EEA Registration Certificate Application

EEA Registration Certificate Application

An EEA Registration Certificate is a document issued to EEA nationals who are exercising Treaty rights in the United Kingdom and wish to prove their right of residence.  Similarly, the EEA family members of persons exercising Treaty rights may wish to apply for an EEA Registration Certificate.

What are the main eligibility requirements for an EEA Registration Certificate?

In order to qualify for an EEA Registration Certificate, you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that:

• You are a citizen of an EEA country;
• You are exercising Treaty rights as a worker, self-employed person, self-sufficient person with comprehensive health insurance or student with comprehensive health insurance.

What else do I need to know about the EEA Registration Certificate?

There is no legal requirement to obtain an EEA Registration Certificate in order to live and work in the UK because the right of residence exists as a matter of European Union law. However, an EEA Registration Certificate acts as confirmation of your right of residence in the UK and this will make it easier to re-enter the UK, prove your right to work and obtain various services. An EEA Registration Certificate can also be used to support a family member’s application for an EEA Family Permit or EEA Residence Card.

Applications for EEA Registration Certificates must be supported by original valid ID and proof of exercise of Treaty rights. Applications can take up to 6 months to be processed, but it is possible to request the return of ID documents if required.

Applications can be made by post or online. In some circumstances, you may be able to attend a same-day appointment.

Your EEA Registration Certificate will be valid for five years, after which you may be eligible to apply for a Document Certifying Permanent Residence in the UK.