Changes affecting EEA nationals and their family members

Posted: 13/07/2012

The Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 have received an update with a number of interesting changes. The main changes are:

• from 16 October 2012, nationals of an EEA state who also hold British citizenship will no longer fall into the definition of an EEA national and will no longer be able to rely on the provisions of the EEA regulations. This is likely to impact these dual nationals' non-EEA family members who will no longer be able to rely on the EEA free movement regulations and will need to apply under the immigration rules in order to enter and/or stay in the UK. Exemptions do apply for those who are already residing in the UK or who have submitted their applications under the EEA regulations prior to 16 July 2012;
• a new category has been created called ‘derivative residence’ which incorporates the ruling in the European Court of Justice case of Chen [2004] EUECJ C-200/02 into the regulations. This allows a non-EEA national primary carer of a self-sufficient EEA national under 18 to have the right of residence in the UK if that EEA national’s stay in the UK is dependent upon it. Likewise, non-EEA children of EEA nationals will also have a derived right of residence. This category cannot lead to settlement.

For further details of the amendments and other changes, please click here.

If you would like advice on how this impacts you and/or your employees, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

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