EEA Permanent Residence
EEA nationals can apply for permanent residence status once they have lived in the UK for five years as a qualified person.
Applying for any document to live in the UK is currently optional for an EEA or Swiss national unless they want to apply for British citizenship or need to sponsor their partner’s visa application.
UK Visas and Immigration has mentioned that new scheme will be available for EU citizens to apply to stay in the UK after it leaves the EU.
Although the application is currently optional for EU citizens, the document certifying permanent residence can be good evidence of the right to live and work in the UK after Brexit takes effect.
Nonetheless, the permanent residence document is required if as an EEA national you need to;
- apply for British citizenship having lived in the UK for 6 years
- sponsor your non-EEA family members or an extended family member
You will need to submit evidence of living in the UK for the past five years as a qualified person in accordance with the EEA rules.
Nationals of EEA including Switzerland are considered a qualified person in the UK if they have been working, studying, self-employed, self-sufficient, or looking for work.
Settled Status in the UK refers to the immigration status granted to eligible EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens, as well as their family members, who were living in the UK before the end of the Brexit transition period (December 31, 2020). It allows individuals to continue living and working in the UK without any immigration restrictions. Settled Status is part of the UK government’s EU Settlement Scheme, which was introduced to protect the rights of EU citizens and their family members residing in the UK after Brexit. Once granted Settled Status, individuals are granted the right to stay indefinitely in the UK and enjoy various benefits and services.
Indefinite Leave to Remain
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK is an immigration status that grants an individual the right to live and work in the country without any time restrictions. ILR is also known as settlement or permanent residency. It allows individuals to stay in the UK for an indefinite period and provides them with a wide range of benefits, such as access to public funds, healthcare, and education.
EEA Permanent Residence Overview
All EU nationals have the right to reside in the UK for three months. After that period, only a “qualified person” is entitled to reside in the United Kingdom for so long as he remains a qualified person. You need to be one of the following to meet the requirements as a “Qualified person”.
- a job seeker – in accordance with Regulation 6(1)(a) of EEA Regulations 2016
- a worker – in accordance with Regulation 6(1)(b) of EEA Regulations 2016
- a self-employed person – in accordance with Regulation 6(1)(c) of EEA Regulations 2016
- a self-sufficient person – in accordance with Regulation 6(1)(d) of EEA Regulations 2016
- a student – in accordance with Regulation 6(1)(e) of EEA Regulations 2016
There is an additional requirement for students and self-sufficient applicants to hold a comprehensive sickness insurance (CSI). This requirement can be met by showing the following:
- a document confirming comprehensive medical insurance for the applicant and family members (where relevant)
- a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which is issued by an EEA member state other than the UK
