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Hi all,
I am an EEA national and my partner a nonEEA national in UK under the visa Tier 1 . We are both leaving and working with permanent position since mid of 2011.
We plan to get married with a civil registration and I was asking myself what visa or registration will then suit the most?

Do we need to apply for the EEA Family partner ? Or the EEA2 residence card is more suitable ?
I get really confused about this 2 registrations and what are the benefits of each.

We are looking for documents which allow my partner to leave and work in the UK, be able to change his company if required and being able to travel more freely in Europe will be a definitive advantage.

Thanks a lot for your kind advice.

The EEA national does not require any visa or application, but if they want to they can apply for a registration certificate on form EEA1.

EEA1 is found here: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... eea11.pdf


For the non-EEA family member ( such as a spouse) there are huge advantages in applying for a residence card on form EEA2.

The EEA2 residence card is confirmation of the rights that the non-EEA family member has, due to being the family member of an EEA national.

This application form can be found here:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... /eea21.pdf

The EEA national does not require any visa or application, but if they want to they can apply for a registration certificate on form EEA1.

EEA1 is found here: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... eea11.pdf


For the non-EEA family member ( such as a spouse) there are huge advantages in applying for a residence card on form EEA2.

The EEA2 residence card is confirmation of the rights that the non-EEA family member has, due to being the family member of an EEA national.

This application form can be found here:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... /eea21.pdf

The EEA national does not require any visa or to apply for anything in the UK ( Unless they are from an A2 country and want to work or study in the UK), but for all the others, if they want to, they can apply for a registration certificate on form EEA1.

EEA1 is found here: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... /eea11.pdf

The cost: Free to apply.


For the non-EEA family member ( such as a spouse) there are huge advantages in applying for a residence card on form EEA2.

EEA2 residence card is for when the non-EEA is already in the UK.

The EEA2 residence card is confirmation of the rights that the non-EEA family member has, due to being the family member of an EEA national. They are allowed to work and change employers without the restrictions that can apply with work permits.

It also acts as an entry clearance to allow the non-EEA to more easily enter the UK when travelling with or returning to the EEA national.

This application form can be found here:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... a/eea21.pd

The cost: Free to apply.

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Vaf5 is for EEA Family permits which are for family members who wish to enter the UK - who do not have EEA2 residence cards - and it acts like a temporary ( 6 months entry clearance visa).

Cost: Free, but there are associated costs such as collection of biometric data fees.

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With regard to travelling around europe, for the non-EEA national it is a bit more complicated. It is often suggested on here that it is a good idea to travel with a copy of your marriage or civil partnership certificate ( especially if the non-EEA is travelling alone, but also when travelling with the EEA national) and check the individual country's policies such as Shengen countries etc.

EEA Family Permit is an entry clearance applied for outside the UK. As you are in the UK already, a 5 year Residence Card applied using form EEA2 is what you need.

BTW - With regards to the benefits, then a Tier-1 visa should allow the holder to switch companies. In addition, if travel alone, a non-EU national will still need a Shengen visa when travelling to Europe but I agree the EEA route is better value for money.

Thanks a lot for the clarification! We will try to apply for the residence card.

Tier1 get definitely benefits but unfortunately ukba keep changing the rules of the tier 1 extension and now request up to 95 points !!! ( it was 80 , 1 year ago...), overall all current tier1 with bachelor degree will be kick off , as the earning section cannot get more than 40

This worry me a lot especially when you plan with your half to settle...
So the soon we will be out of it , the best it will be!