EEA Residence Permit

A work permit of this kind will entitle its holder to work in Britain, accept offers of work, start a business, manage a company, or set up a local branch of a company. These privileges may be undertaken without the need for a UK visa or work permit, but in some circumstances, an applicant may need to register under the Worker 

Registration

 Scheme.

How Global Visas Can Help

As a specialist UK immigration consultancy, Global Visas can assess your needs and help you to obtain the most appropriate UK immigration service for you. An immigration consultant will be able to guide you throughout the visa application process offering immigration lawyer expertise, support, and on-arrival services to help you to acquaint yourself with life in the United Kingdom.

Benefits

Living and working in the UK under a permit of this kind allows you to undertake employment without the need for a UK working permit. Unlike UK work permits, an EEA residence permit application is made by the individual rather than by a sponsoring company in the United Kingdom. As a result, no specific offer of employment is required, although you may not be granted a permit of this kind if you are coming to the country just to look for work.

In addition, unlike the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme or HSMP visas for EEA residents of this kind do not require applicants to reach a threshold on a points based system. So long as you are a member of an EEA member country and you can support yourself and any dependants whilst in Britain, this type of visa for immigration to the UK provides a straightforward route to living and working in Britain.

Duration

The UK right of residence visa is valid for a period of five years. After having spent five years in the country, EEA permit holders will become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (ILR) often referred to as UK permanent residence. Successful applicants for permanent residency may subsequently become eligible to apply for British Naturalization to become a UK citizen.

Eligibility Criteria

In order to be eligible for this type of UK visa service, you will need to be a national of one of the countries listed below. You will also need to demonstrate that you can support yourself and your dependants in the United Kingdom without recourse to public funds. You can live in Britain as a student without the need for a 

study

 visa, or as a retired person, so long as you meet these criteria.

If you intend to immigrate to the UK to set up a business, you will need to submit a business plan detailing your investment, the nature of the business and your projected earnings as well as your qualifications and experience.

Permits of this kind are unlikely to be granted in cases where applicants intend to visit Britain for a short period, or to live and work in Britain for less than three months. Applications are also likely to be unsuccessful where applicants are coming to Britain simply to look for work, or where funds are insufficient to support candidates whilst in the country.

Nationality

The following nationalities are members of the European Economic Area (EEA).

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Irish Republic
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithunania
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

Employment

Holders of EEA residence permits do not have to work while in the country, however they do need to be able to support themselves without recourse to public funds.

Dependants and Spouse Immigration

Applications for EEA residence permits allow a candidate's spouse, unmarried partner and or dependents to accompany them to the United Kingdom without the need for a marriage visa, fiancé visa, dependency visa or De Facto visa, often known as an unmarried partner visa. Dependants obtaining leave to enter the UK in this manner must be supported by the permit holder but will be afforded the same rights to work in Britain and to apply for ILR after five years. Find out further information on our Long Term Residency Visa page.