EUSS Family Permit

The EUSS Family Permit is available to close family members of EEA or Swiss nationals (or British citizens who exercised EU free movement rights before Brexit) who hold settled or pre-settled status. Eligible family members include:

• Spouse or civil partner — the marriage or civil partnership must have been in existence on 31 December 2020 (or the relationship must have started before that date for durable partners).
• Durable partner — an unmarried partner in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership that was in existence before 31 December 2020.
• Dependent children or grandchildren — under 21, or older if dependent on the sponsoring EEA national or their spouse/partner.
• Dependent parents or grandparents — those who are dependent on the EEA national sponsor.

Critically, the family relationship must have commenced before 31 December 2020 for most categories. Family members who entered a new relationship with an EUSS holder after that date generally do not qualify under this route and must use the standard immigration rules instead.

Applications for the EUSS Family Permit are made online, free of charge, from outside the UK. The applicant must provide evidence of their relationship to the sponsoring EEA national, evidence that the sponsor holds settled or pre-settled status (via a share code), and evidence that the relationship pre-dates 31 December 2020 where required.

The permit is typically valid for six months and allows one entry into the UK. Once in the UK, the family member should promptly apply for EUSS settled or pre-settled status (depending on how long they have been resident in the UK). There is no separate fee for the EUSS status application.

The processing time for EUSS Family Permit applications is generally around three to six weeks, though it can be longer in some cases. An urgent or priority service is available at a Visa Application Centre in some countries.

The Family Permit itself is only temporary entry clearance. Once in the UK, the family member must apply for EUSS settled or pre-settled status to obtain a long-term right to remain. This application should be made promptly after arrival — failure to do so means relying on the temporary permit which will expire.

The EUSS status application is made online through the same UKVI portal. Once approved, the holder will have a digital status that can be shared with employers, landlords, and others. There is no physical document.

If the family member has already been living in the UK for five or more years by the time they apply, they may be directly eligible for settled status. If they have been in the UK for fewer than five years, they will receive pre-settled status and must later apply to convert to settled status once they reach the five-year point.