Glossary

This is an article of the EU Lisbon Treaty, which gives any EU member state the right to quit the EU unilaterally. Once the member state has notified the European Council of its intention, the EU and the State should negotiate withdrawal arrangements within a timeframe of two years

A passport or ID card that has an embedded electronic microprocessor chip which contains biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of the passport or ID card holder

A non-EEA citizen residence card which includes data such as name, date of birth, immigration status, conditions of stay and biometric information (finger prints and a photo)

British citizenship or naturalisation gives a person the right to a British passport and the full rights of a UK citizen

According to the Home Office continuous residence simply means having lived, or be living, in the UK (at least six months continuously in each)

This person is a relative of their EU/EEA sponsor but not their spouse, civil partner, durable partner, child or dependent parent; and holds a relevant document as their dependent relative including a family permit, registration certificate, residence card, document certifying permanent residence or permanent residence card which was issued by the UK under the EEA Regulations (which was applied for by 31 December 2020)

A person who does not qualify for a right of residence under the EU Free Movement Directive and is not an EU/EEA citizen, may qualify for another right of residence under European Union (EU) law, for example non-EEA carers of EU/EEA and British children and dependant adults (includes "Zambrano", "Chen", "Ibrahim" and "Texeira" cases)

A person who has dual nationality has naturalised as a British citizen but also holds citizenship of another EU state and has lived in the UK exercising their rights as an EU citizen before becoming a British national

The EEA includes Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, countries which are not part of the European Union

This is the end of the transition period, when the UK’s withdrawal from the EU is to be complete

The European Union (EU) is an economic and political partnership between 28 countries. The EU is the most recent form of European integration, within which the single market allows goods, capital, services and people to move freely across the national borders of the member states

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden

The EU is founded on a series of legal treaties between its member states. For example, freedom of Movement rights for EU citizens were established as part of an EU treaty and governed by EU directives

The following can be considered as direct family members of an EU/EEA citizen: their spouse or civil partner, direct descendants of the EU/EEA national or their spouse or civil partner who are under the age of 21, dependent direct relatives in the ascending line of the EEA national or their spouse or civil partner

EEA Family Permit is a visa to enter the UK for non-EEA family members or extended family members of EEA citizens

Free movement and residence of persons is the right of EU and EEA citizens and their family members to move and reside freely within any country of the EU. This is a fundamental principle enshrined in Article 45 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. EU citizens are entitled to:

• Look for a job in another EU country
• Work there without the need for a work permit
• Reside there for that purpose
• Stay there even after employment has finished
• Enjoy equal treatment with nationals in access to employment, working conditions and all other social and tax advantages

The period from 1 January 2021 until 30 June 2021 where applications for Settled Status and pre-Settled Status will still be accepted, even though the UK has formally withdrawn from the EU

Indefinite Leave to Remain is a UK immigration status available to citizens of any country that allows a person to live and work in the UK permanently. It is usually acquired after five years of continuous residency

A landmark case and ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) by which an EU citizen does not lose the right to have or bring a spouse or close family member who is not an EU citizen, to reside in the UK after becoming a British citizen

EU and EEA citizens can apply for this non-compulsory document to prove their permanent residence rights after five continuous years of residence in the UK under EU law, to secure the residence rights of their non-EU family members or as a requirement to apply for British Citizenship before the introduction of the EU Settlement Scheme in March 2019. It will not be valid when the UK leaves the EU but can be exchanged free of charge for Settled Status

In this context, refers to the immigration and residence rights of an EU/EEA or non-EEA citizen and their non-EEA family members

The Home Office has been working to develop a new scheme, which allows resident EU citizens and their family members to obtain the UK immigration status they will need in order to remain here permanently after Brexit. The EU Settlement Scheme will be fully open by 30 March 2019. EU citizens and their family members will have until 30 June 2021 to apply, in line with the draft Withdrawal Agreement

This is the deadline for applications for Settled Status. After this date people will only be allowed to apply under very exceptional circumstances

A third country national in the UK is a person who is not a British, Irish or an EEA/EU national

After the UK officially leaves the European Union, there is a plan for a time-limited period before the eventual permanent arrangements for UK-EU relations come into force. This period will end on 31 December 2020. People who apply for Settled Status before this date will benefit from both EU law protection and the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU

The agreement being negotiated between the UK and the EU. The aim of the agreement is to set out the arrangements for the UK’s exit from the EU. One of the key areas covered by this agreement is citizens rights and what will happen to EU citizens living in the UK and UK citizens living in the EU when the UK leaves the EU