Immigration Rules Appendix EU
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-11)

EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens and family members

Appendix EU: EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens and family members

Purpose

EU1. This Appendix sets out the basis on which an EEA citizen and their family members, and the family members of a qualifying British citizen, will, if they apply under it, be granted indefinite leave to enter or remain or limited leave to enter or remain.

Requirements and procedure

Requirements for indefinite leave to enter or remain other than as a joining family member of a relevant sponsor
- • A valid application has been made in accordance with paragraph EU9;
- • The applicant meets the eligibility requirements for indefinite leave to enter or remain in accordance with paragraph EU11 or EU12; and
- • The application is not to be refused on grounds of suitability in accordance with paragraph EU15 or EU16.
Requirements for indefinite leave to enter or remain as a joining family member of a relevant sponsor
- • A valid application has been made in accordance with paragraph EU9;
- • The applicant meets the eligibility requirements for indefinite leave to enter or remain in accordance with paragraph EU11A; and
- • The application is not to be refused on grounds of suitability in accordance with paragraph EU15 or EU16.
Requirements for limited leave to enter or remain other than as a joining family member of a relevant sponsor
- • A valid application has been made in accordance with paragraph EU9;
- • The applicant does not meet the eligibility requirements for indefinite leave to enter or remain in accordance with paragraph EU11 or EU12, but meets the eligibility requirements for limited leave to enter or remain in accordance with paragraph EU14; and
- • The application is not to be refused on grounds of suitability in accordance with paragraph EU15 or EU16.
Requirements for limited leave to enter or remain as a joining family member of a relevant sponsor
- • A valid application has been made in accordance with paragraph EU9;
- • The applicant does not meet the eligibility requirements for indefinite leave to enter or remain in accordance with paragraph EU11A, but meets the eligibility requirements for limited leave to enter or remain in accordance with paragraph EU14A; and
- • The application is not to be refused on grounds of suitability in accordance with paragraph EU15 or EU16.
Other provisions as to requirements and procedure
- • They must continue to meet the eligibility requirements for that leave which they met at the date of application (except for any which related to their dependency as a child, dependent parent or dependent relative) or meet other eligibility requirements for limited leave to enter or remain in accordance with paragraph EU14 (where they have been granted limited leave to enter or remain under paragraph EU3) or in accordance with paragraph EU14A (where they have been granted limited leave to enter or remain under paragraph EU3A);
- • The Secretary of State may extend that limited leave, regardless of whether the person has made a valid application under this Appendix for such an extension;
- • They remain able to apply for indefinite leave to enter or remain under this Appendix and will be granted this where the requirements in paragraph EU2 (where they have been granted limited leave to enter or remain under paragraph EU3) or paragraph EU2A (where they have been granted limited leave to enter or remain under paragraph EU3A) are met; and
- • They may be granted indefinite leave to enter or remain under paragraph EU2 or paragraph EU2A of this Appendix, where the Secretary of State is satisfied, without a valid application under this Appendix having been made, that the requirements in paragraph EU2 (where the person has been granted limited leave to enter or remain under paragraph EU3) or paragraph EU2A (where the person has been granted limited leave to enter or remain under paragraph EU3A) are otherwise met.
EU5. A person granted indefinite leave to enter or remain under this Appendix may resume their residence in the UK where, having been absent from the UK and Islands, that leave has not lapsed under article 13 of the Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) Order 2000. Where that leave has lapsed under that provision, Appendix Returning Resident to these Rules applies if the person wants to return to and settle in the UK.

EU6. A valid application made under this Appendix which does not meet the requirements for indefinite leave to enter or remain or limited leave to enter or remain will be refused.

EU7. (1) Annex 1 sets out definitions which apply to this Appendix. Any provision made elsewhere in the Immigration Rules for those terms, or for other matters for which this Appendix makes provision, does not apply to an application made under this Appendix.

(2) Where this Appendix requires that a document, card or other evidence is valid (or that it remained valid for the period of residence relied upon), or has not been cancelled or invalidated or has not ceased to be effective, it does not matter that the person concerned no longer has the right to enter or reside under the EEA Regulations (or under the equivalent provision in the Islands), on which basis the document, card or other evidence was issued, by virtue of the revocation of those Regulations (or equivalent provision in the Islands).
- • A valid application made under this Appendix; or
- • Whether a person granted limited leave to enter or remain under this Appendix continues to meet the eligibility requirements for that leave which they met at the date of application or meets other eligibility requirements for limited leave to enter or remain, or the eligibility requirements for indefinite leave to enter or remain, under this Appendix.
Valid application
- (a) It has been made using the required application process;
- (b) The required proof of identity and nationality has been provided, where the application is made within the UK;
- (c) The required proof of entitlement to apply from outside the UK has been provided, where the application is made outside the UK;
- (d) The required biometrics have been provided;
- (e) It has been made by the required date, where the date of application is on or after 9 August 2023; and
- (f) The applicant, if they rely on being a joining family member of a relevant sponsor and where the date of application is on or after 9 August 2023, is not a specified enforcement case.
EU10. (1) An application made under this Appendix will be rejected as invalid where it does not meet the requirements in paragraph EU9.

