Permanent residence documents for EU, EEA or Swiss citizens

You can no longer apply for a UK permanent residence document.

If you already have a permanent residence document, it will not be valid after 30 June 2021.

If you applied for a permanent residence document before 1 January 2021, your application will still be considered. It may take up to 6 months to get a decision.

Living in the UK after 30 June 2021

If you were living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. Applications usually close on 30 June 2021.

If you get ‘settled status’, you can apply for British citizenship at a later date.

Family members

Your close family members can also apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. Close family members include your spouse or civil partner, child, grandchild, parent or grandparent.

Your ‘extended’ family members can apply if they have a UK residence card. Extended family members include your unmarried partner, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, nephew or niece.

If you have a permanent residence document

Your permanent residence document will not be valid after 30 June 2021.

Until that date, you can use it to:

  • apply for British citizenship
  • sponsor your partner’s visa application if they’re applying for a visa based on your residence

If you applied for a permanent residence document before 1 January 2021

It may take up to 6 months to get a decision.

You’ll get a certificate inside a blue ‘residence documentation’ booklet (or a pink booklet if you’re a Swiss citizen).

The certificate will say ‘Document Certifying Permanent Residence’ on it.

Applying for British citizenship

To apply for British citizenship with a permanent residence document, you need to have lived in the UK for both:

  • at least 5 years
  • 1 year after qualifying for permanent residence status

However, you can apply after living in the UK for 3 years if your husband, wife or civil partner is a British citizen.

Related content