Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)

Overview

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you and your family can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021. You can also apply if you’re the family member of an eligible person of Northern Ireland.

If your application is successful, you’ll get either settled or pre-settled status.

The EEA includes the EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

You may be able to stay in the UK without applying - for example, if you’re an Irish citizen or already have indefinite leave to remain.

Sign up for email updates about the scheme.

When you can apply

The EU Settlement Scheme is open. You can apply now if you meet the criteria.

The deadline for applying is 30 June 2021. You must usually have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020.

The deadlines are different in some situations, for example if:

you’re applying to join a close family member

the family member of a British citizen (‘Surinder Singh’ applications)

you stop being exempt from immigration control

Which status you get may depend on when you apply.

Fees

It’s free to apply to the scheme.

Who should apply

Except in a few cases, you need to apply if:

you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

you’re not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, but your family member is (or is an eligible person of Northern Ireland)

This means you need to apply even if you:

were born in the UK but are not a British citizen - you can check if you’re a British citizen if you’re not sure

have a UK ‘permanent residence document’

are a family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who does not need to apply - including if they’re from Ireland

are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen with a British citizen family member

If you have children, you need to apply for them separately.

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and you have a family member who is an eligible person of Northern Ireland, you may be able to choose which way you apply.

Who else can apply

You can apply to join your EU, EEA or Swiss family member if they started living in the UK by 31 December 2020. You can either:

apply from outside the UK, if you have a certain type of passport, identity card or residence document

come to the UK on an EU Settlement Scheme family permit and apply to the settlement scheme once you’re here

You cannot apply to the EU settlement scheme from inside the UK if you arrived after 31 December 2020 and you’re here:

on a Standard Visitor visa, Permitted Paid Engagement visa, Parent of a Child Student visa or Transit visa

without a visa, for example if you came through an e-passport gate

You also cannot apply if you’re here on a Marriage Visitor visa, unless you’re applying after you have married or entered into a civil partnership with the EU, EEA or Swiss person you’re joining.

Irish citizens do not need to apply to the settlement scheme. If they choose to, they can apply from within the UK regardless of how they entered.

If you’re not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

You also may be able to apply if:

you used to have an EU, EEA or Swiss family member living in the UK (but you’ve separated, they’ve died or the family relationship has broken down)

you’re the family member of a British citizen and you lived outside the UK in an EEA country together

you’re the family member of a British citizen who also has EU, EEA or Swiss citizenship and who lived in the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen before getting British citizenship

you have a family member who is an eligible person of Northern Ireland

you’re the primary carer of a British, EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

you’re the child of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who used to live and work in the UK, or the child’s primary carer

you’re the family member of a ‘frontier worker’

Who does not need to apply

You do not need to apply if you have:

indefinite leave to enter the UK

indefinite leave to remain in the UK

Irish citizenship (including British and Irish ‘dual citizenship’)

You cannot apply if you have British citizenship.

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and you moved to the UK before it joined the EU

You only need to apply if you do not have indefinite leave to remain.
If you do have indefinite leave to remain, you’ll usually have a stamp in your passport or a letter from the Home Office saying this.

If you work in the UK but do not live here (‘frontier worker’)

You do not need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme if you’re a ‘frontier worker’ or have a Frontier Worker permit.

If you’re exempt from immigration control

You do not need to do anything to continue living in the UK while you’re exempt from immigration control.

You’ll have been told if you’re exempt from immigration control, for example because you’re:

a foreign diplomat posted in the UK

a member of NATO

You can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme at any time, as long as you started living in the UK by 31 December 2020. Your privileges and immunities may change if you get settled status.

If you stop being exempt, you need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme within 90 days of when you stop being exempt.

If you apply after 30 June 2021, you’ll need to prove that you’re exempt from immigration control as part of your application.

Your family members may be eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme whether they are exempt from immigration control or not. They can apply at any time, even if you have not yet applied.

What you’ll get

The rights and status of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens living in the UK by 31 December 2020 will remain the same until 30 June 2021.

The EEA includes the EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

If you apply to the EU Settlement Scheme successfully, you’ll be able to continue living and working in the UK after 30 June 2021.

You’ll be given either:

settled status

pre-settled status

You will not be asked to choose which you’re applying for. Which status you get depends on how long you’ve been living in the UK when you apply. Your rights will be different depending on which status you get and when you started living in the UK.

Settled status

You’ll usually get settled status if you’ve lived in the UK for a continuous 5-year period (known as ‘continuous residence’)

Five years’ continuous residence means that for 5 years in a row you’ve been in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for at least 6 months in any 12 month period. The exceptions are:

one period of up to 12 months for an important reason (for example, childbirth, serious illness, study, vocational training or an overseas work posting)

compulsory military service of any length

time you spent abroad as a Crown servant, or as the family member of a Crown servant

time you spent abroad in the armed forces, or as the family member of someone in the armed forces

You may be considered to be resident in the UK on 31 December 2020 and may be eligible for settled status if you both:

lived in the UK for a continuous 5-year period in the past

have not left the UK for more than 5 years in a row since then

You can stay in the UK as long as you like if you get settled status. You’ll also be able to apply for British citizenship if you’re eligible.

Pre-settled status

If you have not lived in the UK for 5 years in a row (known as ‘continuous residence’), you’ll usually get pre-settled status. You must have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 unless you are applying as the existing close family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who started living here by then. You can stay in the UK for a further 5 years from the date you get pre-settled status.

You can apply to switch to settled status as soon as you’ve had 5 years’ continuous residence. The 5 years is counted from the day you first arrived in the UK. You do not need to have held pre-settled status for 5 years to apply.

You must apply for settled status before your pre-settled status expires to stay in the UK.

If you’ll reach 5 years’ continuous residence by 30 June 2021, you can choose to wait until you have 5 years’ residence to apply. This means that you’ll get settled status without having to apply for pre-settled status first if your application is successful.

If you will not reach 5 years’ continuous residence by 30 June 2021, you cannot wait until after this date to apply. You must apply for pre-settled status by 30 June 2021. You can then switch to settled status once you have 5 years’ continuous residence.

