What the Regulations were
The Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/1003) came into force on 30 April 2006 and put into UK law the rights of EEA nationals and their family members to live and work in the UK under free movement, as set out in the EU’s Citizens’ Rights Directive (2004/38/EC). They were the source of the registration certificates, residence cards and documents certifying permanent residence that many European citizens held.
They were replaced by the Immigration (EEA) Regulations 2016 on 1 February 2017, and those in turn were revoked at the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020, with savings for people covered by the Withdrawal Agreement. They are no longer the law, but they remain the explanation for documents issued under them, and for how permanent residence was acquired.
The seven Parts
| Part | What it covered |
|---|---|
| Part 1: Interpretation | Definitions: worker, self-employed person, family member, extended family member, qualified person |
| Part 2: EEA rights | The rights of admission, initial residence, extended residence, permanent residence and derivative residence |
| Part 3: Residence documentation | Registration certificates, residence cards and permanent residence documents |
| Part 4: Refusal of admission and removal | Exclusion and removal on public policy, security and health grounds |
| Part 5: Procedure | How decisions were made and notified |
| Part 6: Appeals | Rights of appeal against EEA decisions |
| Part 7: General | Alternative evidence of identity and nationality |
Why they still matter
- A registration certificate, residence card or permanent residence document issued under the Regulations is not itself proof of present status. See old EEA documents.
- Time spent exercising treaty rights before 2021 is relevant to the EU Settlement Scheme, where continuous residence is counted.
- Family members who relied on the Regulations may qualify under the EUSS family permit or Surinder Singh route.
The text
The Regulations as originally made are published at legislation.gov.uk. The pages in this section explain each Part in plain English, rather than reproduce them.
How we help
If you hold an old EEA document, or relied on the Regulations before 2021, we can establish what status you have today and what can be done about it. A consultation costs from £99.