(2) Paragraph 34BB of these Rules does not apply to applications made under this Appendix. Where a further valid application is made under this Appendix before a previous such application has been decided, the further application will be treated as an application to vary the previous application and only the latest application will be considered.

(3) Where a valid application is made under this Appendix before a previous valid application made under another part of or outside the Immigration Rules has been decided (or where a valid application is made under another part of or outside the Immigration Rules, or varied by a further such application, before a previous valid application made under this Appendix has been decided), both applications will be considered.

(4) Where both applications considered in accordance with sub-paragraph (3) above fall to be granted, the Secretary of State will inform the applicant that they satisfy the relevant criteria in respect of both applications and ask them to confirm which application they want to be decided and which they want to be treated as withdrawn. If the applicant does not so confirm within 14 days, the latest application will be decided and the other treated as withdrawn.

Eligibility for indefinite leave to enter or remain

Persons eligible for indefinite leave to enter or remain as a relevant EEA citizen or their family member, or as a person with a derivative right to reside or with a Zambrano right to reside

EU11. The applicant meets the eligibility requirements for indefinite leave to enter or remain as a relevant EEA citizen or their family member (or as a person with a derivative right to reside or a person with a Zambrano right to reside) where the Secretary of State is satisfied, including (where applicable) by the required evidence of family relationship, that, at the date of application, one of conditions 1 to 7 set out in the following table is met:

Persons eligible for indefinite leave to enter or remain as a joining family member of a relevant sponsor

EU11A. The applicant meets the eligibility requirements for indefinite leave to enter or remain as a joining family member of a relevant sponsor where the Secretary of State is satisfied, including by the required evidence of family relationship, that, at the date of application and in an application made after the specified date, one of conditions 1 to 4 set out in the following table is met:

Persons eligible for indefinite leave to enter or remain as a family member of a qualifying British citizen

EU12. The applicant meets the eligibility requirements for indefinite leave to enter or remain as a family member of a qualifying British citizen, or as a family member who has retained the right of residence by virtue of a relationship with a qualifying British citizen, where the Secretary of State is satisfied, including by the required evidence of family relationship, that, at the date of application, one of conditions 1 to 4 set out in the following table is met:
- • In condition 3 in the table in paragraph EU12 can include a period (or combination of periods) during which the applicant was a relevant EEA citizen, a family member of a relevant EEA citizen, a family member who has retained the right of residence by virtue of a relationship with a relevant EEA citizen, a person with a derivative right to reside or a person with a Zambrano right to reside before becoming the family member of a qualifying British citizen (or thereafter a family member who has retained the right of residence by virtue of a relationship with a qualifying British citizen); and
- • In condition 3 in the table in paragraph EU11 can include a period during which the applicant was a family member of a qualifying British citizen or a family member who has retained the right of residence by virtue of a relationship with a qualifying British citizen before becoming (as the case may be) a relevant EEA citizen, a family member of a relevant EEA citizen (or thereafter a family member who has retained the right of residence by virtue of a relationship with a relevant EEA citizen), a person with a derivative right to reside or a person with a Zambrano right to reside.
Eligibility for limited leave to enter or remain

Persons eligible for limited leave to enter or remain as a relevant EEA citizen or their family member, as a person with a derivative right to reside or with a Zambrano right to reside or as a family member of a qualifying British citizen

EU14. The applicant meets the eligibility requirements for limited leave to enter or remain where the Secretary of State is satisfied, including (where applicable) by the required evidence of family relationship, that, at the date of application, condition 1 or 2 set out in the following table is met:

Persons eligible for limited leave to enter or remain as a joining family member of a relevant sponsor

EU14A. The applicant meets the eligibility requirements for limited leave to enter or remain as a joining family member of a relevant sponsor where the Secretary of State is satisfied, including by the required evidence of family relationship, that, at the date of application and in an application made after the specified date, the condition set out in the following table is met:

