study.

If you’re a dependent child, grandchild, parent or grandparent or relative

You’ll also need to provide proof of your dependency if you’re:

a dependent child or grandchild of your British family member, or their spouse or civil partner, and you’re over 21

a dependent parent or grandparent of your British family member, or their spouse or civil partner, and they are under 18

another relative and you are dependent on your British family member, or their spouse or civil partner

Apply for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit

You must apply online for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit.

You must be outside the UK to apply.

There’s no deadline for applications.

EU Settlement Scheme family permit: retained right of residence

You may be able to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit if you previously had a right to reside in the UK either:

as the family member of an EU, EEA, Swiss citizen

from living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland with a British citizen

This is called a ‘retained right of residence’. You may have it if:

your eligible family member died

you’re their child, they died or left the UK, and you are in education in the UK

you’ve had a child with them, they died or left the UK, and the child is in education in the UK

they divorced you or a member of your family

the relationship has broken down because of domestic abuse or violence

You must also meet other requirements to be eligible for a retained right of residence - read how applications are decided.

If your family member has died

You can apply if you lived continuously in the UK as their family member for at least one year immediately before their death.

You can also apply if:

you lived in the UK as their family member immediately before their death

they were resident in the UK as a worker or self employed person at the time of their death

they’d been resident as a worker or self employed person for at least two years

If they died as the result of an accident at work or occupational disease, they do not have to have been resident for 2 years.

If you’re in education in the UK

You can apply if you’re in education in the UK and one of the following is true:

you’re the child of an eligible EU, EEA, Swiss or British citizen who has left the UK or died

one of your parents is the spouse or civil partner of an eligible EU, EEA, Swiss or British citizen who has left the UK or died

one of your parents was previously the spouse or civil partner of an eligible EU, EEA, Swiss or British citizen who has left the UK or died

If you qualify through any of these circumstances, your parent may also be eligible if they have custody of you.

If you or a member of your family was previously married or in a civil partnership

You can apply if you stopped being the family member of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen after their marriage or civil partnership ended with a divorce, annulment or dissolution, and you lived in the UK when it ended.

One of the following must also apply:

the marriage or civil partnership lasted for at least 3 years and the couple had both been living in the UK for at least one year during that time

you have custody of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen’s child

you have been given right of access in the UK to the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen’s child and the child is under 18

you or another family member was the victim of domestic violence or abuse in the marriage or civil partnership

You can also apply if a family member had an eligible marriage or civil partnership and you lived in the UK when it ended. You must be their:

child or grandchild under 21 years old

dependent child or grandchild over the age of 21

dependent parent or grandparent

If you are a victim of domestic abuse or violence

You can apply if your family relationship with an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen has broken down permanently because of domestic abuse or violence.

You can apply if you are or were their:

spouse or civil partner

unmarried partner

child or grandchild under 21 years old

dependent parent or grandparent

Documents you must provide

You must provide:

your family member’s valid passport

evidence of your relationship to them, for example a marriage certificate, civil partnership certificate or birth certificate

evidence that you have been continuously resident in the UK

You can provide a valid national identity card instead of their passport if they’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.

You must also provide evidence that your family member meets the eligibility criteria for the EU Settlement Scheme, even if they cannot apply.

Evidence if your family member has died

You’ll also have to provide:

their death certificate and cause of death

evidence of your and your family member’s residence in the UK

evidence of their employment, if they were employed

Evidence if you’re in education in the UK

Where appropriate, you will have to provide evidence that:

your family member died - for example,  a death certificate

you were in education in the UK at the time your family member died or left the UK, and that you still are

your family member left the UK

you have custody of the child of the family member who died or left the UK

Evidence if you or a member of your family was previously married or in a civil partnership

the marriage or civil partnership ended in divorce, annulment or dissolution

you’d been living together in the UK for at least a year

you have custody of or the right of access to the child of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

domestic violence or abuse took place

Evidence if you are a victim of domestic abuse or violence

You will have to provide evidence that:

the family relationship has broken down permanently as a result of domestic violence or abuse

you were resident in the UK when that family relationship broke down

Apply for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit

You must apply online for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit.

You must be outside the UK to apply.

There’s no deadline for applications.

EEA family permit

You can still apply for an EEA family permit if you’re the close family member or unmarried partner of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who is a qualified person or has a right of permanent residence in the UK.

The EEA includes the EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme family permit instead if your family member has or is eligible for ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Family members you can join

You must be their:

spouse or civil partner

unmarried partner in a lasting relationship

child or grandchild aged under 21

dependent child or grandchild of any age

dependent parent or grandparent

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

Your family relationship must have started by 31 December 2020.

