applying for a UK residence card with a visitor visa?

Dear all

I have a British and a Russian passport, my wife has a Bulgarian passport, we live permanently in the UK. My elderly father lives on his own in Russia and is genuinely financially dependent on me (which we can prove). He currently has a 2 year multiple entry visitor visa (expiring summer 2016), so he can visit us and stay for up to 3 months on each visit. He obtained this visa on the basis of him being a family member of a UK citizen (myself). My father is planning to apply for an UK residence card on the basis of him being a dependant family member of an EEA citizen (my wife).

My question is: does he have to apply for an EEA family permit prior to his residence card application?
Or can he enter the UK on his current valid visitor visa and then apply for a residence card?

Thank you all in advance, any help will be much appreciated!

There is no need to apply for EEA Family permit before a Residence Card.

However, what you try doing will not work. He can't rely on your EEA wife to bypass the UK immigration rules (because you are British). Making this application will be risking getting his existing visitor visa curtailed as he will indicate his intentions are more than just a visit.