Can I apply for the Surinder Singh route while living alone?

[Akira3]

Hi. I am a British man, father of two British/Japanese kids with a Japanese wife. I want to move to the UK from Japan and bring my family. As the kids can enter as British citizens it is only my wife I need to get a visa for. Can I go to an EEA country like Ireland alone, leaving my wife and kids in Japan, then apply for her visa without her coming to Ireland for 3 month qualifying period and then move to the UK with permission? I would be grateful if you could help me. Thanks in advance.

[sheraz7]

Under SS route the non-EU family member need to reside together with EU national partner. Before implementing your plan you should be aware about the major changes regarding this route here

[Akira3]

Under SS route the non-EU family member need to reside together with EU national partner. Before implementing your plan you should be aware about the major changes regarding this route here

Hi Sheraz7. Thanks for the informative reply.

[Akira3]

Under SS route the non-EU family member need to reside together with EU national partner. Before implementing your plan you should be aware about the major changes regarding this route here

Hi Sheraz7. I looked at the rules.


Regulation 9(2)(c) requires me to demonstrate “the centre of my life” has been transferred to the EEA country (other than the UK) and Regulation 9(3) tells us how to show if I have transferred the centre of my life or not. These include

a. the period of residence. Basically the longer the better with years rather than months being indicated
b. the location of the British citizen’s principal residence. They are looking to see if people have a substantial permanent presence in the country , not only living in a hotel and commuting back at the weekends.
c. the degree of integration of the British citizen in the host member state means, for example, having pre-existing family there, having children born there and perhaps going to local schools, property purchased, language skills and community involvement etc.


Thanks for the information again and I will be researching to see how people are dealing with this.