If you’ve left the UK

You may be able to get pre-settled status if you were living in the UK by 31 December 2020
but you were not here on that date. You must not have left the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for more than 6 months in any 12 month period.

You may also be eligible if you were living in the UK by 31 December 2020, but you left the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for one period of no more than 12 months for an important reason (for example childbirth, serious illness, study, vocational training or an overseas work posting). Your previous residence in the UK will count towards your eligibility for pre-settled status.

Showing your continuous residence when you apply

You’ll need to show that you were living in the UK by 31 December 2020, unless you’re joining your family member who is an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and they were living here by then.

If your evidence is older than 6 months, you’ll usually also need evidence to show you were here in the last 6 months. This is to show your continuous residence.

If you’ve been outside the UK for one period of no more than 12 months, you can use evidence from before you left to show your continuous residence. You must have been outside of the UK for an important reason, for example, due to childbirth, serious illness, study, vocational training or an overseas work posting.

Check what evidence you can use to show when you started living in the UK, and that you’ve continued to live here.

Your rights with settled or pre-settled status

You’ll be able to:

work in the UK

use the NHS for free, if you can at the moment

enrol in education or study in the UK

access public funds such as benefits and pensions, if you’re eligible for them

travel in and out of the UK

You’ll have different rights if you get settled or pre-settled status because you’ve applied to join your EU, EEA or Swiss family member and you arrived in the UK after 31 December 2020. For example, you will not be able to bring your own family members under the EU Settlement Scheme.

If you want to spend time outside the UK

If you have settled status, you can spend up to 5 years in a row outside the UK without losing your status.

If you’re a Swiss citizen, you and your family members can spend up to 4 years in a row outside the UK without losing your settled status.

If you have pre-settled status, you can spend up to 2 years in a row outside the UK without losing your status. You will need to maintain your continuous residence if you want to qualify for settled status.

If you have children after applying

If you get settled status, any children born in the UK while you’re living here will automatically be British citizens.

If you get pre-settled status, any children born in the UK will be automatically eligible for pre-settled status. They will only be a British citizen if they qualify for it through their other parent.

If you want to bring family members to the UK

If you’re a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland, your close family members can join you if all of the following apply:

you were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020

your relationship with them started on or before 31 December 2020 (unless they’re a child born or adopted after that date)

the relationship still exists when they apply to join you

If your family member is from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, they can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme from outside the UK if they hold either a valid passport or identity card with a biometric chip.

If your family member is not from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, they can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme from outside the UK. They must hold a relevant UK document, for example:

a residence card

a permanent residence card

a derivative residence card

Otherwise, they will need to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit to come to the UK. Once they’re in the UK they can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

They cannot apply to the EU Settlement Scheme from inside the UK if they arrived after 31 December 2020 and they’re here:

on a Standard Visitor visa, Permitted Paid Engagement visa, Parent of a Child Student visa or Transit visa

without a visa, for example if they came through an e-passport gate

They also cannot apply if they’re here on a Marriage Visitor visa, unless they’re applying after you’ve married or entered into a civil partnership with them.

Irish citizens can apply from inside the UK regardless of how they entered.

If you cannot bring your family member under the EU Settlement Scheme, they may still be able to come here in a different way, for example on a family visa.

Family members of Swiss citizens

If you’re a Swiss citizen, you can also bring your spouse or civil partner to the UK until 31 December 2025 if both of the following apply:

your relationship with them began between 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2025

you are still in the relationship when they apply to join you

What you'll need to apply

If you’re an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen and you started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you’ll need proof of:

your identity

your residence in the UK, unless you have a valid permanent residence document, or valid indefinite leave to remain in or enter the UK

You’ll need to provide this proof again when you apply to change your pre-settled status for settled status.

Proof of identity

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you need a valid passport or valid national identity card. You also need to provide a digital photo of your face.

If you’re not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you need to provide one of the following:

a valid passport

a valid biometric residence permit

a valid biometric residence card

You also need to provide a digital photo of your face. If you do not already have a valid biometric residence card, you will also need to provide your fingerprints (this is not needed for children under 5).

If you do not have any of these you may be able to use other evidence in certain situations. Contact the EU Settlement Resolution Centre if you do not have any of the listed documents.

If you’re applying for your child, you’ll need to prove their identity. You might also need to prove their residence in the UK.

When you apply, you can either:

scan your document and upload your photo using the ‘EU Exit: ID Document Check’ app using an Android phone, or an iPhone 7 or above

send your document in the post and upload your photo using the online application (you can take this yourself)

Scan your document

You can use the ‘EU Exit: ID Document Check’ app on:

an Android phone

an iPhone 7 or above

To scan your documents using a phone, you’ll need one of the following:

a valid EU, EEA or Swiss passport or ID card, if it’s biometric

a UK-issued biometric residence card

You can use someone else’s phone to prove your identity.

Send your document by post

You must send your document by post if you have a:

non-EU or non-EEA passport

biometric residence permit

non-biometric ID card

You can send other types of document in the post if you cannot use the ‘ID Document Check’ app.

Proof of continuous residence

To be eligible for settled status, you usually need to have lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for at least 6 months in any 12 month period for 5 years in a row. You need to provide proof of this when you apply.

If you’ve not lived here for 5 years in a row you may still be eligible for pre-settled status.

If you arrived in the UK by 31 December 2020, you can give your National Insurance number to allow an automated check of your residence based on tax and certain benefit records.

If this check is successful, you’ll not need to provide any documents as proof of residence. If you’ve been here for 5 years in a row but there is not enough data to confirm this, you’ll need to provide documents.

The Home Office will tell you immediately after you apply if you need to provide any documents. You should submit photos or scans of your documents through the online application form, rather than sending them by post.

Read what documents you can provide to the Home Office if you’re asked to provide more evidence.

If you have criminal convictions

If you’re 18 or over, the Home Office will check you have not committed serious or repeated crimes, and that you do not pose a security threat.

You’ll be asked to declare convictions that appear in your criminal record in the UK or overseas.

