EEA family permit

You can apply for an EEA family permit 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

What it does

An EEA family permit makes it easier and quicker to enter the UK. You might not get a boarding pass and could experience major delays without one.

You may be refused entry into the UK if you don’t have an EEA family permit.

How long you can stay

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.