EEA Family Permits

The EEA Family Permit allows family members, including extended family members, of European Economic Area nationals to join them in the UK, or travel to the UK with them at a later date.

You must be outside the UK to apply for an EEA family permit.

There will be no change to the rights and status of EU nationals living in the UK, nor UK nationals living in the EU, while the UK remains in the EU.

The EEA citizen you’re joining must either:

• be in the UK already
• be travelling with you to the UK within 6 months of the date of your application

If they’ve been in the UK for more than 3 months they must either:

• be a ‘qualified person’ (working, looking for work, self-employed, studying or self-sufficient)
• have a permanent right of residence

An EEA family permit is free.

An EEA family permit is valid for 6 months. You can leave and enter the UK as many times as you need within that time.