The family member you’re joining must:

have been living in the UK by 31 December 2020

have been working, looking for work, studying or self-sufficient while living here

have a right of permanent residence in the UK

Extended family members

You can no longer apply for an EEA family permit if you are the extended family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, for example their:

brother or sister

aunt or uncle

cousin

niece or nephew

Unmarried partners in a lasting relationship (‘durable partners’) can continue to apply for EEA family permits until 30 June 2021. The permit will not be valid after 30 June 2021, even if the expiry date on it is later.

Other ways to get an EEA family permit

You may also be eligible:

with a ‘derivative right of residence’ -  you might have this if you’re the primary carer of a British, EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, the primary carer’s child, or the child of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who previously worked in the UK

if you can make a ‘Surinder Singh’ application after living in an EU, EEA country or Switzerland with a British family member

with a ‘retained right of residence’ - you might have this if you have the right to stay in the UK as the family member of EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who has died, left the UK or is no longer your spouse or civil partner

You must also have had the right to reside in the UK by 31 December 2020.

Documents you must provide

You must provide:

a valid passport

2 passport size colour photographs

evidence of your relationship to your family member – for example a birth certificate, marriage certificate, civil partnership certificate or proof that you’ve lived together for 2 years

your family member’s valid passport or national identity card (or a certified copy if you cannot provide the original)

evidence that your EU, EEA or Swiss citizen family member was resident in the UK by 31 December 2020
If your family member has been in the UK for more than 3 months, you must show that they have a permanent residence document or provide evidence that they are:

working - for example an employment contract, wage slips or a letter from an employer

self-employed - for example contracts, invoices or audited accounts with bank statements

studying - for example a letter from the school, college or university

financially independent (‘self-sufficient’) - for example bank statements

Your partner must have full health insurance (comprehensive sickness insurance) if they’re studying or self-sufficient.

Evidence if you’re a dependent relative

You’ll have to provide evidence that you’re related to your family member, such as a birth certificate.

You’ll also have to show that you are dependent on them, for example:

bank statements or money transfers that show you depend on them financially

evidence that you depend on them for health care, for example a letter from a hospital consultant

See more examples of each type of evidence.

Apply for an EEA family permit

You must apply online for an EEA family permit.

You must be outside the UK to apply.

EEA family permit: Surinder Singh

You can apply for an EEA family permit if you’ve lived in an EU or EEA country or Switzerland with an eligible family member who’s a British citizen. This is also known as a ‘Surinder Singh’ application.

You must have lived with them in that country before 1 January 2021, and be:

their spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner (‘durable partner’)

under 21 years old, and are their child or grandchild

21 years or older, and are their dependent child or grandchild

their dependent parent or grandparent

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

The country that you lived in together must have been your main residence. Your British family member must also have been working, studying or self-sufficient in the country while there.

To be eligible for an EEA family permit you must prove that:

your British family member was resident in an EU or EEA country or Switzerland and was either a worker, a self-employed person, a self-sufficient person, a student, or a person with a right of permanent residence in that country

you were lawfully resident in that EEA country or Switzerland with your British family member

your family member returned to the UK by 31 December 2020

Documents you must provide

You must provide:

your valid passport (or ID card if you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen)

your British family member’s valid passport

You must also provide proof that your British family member was working, self-employed, self-sufficient or studying in the EEA country where you’ve lived together.

Check the other evidence you usually need for an EEA family permit.

Make a ‘Surinder Singh’ application for an EEA family permit

You must apply online for an EEA family permit.

You must be outside the UK to apply.

EEA family permit: retained right of residence

You may be able to apply for an EEA family permit if you previously had a right to reside in the UK either:

as the family member of an EU, EEA, Swiss citizen

from living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland with a British citizen

This is called a ‘retained right of residence’. You may have it if:

your eligible family member died

you’re their child, they died or left the UK, and you are in education in the UK

you’ve had a child with them, they died or left the UK, and the child is in education in the UK

they divorced you or a member of your family

the relationship has broken down because of domestic abuse or violence

You must also meet other requirements to be eligible for a retained right of residence - read how applications are decided.

If your family member has died

You can apply if you lived continuously in the UK as their family member for at least one year immediately before their death.

If you’re in education in the UK

You can apply if you’re in education in the UK and one of the following is true:

you’re the child of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who has left the UK or died

one of your parents is the spouse or civil partner of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who has left the UK or died

one of your parents was previously the spouse or civil partner of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who has left the UK or died

If you qualify through any of these circumstances, your parent is also eligible for retained right of residence if they have custody of you.