You do not need to declare any of the following:

convictions that do not need to be disclosed (‘spent convictions’)

warnings (‘cautions’)

alternatives to prosecution, for example speeding fines

You’ll also be checked against the UK’s crime databases.

You’ll still be eligible for settled or pre-settled status if you’ve only been convicted of a minor crime.

You may still get settled or pre-settled status even if you have other convictions. This will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

If you’ve been to prison, you usually need 5 years’ continuous residence from the day you were released to be considered for settled status.

If you’re applying to join your EU, EEA or Swiss family member

You’ll need to provide proof of your relationship to your family member from the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

If your family member in the UK does not already have settled or pre-settled status, you will also need to provide proof:

of their identity

of their nationality

that they lived in the UK by 31 December 2020, and have continued living here since

Read what documents you can provide to show when they started living here and have continued living here since.

The EEA includes the EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Applying for your children

Each child must have their own application. You can apply for your child or they can apply for themselves.

Your child is eligible for settled or pre-settled status if they’re under 21 and either they’re:

an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, but you are - or your spouse or civil partner is

If your child was born in the UK but is not a British citizen, they will still need to apply. You can check if they’re a British citizen if you’re not sure.

If you have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme

When you apply for your child you can ‘link’ their application to yours. This means that if your own application is successful, your child will get the same status as you.

To do this, select the option to apply ‘using your parent’s residence’, then enter your application number.

You will need to do this for each child you apply for.

You can use your own email address in the application if your child does not have one.

You can apply for your child any time after you’ve made your own application - you do not need to wait for a decision.

What proof you need

You’ll need proof of:

your relationship to your child when you make their application

your child’s identity

when your child started living in the UK, if they started living here by 31 December 2020

your child’s continuous residence in the UK

If the evidence of when your child started living here is more than 6 months old, you’ll also have to show they were here in the last 6 months.

Check what evidence you can use to show when your child started living in the UK, and that they’ve continued to live here.

If you have not applied to the EU Settlement Scheme

If you’re eligible for the scheme, make your own application first so that you can link your child’s application to yours.

If you’re not eligible for the scheme but your child is, you can still apply for them. For example, if they live in the UK and you do not.

You’ll need to provide proof:

of your child’s identity

of your child’s UK residence

that your child has 5 years’ continuous residence in the UK

If your child does not have 5 years’ continuous residence

If your child does not have 5 years’ continuous residence when they apply, they’ll usually get pre-settled status.

They can stay in the UK for a further 5 years from the date they get pre-settled status.

You can apply to change this to settled status once they have reached 5 years’ continuous residence. You must do this before their pre-settled status expires - this will be 5 years after the date they got pre-settled status.

If they’ll reach 5 years’ continuous residence by 30 June 2021, you can choose to wait until they reach 5 years’ continuous residence before applying. If their application is successful, they’ll get settled status without getting pre-settled status first.

If your child is born or adopted after 31 December 2020

Your children are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme if you started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, even if you’ve not yet applied yourself.

If your child is born or adopted in the UK before 1 April 2021, you must make an application for them by 30 June 2021.

If your child is born or adopted in the UK on or after 1 April 2021, you must apply within 3 months of the date they were born or adopted. You’ll need to give evidence of their date of birth or the date you adopted them, such as a birth certificate or adoption order.

If you’re an Irish citizen

You do not need to apply for settled or pre-settled status if you’re an Irish citizen.

However, if you’re an Irish citizen and your child is not a British citizen, they’ll be eligible for either:

the same status that you could get, based on how long you’ve lived in the UK

settled or pre-settled status, based on their own residence

This also applies if you’re from Northern Ireland and have Irish, British or dual British and Irish citizenship, and your child does not have Irish, British or dual citizenship.

How to apply

Apply online for the EU Settlement Scheme.

Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme

You can apply using any device, for example, a laptop, Android device or iPhone.

Check what you’ll need before you apply.

Apply

You can apply now if you’re eligible. The deadline for applying is usually 30 June 2021.

You can also choose to apply later depending on your circumstances.

If you get pre-settled status, you’ll need to apply again when you’re changing your pre-settled status for settled status.

If you’re applying for yourself and your children, make your own application first.

Start now

The Home Office will use the personal information you provide to decide whether to grant your application. Find out how the Home Office will process your personal information.

Continue your application

If you’ve already started to apply, you can continue your application.

Who cannot use this service

You cannot use the online service to apply to the scheme if you’re applying as:

the family member of a British citizen you lived with in Switzerland or an EU or EEA country

the primary carer of a British, EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

the child of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who used to live and work in the UK, and you’re in education - or you’re the child’s primary carer

Contact the EU Settlement Resolution Centre online to find out how to apply.

Fees

It’s free to apply to the scheme.

If you paid a fee when you applied to the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll get a refund.

Get help

Contact the EU Settlement Resolution Centre online.

You can also get help over the phone.

The phone number is different if you’re from a local council or another organisation helping others to apply.

If you’re inside the UK

If you’re outside the UK

If you’re from an organisation helping others to apply

You can also get support if you need help doing things online.

If you’re the family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

You can apply as the family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen if they started living in the UK by 31 December 2020.

Your EU, EEA or Swiss family member will usually need to apply as well. You can apply if you’re the family member of an Irish citizen, even though they do not need to.

If you’re from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme from outside the UK if you hold either a valid passport or identity card with a biometric chip.

If you’re not from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme from outside the UK if you hold a relevant UK document, for example:

a residence card

a permanent residence card

a derivative residence card

Otherwise, you will need to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit to come to the UK. Once you’re in the UK you can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

You cannot apply to the EU Settlement Scheme from inside the UK if you arrived here after 31 December 2020 and you’re here:

on a Standard Visitor visa, Permitted Paid Engagement visa, Parent of a Child Student visa or Transit visa

without a visa, for example if you came through an e-passport gate

Irish citizens can apply from within the UK regardless of how they entered.

The EEA includes the EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Your family relationship

You can apply if you’re in a relationship with an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen as their spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner. The relationship must have started by 31 December 2020 and must still exist.

