EUSS Family Permit

Summary of Information 

Following the conclusion of the IMA’s compliance case concerning the time taken by the Home Office in processing EUSS family permit applications, the IMA and the Home Office agreed to a 12-month monitoring period. 

The IMA’s basis for undertaking a compliance case was in accordance with Article 14(3) of the Withdrawal Agreement, that states that such applications as an EUSS family permit shall be issued “as soon as possible, and on the basis of an accelerated procedure”. The Home Office committed to providing the IMA with quarterly sets of data for a 12-month period, so the IMA could consider whether there was evidence of improvement to the time taken to conclude EUSS family permit applications.     

Summary of Actions and Evidence  

Between 1st January 2024 and 31st December 2024, the IMA received quarterly statistics from the Home Office regarding the processing of EUSS family permit applications. This information included figures on application volumes, processing times and the number of applications pending at the end of each quarter.   

Our analysis of the information received indicates that the Home Office has generally demonstrated improvements over the monitoring period in reducing the time taken to process and conclude EUSS family permit applications. The most recent data showed that generally, the majority of EUSS family permit applications were being concluded within 4 weeks of submission. 

Summary of Decision 

The IMA has completed the formal monitoring period related to the compliance case. Should the IMA receive any further information or complaints about this or related issues, these will be considered on their merits and in line with the IMA’s internal processes. The IMA also remains able to take further action on this issue in the future, in accordance with its statutory functions should this be necessary.