EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit

Overview

The EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit Route allows eligible family members of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens to join or accompany their family members in the UK. The route is generally for applicants who are outside the UK and who meet the relevant requirements under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Criteria for Eligibility

Family Members: You may be eligible if you are a family member of someone from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who was living in the UK by 31 December 2020 and generally has settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Types of Family Members: Eligible family members can include:

• Spouses, civil partners or unmarried partners.
• Children or grandchildren under 21.
• Dependent children or grandchildren aged 21 or over.
• Dependent parents or grandparents.

There are specific rules concerning when the family relationship must have existed. For example, in many cases the relationship must have existed by 31 December 2020, although some specific exceptions apply, including certain cases involving Swiss citizens.

Application Process:

• Apply Online: You generally apply for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit from outside the UK.
• Documents Required: You will need to provide evidence of your identity, your relationship with the relevant family member, and evidence concerning your family member’s status and residence in the UK. From 8 April 2026, specified sponsor evidence requirements apply to certain EUSS family permit applications.
• Decision Time: Processing times can vary depending on the circumstances of the application. Applicants should check the latest GOV.UK guidance rather than relying on a fixed processing period.

Fees:

Application Fee: There is no fee to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit.

Duration

• Permit Validity: An EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit is normally valid for 6 months from the date of the decision.
• After Arrival: Once in the UK, you may be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to obtain status allowing you to remain in the UK for longer. You will usually need to apply within 3 months of arriving in the UK, although later applications may be accepted where there are reasonable grounds for the delay.

Benefits:

• Work and Study: An EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit allows the holder to work or study in the UK while the permit is valid.
• Multiple Entries: You can enter and leave the UK as many times as you need while the permit remains valid.
• No Application Fee: The family permit itself is free to apply for.
• Further Residence: Eligible family members may be able to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme after arriving in the UK.

Important Updates:

The Surinder Singh and Zambrano routes were closed to new applications on 8 August 2023. However, transitional arrangements remain for certain people who already have pre-settled status, a pending application, an administrative review or an appeal, or who fall within specified existing family permit arrangements.

Therefore, these routes should not be described simply as available options for new applicants. Anyone relying on a Surinder Singh or Zambrano route should check whether they fall within the relevant transitional provisions.

Additional Information

The EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit rules are detailed and can vary depending on the applicant’s relationship, the status of the family member in the UK, and when the relationship was established.

Applicants should check the latest GOV.UK guidance and Immigration Rules before applying, particularly because the requirements and transitional arrangements can change.

Written on: 28 August 2026