I am an EU citizen, moved to London, UK in July 2013 and applied for an NI number that month too.
I am a self-employed private tutor and had work immediately as I moved here, since then I have filled tax return for years 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2015-2016 and soon 2016-2017 (just a few weeks away).
My wife (non-eu) and I got married in September 2013. She lived here with me beforehand but was not working since we were unsure if she's legally able to.
In October 2013 (a month after we got married) she went back to her home country and applied for an EEA family permit which was granted that same month. She re-entered the UK a few weeks later, late November 2013 and got a stamp on her passport right next to her EEA family permit.
We then applied for a 5-years temporary residency (EEA 2 if I am not mistaken) which was originally rejected but was re-considered and granted in March 2014.
Since then we have continued to live here without any absences, and we are both working.
I have a few questions and I'd be most thankful if you can kindly help me with those:
1. As far as I understand, I am eligible to apply for a permeant residency 5 years after I moved here, assuming I was a qualified person (which I was, as self-employed). Does that mean July 2018 is the time I can apply and no earlier than that?
2. regarding my wife, my understanding is that she has to live here for 5 years which in those I must have been a qualified person. My question is - 5 years from when? Is it from our marriage? from the time EEA family permit was granted? from the time of entry with EEA family permit or perhaps only from the issue of the temporary residency?
Obviously I hope the answer to question 2 isn't from the issue of the temporary residency as I'd like to apply for permanent residency for both of us before the UK leaves the EU (March 2019, exactly 5 years since my wife was granted her temp residency).
I appreciate your help. Thanks again
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)