What is a Permanent Residence Document?

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Being granted  permanent residence under EU law is different from indefinite leave to remain status. It is also distinct from the EU Settlement Scheme.

 

It is a form of status granted to an EEA citizen under European law, ensuring that they can live and work in the UK permanently.

 

Note: Permanent residence documents will not be valid after the 31st of December 2020. If you wish to continue living in the UK after this date, you should apply to the EU settlement scheme.

 

Eligibility:

 

Applicants will qualify for permanent residence status if they have been living in the UK for at least five years either working, studying, being  self-employed, self-sufficient or looking for work. 

 

Close and extended family members may also be included in your application if they qualify for permanent residence.

 

Examples of close relatives include:

 

•  Spouses or civil partners. 

•  Children or grandchildren. 

•  Parents or grandparents

 

Extended family members, dependent on the applicant or a members of the applicant's household before coming to the UK, who are still dependent on the applicant and are still living as a member of the applicants household will also be included in the applicants application. 

 

Such persons may include unmarried partners.

 

Should I still need to apply for an EU Permanent  Residence Document or Settled Status Under The EU Settlement Scheme?

 

There may be no point in applying for an EU permanent residence document, if you qualify for settled status under the EU settlement Scheme.  It is more difficult to obtain a permanent residence document than to apply for settled status under the EU settlement scheme. Moreover, even if you acquire a permanent residence document, you will still need to apply for settled status to be able to stay in the UK after the transition period.

 

If you do qualify for a permanent residence document, it may still be worth you getting one, especially if you want to apply for British citizenship or you have children who are born in the UK and you think they might have British citizenship.

 

For example, if you want to become a British citizen quickly, you will need either a permanent residence document or settled status. If you are granted settled status you will have to wait an additional 12 months before you can apply for British citizenship (unless you are married to a British citizen). However if you have a permanent residence document you can get it backdated to the date when you completed your five year qualifying period.

 

Additionally, you may also wish to get a permanent residence document if you wish to obtain a British passport for any children born to you in the UK before you were granted your settled status. If you have any children born to you in the UK, after you completed the five year qualifying period for permanent residence, you can rely on a backdated permanent residence document to get a British passport for your child. This process will make the passport application procedure easier, although you do not require a permanent residence document. 

 

How We Can Help:

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•  We can advise you on your best options after Brexit.

 

•   This is now an area of immigration law in a state of flux, and likely to undergo further change in the next couple of months. 

We are committed to ensuring that our advice is up-to-date and any application submitted on your behalf is reflective of the current EU legislation.