Suitability
- (a) The applicant is subject to a deportation order or to a decision to make a deportation order; or
- (b) The applicant is subject to an exclusion order or exclusion decision.
- (1A) An application made under this Appendix will be refused on grounds of suitability where, because of the applicant’s conduct committed before the specified date, the Secretary of State is satisfied that the decision to refuse the application is justified on the grounds of public policy, public security or public health in accordance with regulation 27 of the EEA Regulations, irrespective of whether the EEA Regulations apply to that person (except that in regulation 27 for “with a right of permanent residence under regulation 15” and “who has a right of permanent residence under regulation 15” read “who has indefinite leave to enter or remain under, or who meets the requirements of paragraph EU11, EU11A or EU12 of, Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules”; and for “an EEA decision” read “a decision under paragraph EU15(1A) of Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules”).
- (2) An application made under this Appendix will be refused on grounds of suitability where the Secretary of State deems the applicant’s presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good because of conduct committed after the specified date.
- (3) An application made under this Appendix will be refused on grounds of suitability where at the date of decision the applicant is subject to an Islands deportation order.
- (4) An application made under this Appendix may be refused on grounds of suitability where at the date of decision the applicant is subject to an Islands exclusion decision.
- (a) It is proportionate to refuse the application where, in relation to the application and whether or not to the applicant’s knowledge, false or misleading information, representations or documents have been submitted (including false or misleading information submitted to any person to obtain a document used in support of the application); and the information, representation or documentation is material to the decision whether or not to grant the applicant indefinite leave to enter or remain or limited leave to enter or remain under this Appendix; or
- (b) It is proportionate to refuse the application where the applicant is subject to a removal decision under the EEA Regulations on the grounds of their non-exercise or misuse of rights, and the date of application under this Appendix is before 1 July 2021; or
- (aa) Has previously been refused admission to the UK in accordance with regulation 23(1) of the EEA Regulations; or
- (bb) Has previously been refused admission to the UK in accordance with regulation 12(1)(a) of the Citizens’ Rights (Frontier Workers) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020; or
- (cc) Had indefinite leave to enter or remain or limited leave to enter or remain granted under this Appendix (or limited leave to enter granted by virtue of having arrived in the UK with an entry clearance that was granted under Appendix EU (Family Permit) to these Rules) which was cancelled under paragraph 321B(b)(i) or 321B(b)(ii) of these Rules, under paragraph A3.1., A3.1A., A3.1B. or A3.2.(a) of Annex 3 to this Appendix or under paragraph A3.3. or A3.4.(a) of Annex 3 to Appendix EU (Family Permit); and
- (aa) In respect of the applicant’s conduct committed before the specified date, on grounds of public policy, public security or public health in accordance with regulation 27 of the EEA Regulations, irrespective of whether the EEA Regulations apply to that person (except that in regulation 27 for “with a right of permanent residence under regulation 15” and “who has a right of permanent residence under regulation 15” read “who has indefinite leave to enter or remain under, or who meets the requirements of paragraph EU11, EU11A or EU12 of, Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules”; and for “an EEA decision” read “a decision under paragraph EU16(c) of Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules”), and it is proportionate to refuse the application; or
- (bb) In respect of conduct committed after the specified date, where the Secretary of State deems the applicant’s presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good; or
- (d) It is proportionate to refuse the application where the applicant is a relevant excluded person because of their conduct committed before the specified date and the Secretary of State is satisfied that the decision to refuse the application is justified on the grounds of public policy, public security or public health in accordance with regulation 27 of the EEA Regulations, irrespective of whether the EEA Regulations apply to that person (except that in regulation 27 for “with a right of permanent residence under regulation 15” and “who has a right of permanent residence under regulation 15” read “who has indefinite leave to enter or remain under, or who meets the requirements of paragraph EU11, EU11A or EU12 of, Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules”; and for “an EEA decision” read “a decision under paragraph EU16(d) of Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules”); or
- (e) The applicant is a relevant excluded person because of conduct committed after the specified date.
EU17. The references in paragraphs EU15 and EU16 to an order or decision to which the applicant is subject do not include an order or decision which, at the date of decision on their application under this Appendix, has been set aside or revoked.

EU18. Annex 3 applies in respect of the cancellation, curtailment and revocation of leave to enter or remain granted under this Appendix.

