EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit
If you are a non-EEA national seeking to join or accompany a family member who holds EU Settled or Pre-Settled Status, the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit allows you to enter and live in the UK lawfully. This route remains open for those whose relationship with an eligible EEA citizen began before 31 December 2020.
Table of Content
- What is the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit?
- Who can apply for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit?
- Who is a "relevant EEA citizen"?
- Family members who qualify for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit
- What about Surinder Singh and Zambrano applications?
- Validity period and applying to stay longer
- Application process for the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit
- EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit fees
- EUSS Family Permit vs. EEA Family Permit
- Contact us for EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit legal advice today
What is the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit?
The EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) Family Permit enables eligible family members of EEA, Swiss, or qualifying British citizens to enter the UK without needing a visa under the points-based system. This route was created to preserve family unity post-Brexit and remains a valid entry pathway for those with pre-existing family relationships formed before 31 December 2020.
Unlike the closed EEA Family Permit route, the EUSS Family Permit remains available for eligible applicants from outside the UK.
Who can apply for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit?
You may be eligible to apply if:
Applications must be made from outside the UK.
You are a spouse, civil partner, durable partner, child, dependent parent, or grandchild of a relevant EEA citizen or their spouse/civil partner
Your family relationship began before 31 December 2020
You intend to accompany or join the relevant EEA citizen in the UK within 6 months of applying
Who is a "relevant EEA citizen"?
A relevant EEA citizen is:
An EEA or Swiss national with Settled Status, Pre-Settled Status, or a pending EUSS application
An Irish citizen who meets EUSS criteria (though they are not required to apply)
An eligible person of Northern Ireland with British/Irish citizenship born in Northern Ireland
A naturalised British citizen who previously held EEA citizenship and lived in the UK as an EEA citizen
Family members who qualify for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit
Eligible family members include:
You must prove that the relationship existed before 31 December 2020, and you must plan to either join or accompany your EEA family member in the UK.
Spouse or civil partner; durable partner
Child, grandchild, or great-grandchild
Dependent parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent
What about Surinder Singh and Zambrano applications?
As of 8 August 2023, the EUSS Family Permit is closed to new applications under:
These applicants now fall under the UK's main family immigration rules, not the EUSS. However, if you have already applied by 8 August 2023, your route remains valid.
Surinder Singh
returning British citizens who lived in the EU with a non-EEA partner
Zambrano
non-EEA carers of British children
Validity period and applying to stay longer
After entry, successful applicants can transition to Pre-Settled or Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).
EUSS Family Permits issued after 1 April 2021 are valid for 4 months
You must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme within 3 months of arriving in the UK
If you miss the deadline, you must provide reasonable grounds for applying late
Application process for the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit
Applications are made online from outside the UK
You'll need to provide
A valid passport; proof of relationship to the EEA family member; evidence that your EEA family member holds (or is applying for) Settled or Pre-Settled Status; travel plans confirming you intend to accompany or join them in the UK
EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit fees
There is no fee to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit.
Applicants are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
EUSS Family Permit vs. EEA Family Permit
The EEA Family Permit route is now closed. New applicants must use the EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit, provided they meet the eligibility criteria. Applications or appeals submitted before 31 December 2020 under the EEA route are still being processed under transitional regulations.
Contact us for EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit legal advice today
If you're planning to join a family member in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme, the legal process can feel overwhelming, especially with tight deadlines and strict eligibility rules. At Cromwell Wilkes, we help families navigate each step with clarity, efficiency, and care.
Contact us today for personalised legal advice and take the first step toward starting your life in the UK.
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