A residence permit simply confirms that you have a right to live in the United Kingdom under European Community law. You will need to apply for a residence permit if your family members want to apply for a residence document.

A residence permit is normally valid for five years. However, residence permits may be issued for a shorter period if you are working or studying in the United Kingdom.

You will probably not be given a residence permit if:

1. you are in the United Kingdom for a short visit;
2. you are looking for work;
3. you will work and live in the United Kingdom for less than three months; or
4. you do not work in the United Kingdom and cannot support yourself without help from public funds.

If you are a national of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia or Slovenia and you are working, you probably need to register under the WORKER REGISTRATION SCHEME before you are eligible to apply for a residence permit.

This can be evidenced by:

1. you have passed a test in English equivalent to level c1 of the council of Europe’s common European framework for language learning (equivalent to grade c at GCSE) or;
2. you come from a country where English is the majority language or;
3. you have taken a degree taught in English.