Annex 1 - Definitions

Annex 2 – Consideration of a valid application and of whether eligibility requirements are or continue to be met
- (a) the information and evidence provided by the person, including in response to any request for further information or evidence made by the Secretary of State; and
- (b) any other information or evidence made available to the Secretary of State (including from other government departments) at the date of decision.
- (a) request that they provide further information or evidence that they meet those requirements; or
- (b) invite them to be interviewed by the Secretary of State in person, by telephone, by video-telecommunications link or over the internet.
- (a) request that P provide information or evidence about their relationship with the person, their residence in the UK or, where P is a qualifying British citizen, their residence in a country listed in sub-paragraph (a)(i) of the entry for ‘EEA citizen’ in the table at Annex 1 to this Appendix; or
- (b) invite P to be interviewed by the Secretary of State in person, by telephone, by video-telecommunications link or over the internet.
- (a) fails within a reasonable timeframe specified in the request to provide the information or evidence requested; or
- (b) on at least two occasions, fails to comply with an invitation to attend an interview in person or with other arrangements to be interviewed,
- the Secretary of State may draw any factual inferences about whether the person meets the eligibility requirements for indefinite leave to enter or remain or for limited leave to enter or remain as appear appropriate in the circumstances.
- (4) The Secretary of State may decide, following the drawing of a factual inference under sub-paragraph (3), that the person does not meet the eligibility requirements for indefinite leave to enter or remain or for limited leave to enter or remain.
- (5) The Secretary of State must not decide that the person does not meet the eligibility requirements for indefinite leave to enter or remain or for limited leave to enter or remain on the sole basis that the person or (as the case may be) P failed on at least two occasions to comply with an invitation to be interviewed.
Annex 3 - Cancellation, curtailment and revocation of leave to enter or remain
- A3.1. A person’s indefinite leave to enter or remain or limited leave to enter or remain granted under this Appendix must be cancelled on or before their arrival in the UK where the Secretary of State or an Immigration Officer deems the person’s presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good because of conduct committed after the specified date.
- (a) The person is an excluded person, as defined by section 8B(4) of the Immigration Act 1971, because of their conduct committed before the specified date, and the person does not fall within section 8B(5A) or 8B(5B) of that Act; and
- (b) The Secretary of State or an Immigration Officer is satisfied that, because of the person’s conduct committed before the specified date, the cancellation is justified on grounds of public policy, public security or public health in accordance with regulation 27 of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016, irrespective of whether the EEA Regulations apply to that person (except that in regulation 27 for “a right of permanent residence under regulation 15” read “indefinite leave to enter or remain under, or who would be granted indefinite leave to enter or remain if they made a valid application under, Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules”; and for “an EEA decision” read “a decision under paragraph A3.1A. of Annex 3 to Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules”).
- A3.1B. A person’s indefinite leave to enter or remain or limited leave to enter or remain granted under this Appendix must be cancelled where the person is an excluded person, as defined by section 8B(4) of the Immigration Act 1971, because of conduct committed after the specified date, and the person does not fall within section 8B(5A) or 8B(5B) of that Act.
- (a) Because of the person’s conduct committed before the specified date, the cancellation is justified on grounds of public policy, public security or public health in accordance with regulation 27 of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016, irrespective of whether the EEA Regulations apply to that person (except that in regulation 27 for “a right of permanent residence under regulation 15” read “indefinite leave to enter or remain under, or who would be granted indefinite leave to enter or remain if they made a valid application under, Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules”; and for “an EEA decision” read “a decision under paragraph A3.2.(a) of Annex 3 to Appendix EU to the Immigration Rules”); or
- (b) The cancellation is justified on grounds that, in relation to the relevant application under this Appendix, and whether or not to the applicant’s knowledge, false or misleading information, representations or documents were submitted (including false or misleading information submitted to any person to obtain a document used in support of the application); and the information, representation or documentation was material to the decision to grant the applicant leave to enter or remain under this Appendix.
- A3.3. A person’s limited leave to enter or remain granted under this Appendix may be cancelled on or before their arrival in the UK where the Secretary of State or an Immigration Officer is satisfied that it is proportionate to cancel that leave where they cease to meet, or never met, the requirements of this Appendix.
- (a) Curtailment is justified on grounds that, in relation to the relevant application under this Appendix, and whether or not to the applicant’s knowledge, false or misleading information, representations or documents were submitted (including false or misleading information submitted to any person to obtain a document used in support of the application); and the information, representation or documentation was material to the decision to grant the applicant leave to enter or remain under this Appendix; or
- (b) Curtailment is justified on grounds that it is more likely than not that, after the specified date, the person has entered, attempted to enter or assisted another person to enter or to attempt to enter, a marriage, civil partnership or durable partnership of convenience; or
- (c) The person ceases to meet, or never met, the requirements of this Appendix; or
- (d) Curtailment is justified on grounds that it is more likely than not that, after the specified date, the person has assisted another person fraudulently to obtain, or to attempt to obtain, entry clearance to, or leave to enter or remain in, the UK.
- (a) The person is liable to deportation, but cannot be deported for legal reasons; or
- (b) The indefinite leave to enter or remain was obtained by deception.