If you or a member of your family was previously married or in a civil partnership

You can apply if your marriage or civil partnership to an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen ended with a divorce, annulment or dissolution, and you lived in the UK when it ended.

One of the following must also apply:

the marriage or civil partnership lasted for at least 3 years and you’d both been living in the UK for at least one year during that time

you have custody of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen’s child

you have been given right of access in the UK to the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen’s child - the child must be under 18

you or another family member was the victim of domestic abuse in the marriage or civil partnership

child or grandchild under 21 years old

dependent child or grandchild over the age of 21

dependent parent or grandparent

If you are a victim of domestic abuse or violence

You can apply if you are or were their:

husband, wife or civil partner

unmarried partner (‘durable partner’)

child or grandchild under 21 years old

dependent parent or grandparent

Documents you must provide

You will need to provide evidence proving:

your eligibility

your family member’s eligibility

your relationship

Check the evidence you usually need for an EEA family permit.

You’ll also need to provide extra evidence depending on how you’re claiming your retained right of residence.

Evidence if your family member has died

Where appropriate, you’ll also have to provide:

their death certificate and cause of death

evidence that you and your family member were living in the UK for a year before their death

evidence of their employment, if they were employed

Evidence if you’re in education in the UK

Where appropriate, you’ll also have to provide evidence that:

your family member died

your family member left the UK

you were in education in the UK at the time your family member died or left the UK, and that you still are

you have custody of the child of the family member who died or left the UK

Evidence if you or a member of your family was previously married or in a civil partnership

the marriage or civil partnership ended in divorce, annulment or dissolution

you’d been living together in the UK for at least a year

you have custody of or the right of access to the child of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

domestic violence or abuse took place

Evidence if you are a victim of domestic abuse or violence

You will have to provide evidence that:

the relevant family relationship has broken down permanently as a result of domestic violence or abuse

you were resident in the UK when that family relationship broke down

Make a retained right of residence application for a family permit

You must apply online for an EEA family permit.

You must be outside the UK to apply.

EEA family permit: derivative right of residence

You can apply for a family permit if you have a ‘derivative right of residence’ as the:

primary carer of an EU, EEA or Swiss child in the UK who is financially independent (‘self-sufficient’)

child of an EU, EEA or Swiss former worker and you’re currently in education in the UK

primary carer of a child of an EU, EEA or Swiss former worker and the child is currently in education in the UK

primary carer of a British child who is residing in the UK and would be forced to leave if their primary carer wasn’t in the UK

primary carer of a British dependent adult who is residing in the UK and would be forced to leave if their primary carer wasn’t in the UK

child of a primary carer who qualifies through one of these categories

The EEA includes the EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

As a ‘primary carer’, you have responsibility for the day to day care of a person, including making decisions about their education, health, and finances. You must be a family member or their legal guardian, and can be their main carer or share that responsibility with someone else.

Find out more about derivative rights of residence in the caseworker guidance:

Ibrahim-Teixeira cases

Ruiz Zambrano cases

Chen cases

Documents you must provide

You will need to provide evidence proving:

your eligibility

your family member’s eligibility

your relationship

You’ll also need to provide information about the person you care for, including proof:

that they’re dependent on you, and were before 1 January 2021, such as court orders or details of care responsibilities

that they’re living in the UK, such as tenancy agreements, utility bills or bank statements

that children who are EU, EEA or Swiss citizens are financially independent (‘self-sufficient’) and have full health insurance (‘comprehensive sickness insurance’) in the UK

You may also need to provide extra evidence depending on how you’re claiming your derivative right of residence.

Children of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizens who used to work in the UK

You must show that:

you’re in education in the UK, for example a letter from the school

you were in the UK when your EU, EEA or Swiss parent was working in the UK

you were in education in the UK at a time when your EU, EEA or Swiss parent was also present in the UK

You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

Make a derivative right of residence application for a family permit

You must apply online for an EEA family permit.

You must be outside the UK to apply.

After you get a family permit

You’ll be able to use your EUSS family permit to come and go from the UK as many times as you want. It also allows you to work or study in the UK.

If you get an EEA family permit you can only use it until 30 June 2021, even if the expiry date on it is later.

When you arrive in the UK

You can use an automatic ePassport gate if you have a family permit and you’re from:

Australia

Canada

the EEA

Japan

New Zealand

Singapore

South Korea

Switzerland

Otherwise, see a border control officer instead. They will check your permit.

