The EU Settlement Scheme closed to most new applicants on 30 June 2021, but family members of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who were living in the UK before the end of 2020 can still join them. The family permit is the entry document; it is free, and after arrival the family member applies for pre-settled or settled status.

Who can apply

You are the spouse, civil partner or durable partner of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen with settled or pre-settled status, and the relationship existed before 31 December 2020 and still exists.
You are their child, grandchild or great-grandchild under 21 or dependent, or their dependent parent or grandparent.
Children born or adopted after 2020 to a parent with status under the scheme also qualify.

The permit and after

The family permit lets you travel to the UK and is valid for six months. Once here, you apply to the scheme itself for pre-settled status, usually within three months of arrival; after five years' residence you qualify for settled status. All applications under the scheme are free.

Durable partners

Unmarried partners must show the relationship was durable before the end of 2020, usually by two years' cohabitation or other strong evidence, and must have held a relevant document or meet the rules that replaced that requirement. This is where most refusals arise; have the evidence assessed before applying.

If you are refused

Family permit refusals carry a right of appeal and administrative review. We advise which is right for the reasons given.

What we do

We confirm that the sponsor's status and the relationship meet the scheme's rules, prepare the permit application and then the status application after arrival.