UK EEA Family Visa

You can apply for an EEA family Visa to come to the UK if you’re both:

• from outside the European Economic Area (EEA)
• The family member or ‘extended’ family member of an EEA national

There are other ways you may be eligible, for example:

• with a ‘derivative right of residence’ - you’re the carer of someone who has the right to be in the UK, the carer’s child, or the child of an EEA national who previously worked in the UK
• under the ‘Surinder Singh’ judgement - you’re the family member of a British citizen who has lived and worked in another EEA country
• with a ‘retained right of residence’ - you have the right to stay in the UK as the family member of an EEA national who has died, left the UK or is no longer your spouse or civil partner

This EEA Family Visa will grant the applicant entry into any one of the EU countries for a period of 6 months in which time the EEA applicant will have to apply for their residence Visa. This EEA Family Visa will be valid for 5 years and will allow the holder to live and work freely in the UK, without any restrictions. After 4 of the 5 years, the residence Visa holder will be able to apply for permanent residency or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for one final year. On completion of this final year, they may be eligible to apply for their British Citizenship and passport. The applicant will still have to satisfy certain criteria in order to receive their British Citizenship.

The EEA Family Visa can be applied for outside of the UK whether the EU passport holder is already in the UK or will be travelling with the applicant. Again, it is important that the applicant provide evidence that they have accommodation and financial support in the UK before they apply for the Visa