EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit — United Kingdom

The EU Settlement Scheme family permit lets certain family members travel to the UK to join a qualifying EU, EEA, Swiss national, or an eligible person of Northern Ireland. You must apply from outside the UK.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) decides your application.

Who this permit is for

You can apply if you are a family member of:

• A national of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein
• An eligible person of Northern Ireland

Your family relationship must have existed before 31 December

1. That date is the cut-off.

If your relationship started after that date, this route does not apply.

You must also be outside the UK when you apply.

Apply through UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

This permit is part of the EU Settlement Scheme framework. It’s for people whose family connection falls within that scheme’s scope, not those applying under standard UK Family Visa routes.

What the permit allows you to do

If UKVI approves your application, you can travel to the UK to join your qualifying family member.

This permit is designed for entry to the UK. It confirms you meet the requirements as a family member under the EU Settlement Scheme rules.

At the UK border, you present your valid passport and family permit.

UK Border Force officers assess your entry based on that permit.

The permit doesn’t replace other immigration categories. It isn’t a visitor visa or a work visa.

Its purpose is specific: to allow entry as the qualifying family member of a person covered by the EU Settlement Scheme.

Depending on your country of residence, you may need to provide supporting documents such as identity documents and, if required, a Form TB Test Certificate.

Where this fits among UK visas

The EU Settlement Scheme family permit is separate from standard UK family immigration routes.

You shouldn’t apply for the EU Settlement Scheme family permit if your situation fits one of the standard Family Visa categories instead.

Confirm with UKVI guidance that this is the correct route for your circumstances before you submit any application.

The UK EUSS family permit does not carry an application fee. You may still face related document costs.

You must receive approval from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) before you travel to the United Kingdom.

Application fee and notable charges

You don’t pay a fee to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) family permit. As of February 2026, the application fee is £0.

Certain related documents can carry charges, but these fees apply only if you request the specific document.

You don’t pay the £428 fee unless you request one of the listed documents. Most first-time EUSS family permit applicants won’t need these unless they require formal confirmation or reissued nationality documentation.

If you are comparing this route with a Family Visa, Spouse or Partner Visa, Parent Visa, or Adult Dependent Relative Visa, check the UKVI fee schedule. Those routes have different fee structures and are not free.

Approval before travel

UKVI must approve your EUSS family permit before you travel to the UK.

You cannot enter the UK first and complete the process afterward.

You should:

1. Submit your application.

2. Wait for a formal decision from UKVI.

3. Travel only after approval.

UK Border Force will assess your permission to enter when you arrive.

If you travel without an approved permit, you risk refusal at the border.

processing times can vary. UKVI publishes current decision timeframes.

Avoid booking non-refundable tickets until you receive a decision.

Records or certificates that may carry costs

Although the permit itself is free, supporting documents can create indirect expenses.

You may need:

• Civil status records (such as birth or marriage certificates)
• Official copies of court orders or declarations
• A Form TB Test Certificate, if required for your country of residence
• Reissued nationality certificates, if originals are unavailable

Some official notices, certificates, orders, or declarations cost £428 if requested through the relevant authority.

If you apply under another immigration route, such as a Spouse or Partner Visa under the UK Family Visa system, document requirements and associated costs differ.

Review the specific guidance for your category to confirm what you must provide and what fees apply.

An EUSS family permit lets you enter the UK and, if eligible, move into the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). Your next steps depend on your family member’s status and your current immigration position.

Using the permit as a route to the EU Settlement Scheme

You use the UK EUSS family permit to travel to the UK and then apply to the EU Settlement Scheme if you qualify.

The permit itself does not grant permanent residence, but it allows you to be in the UK lawfully while you apply to UKVI under the EUSS.

To qualify under the EUSS, you must show:

• Your relationship to a relevant EEA or Swiss citizen (or qualifying family member)
• Evidence of that person’s status under the EU Settlement Scheme
• Proof of their residence history in the UK, where required

If you’re already in the UK with a Ukraine Family Scheme visa, you can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme if you meet the eligibility rules.

You must submit your application to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and provide documents that confirm both identity and family relationship.

When existing visas interact with the EUSS

Your current visa type affects how you move into the EU Settlement Scheme.

If you hold a Ukraine Family Scheme visa, you may apply to the EUSS from inside the UK if you are eligible.

UKVI will assess your eligibility based on your relationship and your sponsor’s status.

Other Family Visa routes, such as:

• Spouse or Partner Visa
• Parent Visa
• Adult Dependent Relative Visa

operate under different rules.

Holding one of these visas does not automatically place you under the EU Settlement Scheme. You must meet the EUSS requirements separately.

Time spent on another Family Visa doesn’t count toward EUSS status.

Check your eligibility carefully before applying.

Proof related to family member's status

Your application depends on evidence about your sponsoring family member.

You must provide proof of:

• Their status under the EU Settlement Scheme
• Their identity
• Their UK residence history, where required
• Your qualifying family relationship

UKVI will not approve your EUSS application without clear documentation linking you to a person with valid EUSS status.

Typical evidence includes official confirmation of EUSS status and documents showing residence in the UK.

You must ensure all documents are consistent and accurate.

If you previously submitted documents for a Family Visa, you may still need to provide updated or different evidence for the EUSS application.

Each route has its own evidential requirements.

UKVI assesses them separately.

Your UK EUSS family permit is valid for 6 months.

Before it expires, you must secure a longer‑term status in the UK, usually under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) if you qualify.

Next steps after the 6‑month permit

You cannot extend a UK EUSS family permit itself.