You can also apply if you’re related to an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, their spouse, or their civil partner if you’re their:

child, grandchild or great-grandchild under 21 years old

dependent child over the age of 21

You can also apply as a dependent parent, grandparent or great-grandparent if you have a relevant document to prove your relationship.

You can apply as another type of dependent relative if both of the following apply:

you were living in the UK by 31 December 2020

you have a relevant document to prove your relationship

You may also be able to apply if:

you’re the family member of a British citizen and you lived outside the UK in an EU or EEA country (or Switzerland) together

you used to have an EU, EEA or Swiss family member living in the UK

you’re the family member of an eligible person of Northern Ireland

If you’re the family member of an eligible person of Northern Ireland

You can apply if you’re the family member of an eligible person of Northern Ireland, even though they do not need to.

Follow the same process as family members of EU, EEA or Swiss citizens.

If your family member is a British citizen (‘Surinder Singh’ applications)

You may be eligible if you lived outside the UK in an EU or EEA country (or Switzerland) with your family member.

You must have lived with them in an EU or EEA country (or Switzerland) before 1 January 2021, and be:

their spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner

under 21 years old, and are their child or grandchild

21 years or older, and are their dependent child or grandchild

their dependent parent or grandparent

You can apply as another type of dependent relative if you were living in the UK by 31 December 2020.

The country that you lived in together must have been your main residence. Your British family member must also have been working, studying or self-sufficient in the country while there.

You cannot use the online service to apply if this is how you qualify for the scheme.

Contact the EU Settlement Resolution Centre online to find out how to apply.

If you used to have an EU, EEA or Swiss family member living in the UK

You may be able to apply if you used to have a family member who was living in the UK by 31 December 2020. This is called a ‘retained right of residence’.

If you’re eligible because you have retained rights of residence, you can apply using the online service.

If you’re in education in the UK

You can apply if you’re in education, were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 and one of the following is true:

you’re the child of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who has left the UK or died

one of your parents is the spouse or civil partner of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who has left the UK or died

one of your parents was previously the spouse or civil partner of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who has left the UK or died

If you qualify through any of these circumstances, your parent is also eligible, providing they have custody of you.

If your family member has died

You can also apply if your family member has died, and you lived continuously in the UK as their family member for at least one year immediately before their death.

If you or a member of your family was previously married or in a civil partnership

You can apply if your marriage or civil partnership to an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen ended with a divorce, annulment or dissolution, and you lived in the UK when it ended.

One of the following must also apply:

the marriage or civil partnership lasted for at least 3 years and you’d both been living in the UK for at least one year during that time

you have custody of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen’s child

you have been given right of access in the UK to the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen’s child - the child must be under 18

you or another family member was the victim of domestic abuse in the marriage or civil partnership

You can also apply if a family member had an eligible marriage or civil partnership and you lived in the UK when it ended. You must be their:

child, grandchild or great-grandchild under 21 years old

dependent child over the age of 21

dependent parent, grandparent or great-grandparent

other dependent relative

If you are a victim of domestic abuse or violence

You can apply if your family relationship with an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen has broken down permanently because of domestic abuse or violence.

You can apply if you are or were their:

husband, wife or civil partner

long-term partner

dependent child over the age of 21

other dependent relative

If you’re the ‘primary carer’ of a British, EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

You may be able to apply if you’re the primary carer of a British, EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who was living in the UK by 31 December 2020. Any dependent children you have may also be able to apply.

To be someone’s primary carer, you must be both:

responsible for their day to day care, including making decisions about their education, health, and finances

a family member or their legal guardian

You can share these responsibilities with someone else.

You cannot use the online service to apply if this is how you qualify for the scheme.

Contact the EU Settlement Resolution Centre online to find out how to apply.

If you’re the primary carer of an adult

You can apply if you’re the primary carer of a dependent adult who is a British citizen and you were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020.

If you’re the primary carer of a child

You can apply if you’re the primary carer of a British child, or an EU, EEA or Swiss child who is financially independent and you were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020.

You can also apply if you’re the primary carer of an EU, EEA or Swiss child who:

is in education in the UK

has an EU, EEA or Swiss parent who has worked in the UK when the child has lived in the UK

has an EU, EEA or Swiss parent who has lived in the UK when the child has been in education

has an EU, EEA or Swiss parent who has stopped working in the UK, or left the UK

What you’ll need to apply

You’ll need to provide proof of your relationship to your EU, EEA or Swiss citizen family member - for example, a birth, marriage or civil partnership certificate, or a residence card. You can usually scan and submit this through the online application form.

If you apply before your family member, you’ll also need to provide evidence of their identity and residence.

You might be asked to provide a certified English translation of any document that is not in English.

You do not need to provide any evidence of your relationship if you have a valid ‘UK permanent residence document’.

If you’re from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you do not have a biometric residence card, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo, or only a photo for children under 5) when you apply.

When you need to provide more evidence

In some cases, you’ll also need to provide the same documents as you would for a residence card application.

Check which documents you’d provide for a residence card application if:

your family member is a British citizen and you lived together in an EU or EEA country (or Switzerland) before 1 January 2021 - known as a ‘Surinder Singh’ application

your family member is both a British citizen and an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, and lived in the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen before getting British citizenship

you used to have an EU, EEA or Swiss family member living in the UK - known as a ‘retained rights of residence’ application

you’re the primary carer of a British, EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

you’re the child of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who used to live and work in the UK, or their primary carer

When to apply

The deadline for most applications is 30 June 2021.

If you arrive in the UK on or after 1 April 2021, you must apply within 3 months of the date you arrive in the UK. If you apply after 30 June 2021, you’ll need to provide evidence of when you arrived in the UK, for example the travel ticket you used for your journey to the UK.

You’ll probably get a decision more quickly if you apply at the same time or after your family member applies.

Your family member will be given an application number when they apply. You can use this to ‘link’ your application to theirs, so that your applications are considered together.