How long you can stay

If you applied for an EEA family permit on or before 30 December 2020, it will be valid for 6 months. If you applied after that, it will stop being valid on 30 June 2021, even if the expiry date on it is later.

An EUSS family permit is valid for 6 months, unless:

you plan to arrive in the UK on or after 1 April 2021

your application is approved more than three months ahead of your planned arrival date

In this case, it’s valid for 4 months from your planned arrival date.

Staying in the UK after your family permit expires

There will be no change to the residence rights and status of EU, EEA or Swiss citizens resident in the UK by 31 December 2020, and their family members, until 30 June 2021.

You can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after your family permit expires. You must apply on or before 30 June 2021, or within 3 months of when you first arrive in the UK, whichever is later.

You might be able to apply later if you can show ‘reasonable grounds’ (such as medical reasons, or being the victim of domestic abuse) for why you could not apply by the deadline.


Apply to settle in the UK if your partner dies

Overview and fees

You may be eligible to apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain in the UK) if your partner has died. Your partner must have either:

been a British citizen

had indefinite leave to remain in the UK

been from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and had pre-settled status

Your permission to be in the UK must have been based on being their partner as part of a family visa. A ‘partner’ is one of the following:

your spouse (husband or wife)

your civil partner

someone you were living with in a relationship that’s like a marriage or civil partnership

When to apply

You can apply any time after your partner’s death. You do not have to wait until your current visa expires.

You must be in the UK when you apply.

Fees

The application fee is £2,389.

You also need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken.

If you have family members applying for settlement with you, you’ll need to pay the £2,389 application fee and the £19.20 biometric information fee for each person.

How long you can stay

Getting indefinite leave to remain means you can continue to live and work in the UK for as long as you like. It will also mean you’re eligible:

to work in any job

to run a business

for public services, such as healthcare and schools

for public funds and pensions

for British citizenship, if you meet the requirements

Eligibility

Your permission to be in the UK must be based on your relationship.

Before your partner died, you must have got a family visa as their partner (but not as their fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner).

When your partner died, you must have:

been living together in the UK

intended to live together permanently in the UK

Your partner must not have been living permanently in any another country.

You do not need to take the Life in the UK Test or prove your English language skills.

When your application can be refused

Your application might be refused if, for example, you’ve:

got a criminal record in the UK or another country

provided false or incomplete information to the Home Office

broken UK immigration law

Documents you must provide

You must provide:

a current passport or other valid travel identification

any previous passports you’ve had while living in the UK

your biometric residence permit, if you have one

your police registration certificate (unless you did not need to register)

your partner’s death certificate

proof of your relationship, for example your certificate of marriage or civil partnership

proof that you and your partner were living together

Proof that you were living together

You need documents to show that you lived with your partner until they died, starting from when you got permission to be in the UK as their partner.

Provide 6 official documents addressed to both of you, or each of you individually, at the same address.

Include as many different types of documents as you can, for example:

gas, water or electricity bills

telephone bills

Council Tax bills

bank statements and letters

letters from a government department

letters about your TV Licence

tenancy agreements

mortgage agreement or statements

letters from your GP, a hospital or health service

Applying for your children

Your children may be eligible to get settlement (indefinite leave to remain in the UK) at the same time as you.

You can include your children as ‘dependants’ on your application form if all the following are true:

they have permission to be in the UK based on being your partner’s dependant

they were under 18 when this permission was given - it does not matter if they’ve turned 18 since

they’re going to live with you in the UK

they’ll have somewhere to live and be financially supported without using public funds

they’re not married or in a civil partnership

If your children do not meet these conditions, they may still be able to apply separately. Find out if they can apply to settle in the UK.

Your child’s application can be refused, for example if they’ve broken UK immigration law. Read the guidance on why applications can be refused.

Documents you must provide for your children

For each child you include on your application form, you must provide:

a birth certificate if they were born in the UK

their biometric residence permit, if they have one

their police registration certificate if they’re 16 or over (unless they did not need to register)

proof they live permanently with you, for example letters from your child’s school or doctor

How to apply

You must apply online. You need to be in the UK when you apply.

Get help using a computer to apply online

You can get help with:

accessing a computer or the internet

finding the right information on GOV.UK

You cannot get advice on:

whether you’re eligible to apply

what information to put in your application

an application you’ve already made

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo).

You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

Any children aged 6 or over must provide biometric information if you’re applying for them on your form.

How long it takes

You’ll be told whether your application has been successful within 6 months.

You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example:

if your supporting documents need to be verified

if you need to attend an interview

because of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction