EU and EEA nationals

Brexit and the Transition period

The UK left the EU at 11pm on 31 January 2020. We are now in a transition period until 31 December 2021. Up until that date, all EU, EEA or Swiss citizen – and their family members – can come to, and stay, in the UK on the same basis as before. Anyone who wishes to stay in the UK beyond 31 December 2020 will need to apply for immigration permission to stay.

Arriving in the UK prior to 31 December 2020

Any EU, EEA or Swiss nationals – and their eligible family members – who arrive in the UK prior to the end of the transition period (31 December 2020) and intend to stay beyond that date, will need to apply for immigration permission to stay through the UK government’s EU Settlement Scheme, or through another category of the immigration rules.

Arriving in the UK after 1 January 2021

The new Student visa route will be open for applications from 5 October 2020.  Only EU, EEA, Swiss nationals who will be arriving in the UK to begin their studies after 31 December 2020 will be eligible to apply.

We recommend that if you can arrive prior to 31 December 2020, then you should do so. The EU Settlement Scheme is free to apply for, but the Student visa route has charges associated with it for the application and healthcare.

Family members who are not EEA or Swiss nationals 

If your family members are not EEA or Swiss nationals, they will have to apply for and obtain a family permit before travelling to the UK with, or to join, an EU or EEA national family member. Find out about applying for an EEA family permit.