If your partner is a Swiss citizen

You can apply as the spouse or civil partner of a Swiss citizen in the UK until 31 December 2025 if both of the following apply:

your relationship with them began between 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2025

you’re still in the relationship when you apply

If you’re the family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who has died

You might be eligible for settled status before you’ve been living in the UK for 5 years.

Your family member must have been working or self-employed in the UK at the time of their death. They must have been resident in the UK by 31 December 2020.

You must also have been living with them just before their death and either:

they lived continuously in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man for at least 2 years immediately before their death

their death was the result of an accident at work or an occupational disease

If you’re overseas and a family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen living in the UK

If you’re not living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you’ll still be able to apply if all of the following are true:

your family member was living in the UK by 31 December 2020

your relationship began by 31 December 2020 (unless you are a child born or adopted after that date)

you remain a close family member when you apply, for example a spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, a dependent child or grandchild, or a dependent parent or grandparent

If your family member is a British citizen (‘Surinder Singh’ applications)

The deadline for you to return to the UK depends on your relationship with the family member.

You must return and apply by 29 March 2022 if you’re:

their spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner and your relationship started before 1 February 2020

under 21 years old, and are their child or grandchild

21 years or older, and are their dependent child or grandchild

their dependent parent or grandparent

You must return by 31 December 2020, and apply by 30 June 2021, if you’re:

their spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner and your relationship started on or after 1 February 2020

another dependent relative

If you’re a spouse or civil partner, your dependent child, grandchild, parent or grandparent can also apply. They must return and apply by the same date as you.

If you're the family member of an eligible person of Northern Ireland

You can apply if you have a family member who is an eligible person of Northern Ireland, whether you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen or not.

For you to be eligible, the person of Northern Ireland who is your family member must:

be a British, Irish or dual British and Irish citizen

have been born in Northern Ireland

at the time of their birth, have at least one parent who held British, Irish or dual citizenship (or was without any restriction on their period of residence)

be living in the UK by 31 December 2020

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

You can choose whether you apply as either:

an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen - use the online service to apply

a family member of an eligible person from Northern Ireland - contact the EU Settlement Resolution Centre online

If you’re not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

You can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme using the online service.

If you’re outside the UK, you’ll need to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit to come to the UK. Once you’re in the UK you can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

If you have permanent residence or indefinite leave to remain

The process of applying to the EU Settlement Scheme is different if you have a permanent residence document or indefinite leave to enter or remain.

If you have a valid ‘UK permanent residence document’

If you have a valid UK permanent residence document, you’ll have one of the following:

a certificate inside your blue ‘residence documentation’ booklet (or pink if you’re a Swiss national)

a certificate inside your passport

a biometric residence card confirming permanent residence (only if you’re not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen)

Your document is not a permanent residence document if it has ‘registration certificate’ written on it.

If you’re from the EU, EEA or Switzerland your permanent residence document will say ‘Document Certifying Permanent Residence’.

If you’re not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, your biometric residence card will say ‘Permanent Residence Status’.

The EEA includes the EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

What you must do

To continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021 you must have either:

applied to the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021 - you will not have to prove you have 5 years’ continuous residence

been granted citizenship by 30 June 2021

If you have indefinite leave to enter or remain

Indefinite leave to enter or remain (ILR) are types of immigration status.

You’ll usually have applied for indefinite leave to enter or remain. You’ll have a stamp in your passport or a letter from the Home Office. You could also have a ‘vignette’ (sticker) or a biometric residence permit.

You can continue to live in the UK without applying to the EU Settlement Scheme if you have indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK. However, if you choose to apply (and meet all the other conditions), you’ll get ‘indefinite leave to remain under the EU Settlement Scheme’ - also known as settled status.

This means you should be able to spend up to 5 years in a row outside the UK without losing your settled status (instead of 2 years with the indefinite leave to enter or remain you have now).

If you’re a Swiss citizen, you and your family members can spend up to 4 years in a row outside the UK without losing your settled status.

You will not have to prove you have 5 years’ continuous residence.

If you moved to the UK before it joined the EU on 1 January 1973

You may have been given ILR automatically if you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who lived in the UK before 1973. If you were, you will not need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to stay in the UK after June 2021.

If you do not have a document confirming your ILR status, you can either:

apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to get settled or pre-settled status

apply to the Windrush scheme to get proof of your ILR status

If you’re from Malta or Cyprus, you could also apply for British citizenship through the Windrush scheme.

Applications for either scheme are free of charge.

If you stop working or start work in an EU country

You and your family members can get settled status with less than 5 years’ continuous residence in certain situations.

If you have to stop working

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen you may be able to get settled status if you have to stop working or being self-employed because of an accident or illness (known as ‘permanent incapacity’).

The EEA includes the EU countries and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

You may be able to get settled status if either:

you have lived continuously in the UK for the 2 years immediately beforehand

the permanent incapacity was the result of an accident at work or an occupational disease that entitles you to a pension from a UK institution

You can also get settled status if you’re married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen.

If you’re the family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen at the time they stopped working you may also be eligible for settled status.

If you reach State Pension age or retire early

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen you may be able to get settled status if you reach State Pension age or retire early.

If you’re the family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen at the time they reach State Pension age or retire early you may also be eligible for settled status.

If you reach State Pension age

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you can get settled status if you stopped working when you reached State Pension age and either:

you worked continuously or were self employed for 1 year beforehand and have lived continuously in the UK for 3 years

your spouse or civil partner is a British citizen

If you retire early

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen you can get settled status if you retire early and either:

you worked continuously (for someone other than yourself) for 1 year beforehand and have lived continuously in the UK for 3 years

If you start work or self-employment in an EU country

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen you can get settled status if you start work or self-employment in an EU country and you both:

have lived and worked or been self-employed in the UK continuously for 3 years beforehand

usually return to your UK home once a week

If you’re the family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen at the time they start work or self-employment in an EU country you may also be eligible for settled status.

After you've applied

If your application is successful, a letter will be emailed to you confirming your settled or pre-settled status.

Find out what rights you get for each status.

You cannot use the letter itself to prove your status.

Viewing and proving your status

You can view your status or prove it to someone else online. You will not usually get a physical document.

