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EEA Document of Permanent Residence validity
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 8:32 pm
by kasasu
Hello
I'm a Portuguese national living in the UK since July 2006 with my family. I've got an EEA Document certifying permanent residence card issued in Sept 2011.
I've moved abroad outside EU after getting married and have been here since May 2016. I'm traveling back to the UK in Jan 2020 to join my family and start working again.
Can someone please tell me if my EEA Document certifying permanent residence card is valid? Or does it lapse like the ILR does for 2 years absence?
I'm new here so please pardon if I'm breaking any rules. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Re: EEA Document of Permanent Residence validity
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 8:47 pm
by CR001
PR is lost if absent from the UK for 2 or more years. Page 4 in the guidance notes.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... orm-eea-pr
Re: EEA Document of Permanent Residence validity
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:20 pm
by kasasu
Thanks for the link.
So does that mean I'll need to apply for a visa to enter UK? Or can I use the free movement since I'm an EU national and traveling in Jan 2020
Re: EEA Document of Permanent Residence validity
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:39 pm
by iwolga
kasasu wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:20 pm
Thanks for the link.
So does that mean I'll need to apply for a visa to enter UK? Or can I use the free movement since I'm an EU national and traveling in Jan 2020
As long as UK is in EU you don’t need anything but your passport (ID) to enter UK.
Re: EEA Document of Permanent Residence validity
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:44 pm
by kasasu
iwolga wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:39 pm
kasasu wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:20 pm
Thanks for the link.
So does that mean I'll need to apply for a visa to enter UK? Or can I use the free movement since I'm an EU national and traveling in Jan 2020
As long as UK is in EU you don’t need anything but your passport (ID) to enter UK.
OK thank you. I am a bit anxious since the Home office website is quite lengthy and confusing. To confirm, I won't be questioned about my PR on the airport. Thanks again for you help

Re: EEA Document of Permanent Residence validity
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:54 pm
by iwolga
kasasu wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:44 pm
iwolga wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:39 pm
kasasu wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:20 pm
Thanks for the link.
So does that mean I'll need to apply for a visa to enter UK? Or can I use the free movement since I'm an EU national and traveling in Jan 2020
As long as UK is in EU you don’t need anything but your passport (ID) to enter UK.
OK thank you. I am a bit anxious since the Home office website is quite lengthy and confusing. To confirm, I won't be questioned about my PR on the airport. Thanks again for you help
Why should you be questioned at all? Especially if you use eGates.
I think the gov.uk was at some point saying that you need to start living in UK before 31/10/19 to be able to get settled or pre-settled status. I don’t know how exactly they updated it due to Brexit extension.
Now if Brexit happens you will need to apply for EU settlement scheme and - as far as I understand it - you’ll need to be able to show grounds to be in UK (eg employment).
Re: EEA Document of Permanent Residence validity
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 10:00 pm
by kasasu
@iwolga My main confusion arose from someone guiding me to this link
https://www.gov.uk/returning-resident-visa
It says on there that you must apply for a returning resident visa. Thanks for putting my doubts to rest

Re: EEA Document of Permanent Residence validity
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 10:21 pm
by it91
kasasu wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2019 10:00 pm
@iwolga My main confusion arose from someone guiding me to this link
https://www.gov.uk/returning-resident-visa
It says on there that you must apply for a returning resident visa. Thanks for putting my doubts to rest
It’s different. As a EU citizen you never needed student visa, there is no need to apply for are returning student visa obviously. You just need to come back and apply to pre-settled status.
Re: EEA Document of Permanent Residence validity
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 7:12 am
by CR001
it91 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2019 10:21 pm
kasasu wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2019 10:00 pm
@iwolga My main confusion arose from someone guiding me to this link
https://www.gov.uk/returning-resident-visa
It says on there that you must apply for a returning resident visa. Thanks for putting my doubts to rest
It’s different. As a EU citizen you never needed student visa, there is no need to apply for are returning student visa obviously. You just need to come back and apply to pre-settled status.
Hopefully you have only mistyped the word "student" as the link has nothing to do with student visas!!!
Re: EEA Document of Permanent Residence validity
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 12:00 pm
by it91
CR001 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2019 7:12 am
it91 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2019 10:21 pm
kasasu wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2019 10:00 pm
@iwolga My main confusion arose from someone guiding me to this link
https://www.gov.uk/returning-resident-visa
It says on there that you must apply for a returning resident visa. Thanks for putting my doubts to rest
It’s different. As a EU citizen you never needed student visa, there is no need to apply for are returning student visa obviously. You just need to come back and apply to pre-settled status.
Hopefully you have only mistyped the word "student" as the link has nothing to do with student visas!!!
Omg sorry, apologies and please ignore my comment.

Re: EEA Document of Permanent Residence validity
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2019 2:16 pm
by kasasu
No worries
