EU/EEA nationals do not need to apply for a registration certificate but if you are a qualified person, you can apply for a residence permit.

A qualified person is one of the following:

• Workers
• Self employed Persons
• Self-sufficient Persons
• Provider / recipient of services
• Students
• Retired Person
• Workers

Although it is not a requirement, but it is an important document which will help you qualify for certain rights in the UK as well as help you confirm your existing rights to stay and work.

You can apply for an EEA Residence Card if you are a family member or an extended family member of an EEA national and you are from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and they are a qualified person or have permanent residence.

Although a residence card is valid for up to 5 years, a residence card will no longer be valid after 31 December 2020. Although there will be no change to the rights and status of EU citizens currently living in the UK, but you must apply under the EU Settlement Scheme before the deadline, to continue living in the UK.

A UK permanent residence document, also known as a document certifying permanent residence is for citizens EU, EEA or Switzerland and their family members.

You qualify for this if you have been living in the UK for 5 years and you have been exercising your treaty rights in the UK.

Your close family members such as your spouse, children and parents can also be included in your application for permanent residence. Some of your extended family members can also apply depending on your circumstances.

Once you are granted Permanent Residence status, you then qualify to apply for British Citizenship after having completed 5 years in the UK and 1 year after qualifying for permanent residence.

Non-EEA family members of EEA or Swiss Nationals (excluding UK nationals) living outside the European Economic Area (EEA) may be eligible to apply for a EEA Family Permit to join them in the UK.

There are two types of permits: EEA Family Permit and EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit. If your EEA family member has obtained 'pre-settled' or 'settled' status, you can apply as their close family member. Certain 'extended' family members are considered eligible for a permit.

Both family permits are issued for 6 months and there is no Home Office fee for such application. If you want to stay longer, you must apply under the EU Settlement Scheme.

However you may be eligible under other categories;

• if you are a carer of a child or the child of an EEA national, etc and may be granted 'derivative right of residence'.
• if your EEA family member has obtained British Citizenship and you lived with them in another EEA country, you may be able to make a 'Surinder Singh' application.
• if your EEA family member has left the UK or has passed away or is no longer your spouse/civil partner, you may be able to apply with 'retained right of residence'.

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss Citizen, you and your family can now apply to the EU Settlement Scheme so that you could continue to live in the UK after 30 June 2021. It is important that if you wish to continue living in the UK, you must apply under the scheme even if you already have one of documents mentioned above.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the deadline for applying under the scheme is 31 December 2020. To apply, you will need to prove you were living in the UK before it leaves the UK.

Depending on when you apply, will depend on when you choose to apply.

There is no fee to pay to the Home Office to apply under the scheme. If you paid a fee when you applied, you will get a refund automatically and you will get a confirmation of your refund in your email one the refund has been processed.