If you’re from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland

You will get a physical document if you do not already have a biometric residence card.

The document you get under the EU Settlement Scheme proves your rights in the UK only.

To travel to the EU, EEA or Switzerland with your EU, EEA or Swiss family member, you’ll need to apply for a visa for the country you want to visit. This will be free.

You can still prove your rights in the UK until 30 June 2021 with your passport or national identity card (if you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen), or with your biometric residence document.

If you already have a biometric residence card, you do not need to apply for a new one once you have settled or pre-settled status.

Updating your details

You must keep your details up to date, for example if you get a new passport.

Applying for citizenship

You’ll usually be able to apply for citizenship 12 months after you’ve got settled status.

If the Home Office finds a mistake in your application

The Home Office will contact you before making a decision on your application, so you can correct the error.

They’ll also tell you if you need to provide more evidence before they can make a decision.

If your application is unsuccessful

You can apply again at any time until 30 June 2021 if you think the decision should have been different, for example you got pre-settled status but expected to get settled status.

There’s no charge for this.

You can submit new information or evidence if you want to.

Apply for an administrative review

You may be able to apply for an administrative review of your application if you think there’s been a mistake. It costs £80 and you’ll usually get the result within 28 days.

You’ll get your money back if the original decision is changed because of an error.

You can submit new evidence as part of an administrative review but you will not get your money back if the decision is changed because of the new evidence.

Appeal the decision

You can also make an appeal to an independent tribunal. You can only appeal applications made after 11pm on 31 January 2020.

If you already have an outstanding immigration application

In most cases, your outstanding immigration application will not be considered if you apply for the EU Settlement Scheme. You’ll get a refund for your outstanding application.

Contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to find out how your outstanding immigration application will be affected.

More detailed guidance is available.

Switch from pre-settled status to settled status

If you have pre-settled status, you can stay in the UK for a further 5 years from the date you got your status.

You must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme again before your pre-settled status expires to stay in the UK.

When to apply

You can apply to switch to settled status as soon as you’re eligible. This is usually after you’ve lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for 5 years in a row (known as ‘continuous residence’).

The 5 years is counted from the day you first arrived in the UK. You do not need to have held pre-settled status for 5 years to apply.

You may not be eligible for settled status if during the 5 years you spent more than 6 months outside the UK in a 12 month period.

Find out more about continuous residence and if you’re eligible for settled status.

If you’re not eligible for settled status

If you’re not eligible for settled status because you spent more than 6 months outside the UK in a 12 month period, you may be able to get pre-settled status again.

Both of the following must apply:

the time you spent outside the UK was before 31 December 2020

you were back in the UK on or before 31 December 2020

You usually need to apply before 30 June 2021. There are different rules if you’re applying as the close family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.

If you cannot get pre-settled status again and your current status is about to expire, apply for a visa to stay in the UK.

What you’ll need

You can use the same proof you used to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme the first time.

Check what you’ll need to prove your identity and residence status.

If your pre-settled status was based on your relationship to a family member from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you’ll also need proof of your relationship to your EU, EEA or Swiss family member.

Apply to switch your status

It is free to apply.

Start now

After you’ve applied

If your application is successful, a letter will be emailed to you confirming your status.

If you’re given settled status

You can stay in the UK as long as you like. You’ll usually be able to apply for citizenship 12 months after you’ve got settled status.

If you’re given pre-settled status again

You can stay in the UK for a further 5 years from the date on your Home Office decision letter.

You can apply for settled status after you’ve lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for 5 years in a row (known as ‘continuous residence’).

Find out what to do if you think the decision should have been different.


Prove you have right of abode in the UK

Overview

Having right of abode means you’re allowed to live or work in the UK without any immigration restrictions, which means:

you will not need a visa to come to the UK

there’s no limit on the length of time you can spend in the country

All British citizens automatically have right of abode in the UK.

Some Commonwealth citizens may also have right of abode.

You can prove you have right of abode if you have a UK passport describing you as a British citizen or British subject with right of abode.

Otherwise you need to apply for a ‘certificate of entitlement’.

If you’re an EU citizen and you were living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living here after 30 June 2021. If you want to move to the UK from 1 January 2021, you may need to apply for a visa.

Commonwealth citizens

If you’re part of the ‘Windrush generation’ (also known as ‘Windrush cases’), there’s a different way to prove your right to live in the UK.

You may have right of abode in the UK either because of your parents or because you are or were married to someone with right of abode.

Parents

You have right of abode if all the following apply:

one of your parents was born in the UK and a citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies when you were born or adopted

you were a Commonwealth citizen on 31 December 1982

you did not stop being a Commonwealth citizen (even temporarily) at any point after 31 December 1982

Marriage

You can only get right to abode through marriage if you’re a female Commonwealth citizen.

You must have:

been married to someone with right of abode before 1 January 1983

not stopped being a Commonwealth citizen (even temporarily) at any point after 31 December 1982

You usually will not have right of abode if the person you were married to has another living wife or widow who:

is in the UK, or has been in the UK at any time since her marriage (unless they entered the country illegally, came as a visitor or only have temporary permission to stay)

has a certificate of entitlement to right of abode or permission to enter the UK because of her marriage

However, you may still have right of abode if:

you entered the UK while married and before 1 August 1988, even if your husband has other wives in the UK

you’ve been in the UK since your marriage and at that time were your husband’s only wife to have legally entered the UK or been given permission to do so

Apply for a certificate of entitlement

You can apply for a certificate of entitlement to prove you have right of abode in the UK. It goes in your passport.

You need to apply for a new certificate when your passport expires.

How you apply for a certificate of entitlement depends on whether you’re inside or outside the UK.

You cannot get a certificate if you already have a British passport or a valid certificate of entitlement in another foreign passport.

Apply in the UK, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man

A certificate of entitlement costs £372 in the UK.

Read the guidance to check you can apply.

Fill in the form online. You’ll usually be able to keep your documents while your application is being processed.

You can also apply in other ways.

Get help to apply online

You can get help with completing the online form if you:

do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device

do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you’re applying in the UK.

