Applications for Leave to Enter or Remain in the UK often prove to be more complicated than initially thought. UKIVC will advise and assist you through the entire process from application to decision.

The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 28 countries. It operates an internal (or single) market which allows free movement of goods, capital, services and people between member states.

EU countries

The EU countries are:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

The European Economic Area (EEA)

The EEA includes EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. It allows them to be part of the EU’s single market. Switzerland is neither an EU nor EEA member but is part of the single market – this means Swiss nationals have the same rights to live and work in the UK as other EEA nationals.

EU & EEA Nationals

EU & EEA Nationals have the right to live and work permanently in the UK. You can apply for an EEA family permit to accompany your family or partner to the UK (or join them after they’ve arrived) if:

• the person you’ll be accompanying or joining is from the European Economic Area (EEA) but not the UK.
• you’re from outside the EEA.

You can apply as either:

• the wife, husband, civil or unmarried partner, child, grandchild, parent or grandparent of the person you’ll be joining in the UK
• a dependent extended family member – eg unmarried partner, brother, sister or cousin.

EEA Family members must apply for an EEA Family permit which is initially valid for 6 months after which time you must either leave the UK or apply for a UK Residence Card.

Although the above seems rather straightforward, like most applications for Leave to Enter or Remain in the UK, they more often than not prove to be more complicated than initially thought. UKIVC will advise and assist you through the entire process from application to decision.

For more information about visas click here.