Instead, you apply for status under the EU Settlement Scheme, which is administered by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Take these steps before your permit expires:

1. Confirm eligibility under the EU Settlement Scheme.

2. Prepare identity and relationship evidence.

Submit your application to UKVI from within the UK.

If you do not qualify under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may need to consider another route, such as a:

• Spouse or Partner Visa
• Parent Visa
• Adult Dependent Relative Visa

Each route has different eligibility rules and evidence requirements.

If a visa route requires additional documents, such as a Form TB Test Certificate, follow the specific instructions in the relevant UKVI guidance.

Special cases (e.g. Ukraine Family Scheme overlap)

If you are already in the UK with permission under the Ukraine Family Scheme, you may still qualify to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme if you meet its requirements.

Your current immigration status does not automatically prevent you from applying.

UKVI assesses your eligibility based on the EU Settlement Scheme rules, not solely on the type of visa you currently hold.

Before applying, make sure you:

• Meet the EU Settlement Scheme eligibility criteria
• Hold valid proof of identity
• Provide evidence of your qualifying family relationship

If you are unsure which route better protects your long‑term position in the UK, review the UKVI guidance for both the EU Settlement Scheme and the relevant Family Visa category.

You must show that your relationship fits the EU Settlement Scheme rules and that your sponsor qualifies under those rules.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will assess both your family connection and your sponsor’s status before issuing an EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) family permit.

Who counts as an eligible family member

You qualify only if you are the family member of:

• A person from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein who was living in the UK by 31 December 2020, or
• An eligible person of Northern Ireland.

An eligible person of Northern Ireland is someone who:

• Is an Irish citizen, British citizen, or holds both,
• Was born in Northern Ireland, and
• Has the required parental citizenship or no restriction on their stay in the UK.

UKVI will examine whether your relationship meets EUSS rules.

If you are not eligible under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may need a different route such as a Family Visa, including a:

• Spouse or Partner Visa
• Parent Visa
• Adult Dependent Relative Visa

These routes follow separate requirements and are not interchangeable with an EUSS family permit.

Special Northern Ireland rules

You can apply if you are the family member of an eligible person of Northern Ireland.

This category has specific conditions.

Your sponsor must:

• Have been born in Northern Ireland, and
• Be an Irish citizen, British citizen, or both, and
• Meet the required parental citizenship criteria or have no immigration restriction on their stay.

These rules recognise the unique status of people born in Northern Ireland.

UKVI focuses on your sponsor’s birth status and citizenship when deciding eligibility.

You must still prove your family relationship.

UK Border Force will check your permit at the port of entry, but UKVI decides your application.

If your sponsor does not meet the Northern Ireland criteria, you cannot use this route.

You must review whether a standard Family Visa category applies instead.

Checking which visa you need

You must confirm that the EUSS family permit matches your purpose of travel.

You can apply for this permit if you are eligible and plan to:

• Visit family
• Take a short business trip
• Complete a short course of study
• Travel for a holiday

If you intend to marry or register a civil partnership in the UK during your visit, you must apply for a Marriage Visitor visa instead.

If you plan long-term residence outside EUSS eligibility, review other routes such as the Spouse or Partner Visa or Parent Visa.

Each has separate requirements and may require additional documents, such as a Form TB Test Certificate, depending on your circumstances.

UKVI will refuse an application submitted under the wrong category.

Small errors cause long delays.

You avoid most problems by following UKVI instructions exactly, submitting the correct documents, and checking every detail before you apply.

Follow official instructions closely

Complete every field in the application form with care. UKVI may delay or refuse your EU Settlement Scheme family permit if you leave out information or if details don’t match up.

Accuracy and completeness matter:

• Enter names, birth dates, and passport info exactly as they appear on your documents.
• Answer each question; only skip sections if the form specifically allows it.
• Upload all supporting documents required by official UKVI guidance.
• Double-check that your documents fit the category you’re applying under, such as spouse, partner, parent, or adult dependent relative.

Applicants sometimes confuse different visa routes. The EU Settlement Scheme family permit isn’t the same as a Family Visa, Spouse or Partner Visa, Parent Visa, or Adult Dependent Relative Visa. Stick to the instructions for your chosen route.

Here's a quick comparison to help keep things straight:

Use UKVI’s official guidance for document checklists and each application step.

TB test and clinic requirements

If you need a Form TB Test Certificate, follow UKVI’s rules closely. Submitting the wrong certificate or using a clinic that isn’t approved can hold up your application.

You’ll want to:

• Check if a TB test applies to you under UKVI rules.
• Book your test at a clinic approved by UKVI.
• Upload a clear copy of your valid TB Test Certificate with your application, if required.

A previous medical report won’t substitute for the required certificate. UKVI expects the right format and documentation.

Missing a required TB Test Certificate can pause your case or trigger a request for more documents. That slows things down and increases your risk of refusal if you don’t respond properly.

Prevent avoidable delays

Most delays happen when submissions are incomplete. UKVI can’t assess eligibility if you leave out important documents or send inconsistent information.

Before submitting, go through this checklist:

1. Review each page of the form for missed questions.

2. Make sure all uploaded documents are clear and complete.

3. Check that your details match across your passport, application, and supporting documents.

4. Confirm you’ve chosen the correct route under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Don’t assume requirements for a Family Visa or Spouse or Partner Visa apply to the EU Settlement Scheme family permit.

You’re responsible for your application’s accuracy. Careful review before you submit helps UKVI process your case more efficiently.