Until now, European Economic Area (EEA) and non-EEA family members of British citizens in the UK Armed Forces serving in the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus were unable to enter or return to the UK by applying for an EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) family permit, or to the EUSS. This is because the SBAs, as British Overseas Territories, are not part of the EEA meaning free movement rights could not be exercised.
The Home Office has now amended the immigration rules. For the purposes of qualifying British citizens serving in UK Armed Forces assigned back to the UK from Cyprus, the SBAs will be treated as part of the EEA.
This means that where an EEA or non-EEA family member is accompanying a qualifying British citizen in the Armed Forces who was posted in the SBAs before the end of the EU transition period (23:00 GMT on 31 December 2020), and providing they meet all other requirements as a ‘family member of a qualifying British citizen’ (FMQBC), they will now be able to use this temporary FMQBC route to apply to the EUSS.
To read more about the EU Settlement scheme, to check eligibility and timings for processing applications along with Q&A. Click here.