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

Apply from outside the UK or from a British overseas territory

If you are not in the UK, or you live in a British overseas territory, you must apply online.

A certificate of entitlement costs £388 outside the UK.

North Korea

You cannot apply online if you’re living in North Korea.

To apply from North Korea you must:

download the application form and guidance - read the guidance if you need help filling in the form

read the instructions to find out where to take your completed form

If your application is refused

Your application fee will not be refunded if your application is refused because you do not qualify for right of abode or you do not send in enough evidence to support your claim.

Appeals

You’ll be told how you can appeal if your application is rejected.

You will not have a right of appeal if your rejected application was received on or after 6 April 2015.

If you made your application in the UK, you can apply to have your application reconsidered if you think UKVI did not make the decision in line with the law or their policy.


Settlement: refugee or humanitarian protection

Overview

You can apply to settle in the UK (known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) if you’ve got a residence card as a:

refugee

person with humanitarian protection

Check if you’re eligible in the relevant category.

Fees

There’s no fee for applying for settlement as a refugee or person who’s been given humanitarian protection.

Family members

You may be able to include your partner and any children on your settlement application if they’re already in the UK as your dependants. This includes children born in the UK.

Check if your family member is eligible.

If your application is successful, your family members will have the same permission to stay in the UK as you do.

If you cannot include your family members on your settlement application

If your family was formed before you left your country, your partner and children can apply to be reunited with you in the UK.

Your family members must apply for a visa to join you in the UK if one of the following is true:

they’re not eligible to apply as a partner or a child

your family was formed after you left your country

If your application is successful, your family members will have permission to stay in the UK for the same length of time as you.

Eligibility

You can apply after 5 years in the UK as either:

a refugee

someone with humanitarian protection

If your application is refused

Your settlement application may be refused if you’ve got a criminal record or been in prison - read why applications are refused.

If you still need humanitarian protection or are a refugee, you can stay in the UK for 3 more years. Your refusal letter will explain what you’ve been offered instead of settlement.

Apply

You must apply online. You’ll be told what documents you need to provide when you apply.

Get help using a computer to apply online

You can get help with:

accessing a computer or the internet

finding the right information on GOV.UK

You cannot get advice on:

whether you’re eligible to apply

what information to put in your application

an application you’ve already made

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo).

Any children aged 6 and over who are applying on your form must also provide biometric information.

You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

upload them to the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

You must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

When to apply

You should apply during the last month of your current permission to be in the UK.

Fees

There’s no fee for applying for settlement as a refugee or person with humanitarian protection.

Family reunion

Your partner or child may be able to join or stay with you in the UK if:

you were part of a family before you were forced to leave your country

you have refugee status, 5 years’ humanitarian protection or settlement on protection grounds but do not yet have British citizenship

Your partner or child cannot join you if:

you have not received a decision on your asylum claim

you’re under 18

If their application is successful, your family members will be allowed to come to or stay in the UK with the same permission as you.

Eligibility

Your partner and any children must meet the following requirements.

Partner

Your partner is someone you’re in a genuine relationship with. You must be able to prove one of the following:

you’re married

you’re in a civil partnership

If you’re not married or in a civil partnership, your partner may be able to join you if:

you were given refugee status or humanitarian protection on or after 9 October 2006

you’ve lived together in a relationship like in a marriage or civil partnership for 2 years and you’ve been given asylum or humanitarian protection after 9 October 2006

You and your partner must intend to live together and continue your relationship after they apply.

Children

Your child is:

under the age of 18

going to live with you and your partner

not married or in a civil partnership

Apply outside the UK

Your partner or child must apply online for family reunion.

You can apply on behalf of your child but, in most cases, your partner must make their own application.

They’ll also have to complete application form VAF4A with Appendix 4.

They’ll need to have their fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at a visa application centre as part of their application.

North Korea

Your partner or child cannot apply online if they’re applying from North Korea.

They need to download application form VAF4A with Appendix 4.

They should read the guidance on filling in the form and the instructions for North Korea.

Apply in the UK

Your partner or child can apply to stay with you in the UK if all the following are true:

you have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK

they’re making their first application to stay with you and they’re already in the UK

they can prove their relationship pre-dates your departure from your home country because of persecution

They must apply by letter to:

When your family member applies, they’ll be asked to make an appointment at a Service and Support Centre to provide their biometric information (their fingerprints and a photo) and have their supporting documents checked.

Fees

There’s no fee for applying for family reunion for eligible family members.

Family applying as dependants

If you’re a refugee or have humanitarian protection, your family members can apply for settlement on the same form as you if they’re already in the UK.

Family members are:

your partner (husband, wife, civil partner or the person you’ve been in a genuine relationship with for 2 years before applying to settle)

your child or children - born in the UK or abroad

Eligibility

Your family members must either have been given permission to be in the UK with you:

as your dependant, at the same time you were granted asylum or Humanitarian Protection

using the family reunion route

A child of yours born in the UK who is not a British citizen is also eligible.

You need to provide evidence of your relationship - check the application form.

Children over 18

You can only include your children over 18 in your settlement application if:

they were granted as your dependant when you got your original grant of asylum and leave to enter or remain

they were granted leave to enter or remain by applying for family reunion

Other exceptions

You cannot include a partner or other dependant who:

already has permission to be in the UK in another category

is currently in the UK without permission

Apply

Get help using a computer to apply online

You can get help with:

accessing a computer or the internet

finding the right information on GOV.UK

You cannot get advice on:

whether you’re eligible to apply

what information to put in your application

an application you’ve already made

upload them to the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

When to apply

Fees

There’s no fee for applying for settlement for a family member.

If your application is refused

If you have a criminal record or have been in prison, you may be refused settlement.


Indefinite leave to remain if you have an Innovator visa

Overview

You may be eligible for indefinite leave to remain if you have an Innovator visa.

You cannot apply until March 2022 at the earliest - 3 years after this way to settle was introduced.

Indefinite leave to remain is how you settle in the UK. It gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible. You can use it to apply for British citizenship.

