Unmarried Partners of the EEA Nationals in the UK

The Home Office no longer accepts applications from unmarried EEA partners for a residence or permanent residence card under the EEA Immigration Regulations 2016. All previously granted residence cards will be valid until 30 June 2021. Under the EU Settlement Scheme, our immigration lawyers can help you apply for settled status by 30 June 2021. However, it would help if you were an EU, EEA or Swiss national. Also, you must be living in the UK by 31 December 2020.

According to Reg 8 of the EEA Regulations 2016, non-EEA unmarried partners of the EEA Nationals exercising their treaty rights in the UK can join their EEA National partners. They may do that only if they can prove stable with the EEA national.

The above regulations define unmarried partners as extended family members.

The term unmarried partner relationship defines a relationship similar to marriage. However, it must have existed (continued in existence) for at least two years. An applicant has to prove it by presenting household bills to the Home Office. Bank statements or other documents that can help prove cohabitation covering two years are suitable.



Exercising your treaty rights

Unmarried partners from countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) can join their EEA family members. However, they must exercise their treaty rights and reside in the UK by applying for an EEA family permit outside the UK. An applicant gets the EEA family permit for six months.

Then, they can apply for a residence card as an extended family member of an EEA national. However, they can only do that before the expiration of the EEA family permit. The applicant gets this residence card for five years following the EEA Regulations 2016 and can renew it in five years. Alternatively, an unmarried partner of an EEA national may apply for a permanent residence card. Again, he can only do that if he satisfies all the Home Office requirements.

The immigration lawyers at Lawpark are experts in dealing with EEA applications. You may need legal help from immigration lawyers in London to prepare and submit your EEA application. We are also here to provide friendly, reliable, efficient, and professional immigration services.

If our team of professionals works with the EEA application of unmarried partners, then the following services can be expected:

  • Our immigration specialists will provide detailed instructions regarding immigration regulations and the procedures required by the Home Office and the UKBA relevant to your case.
  • We will answer any questions about your case while identifying its benefits and drawbacks.
  • Our immigration lawyers will explain all the documentation you must submit alongside your EEA application for unmarried partners.
  • One of our lawyers will examine these documents and discuss their relevance to your case.
  • Our team of immigration lawyers will complete the application forms and answer any questions that you may have.
  • If needed, our immigration lawyers will prepare a sponsorship declaration and explain the process.
  • Our lawyers will draft a cover letter to support and submit your EEA Application for unmarried partners.
  • Our team of immigration lawyers will communicate with the UKBA and the Home Office to ensure a quick decision regarding your application for your EEA Application.
  • Working with our immigration lawyers throughout the process will protect your interests. We will keep you informed while the application is pending with the Home Office.