Eligibility

You must have:

lived in the UK for 3 years using an Innovator visa - you cannot include time spent in the UK using any other visa

a new endorsement that shows you’ve met the requirements for growing your business

Knowledge of life in the UK

If you’re 18 to 64 you must pass the Life in the UK Test.

Time outside the UK

You must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months.

If you think you’re affected by this rule, find out how to calculate your time in the UK (‘continuous residence’).

When to apply

You’ll be able to apply 28 days before you’re eligible. Your application may be refused if you apply earlier.

Do not wait until your current visa expires. If your visa expires before you can apply for indefinite leave to remain, you’ll need to renew it first.

Fees and how long it takes

It costs £2,389 for each person applying. You can include your partner and children on the same application form, if they’re eligible.

You also need to pay £19.20 per person to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken.

You’ll usually get a decision within 6 months.

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example:

if your supporting documents need to be verified

if you need to attend an interview

because of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

Getting endorsed

Before you can apply, you must show an approved body that you’ve grown your business.

If you meet the criteria, the body will give you an endorsement letter to show that you’re eligible for indefinite leave to remain.

Once you’ve got your letter, you must apply for indefinite leave to remain within 3 months.

You do not need to use the same body that endorsed you for your Innovator visa.

Endorsement requirements

You must be actively managing and developing the business.

Your business must be:

registered with Companies House, and you’re either the director or a member

currently trading, and be able to continue for at least the next 12 months

Your business must have done 2 of the following:

had £50,000 of investment, which you’ve spent on developing the business

doubled the number of customers in the last 3 years - and this number is higher than the average for similar businesses

applied for intellectual property protection in the UK

made £1 million revenue in the last full year covered by accounts

made £500,000 revenue in the last full year covered by accounts, with £100,000 of this from exporting overseas

created the equivalent of 10 full-time jobs that have existed for 12 months

created the equivalent of 5 full-time jobs that have existed for 12 months, with an average salary of £25,000 a year

You may have already met some of these criteria when you applied for your visa.

If you’ve created jobs

The jobs you’ve created must be for ‘settled workers’. A settled worker is someone who was one of the following when they started working for you:

a British citizen

an EEA citizen who was living in the UK and working for you by 31 December 2020

a Commonwealth citizen with a UK Ancestry visa

someone with indefinite leave to remain or settled status

Family members

You can include your partner and children on your application if they’re eligible.

Your partner and children can apply separately at a later date, for example if they’re not eligible yet. They can continue to extend their visa as your dependant, even after you get indefinite leave to remain.

Eligibility for partners

Your partner may qualify if all of the following apply:

they have permission to be in the UK as your partner (as a ‘dependant’ on your Innovator visa)

they’ve lived in the UK with you as your dependant for at least 5 continuous years

your relationship is genuine

you intend to keep living together

you have enough income to support yourselves and your dependants

you’re not using public funds (benefits)

Your partner can include time they’ve spent as your dependant on another visa to count towards the continuous years they need to qualify. They cannot count any time spent on their own visa (not as your dependant).

Your partner must also:

pass the Life in the UK Test

meet the English language requirements

Eligibility for children

You can include children as dependants on your application if:

they have permission to be in the UK as your child (as a ‘dependant’ on your visa)

they are not married, in a civil partnership or living an independent life

they will live with you and be supported by you without relying on public funds (benefits)

you and your child’s other parent are both currently applying to settle, or are already settled

Your child can also apply to settle in one of the following situations:

you’re the child’s sole surviving parent

you have sole responsibility for your child, or they normally live with you

there are serious or compelling reasons why they should be allowed to stay, for example you or your child has a serious illness

Extra documents for children over 16

You’ll need to prove:

where they live - if they do not live with you, you’ll need to explain why

any rent or upkeep they pay you each month

that you support them financially if they do not live with you

You’ll need to provide 2 documents from this list to prove where they live:

bank statement

credit card bill

driving licence

NHS registration document

a letter from their current school, college or university, on headed paper and issued by an authorised official of that organisation

The documents you provide cannot be more than a month old on the date you make your application.

If your child lives away from home, you’ll need to provide:

bank statements for you and your child covering the 3 months before the date you apply (to prove you’ve supported them)

confirmation from their university or college on headed paper and issued by an authorised official (if they’re studying)

Children 18 and over

You can only include older children in your application if they both:

were under 18 when they got permission to be in the UK as your dependant

still do not live an independent life - for example, they have not got married or had children

They also need to:

pass the Life in the UK Test

meet the English language requirements

If your child is over 18 by the time you apply and does not meet these requirements, they must apply separately.

How to apply

You cannot apply for indefinite leave to remain using an Innovator visa until March 2022 at the earliest.

Other ways to stay in the UK

If you’re not eligible to apply using an Innovator visa, you may be able to stay in the UK another way. Check if you can:

extend your permission to stay in the UK

use a different way to apply for indefinite leave to remain


Apply for settlement if you're a Turkish Worker or Businessperson

Overview

You can apply for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) if you’re in the UK on a:

Turkish Worker visa

Turkish Businessperson visa

Your family members (‘dependants’) can also apply for settlement.

Fees

The application fee is £2,389.

You also need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken.

If you have family members applying for settlement with you, you’ll need to pay the £2,389 application fee and the £19.20 biometric information fee for each person.

If your partner is applying to extend their visa, their fee is £1,033 instead. They’ll need to pay the healthcare surcharge.

How long you can stay

Getting indefinite leave to remain means you can continue to live and work in the UK for as long as you like. It will mean you’re eligible:

to take up any job

to run a business

for public services, such as healthcare and schools

for public funds and pensions

for British citizenship, if you meet the requirements

Eligibility

To be eligible to settle in the UK, you must have:

passed the Life in the UK test

registered with the police if you were told to

been living and working in the UK for the last 5 years without receiving public funds

spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months in the last 5 years

You must continue to run a business if you’re on a Turkish Businessperson visa.

Your application might be refused if, for example, you’ve:

got a criminal record in the UK or another country

provided false or incomplete information to the Home Office

broken UK immigration law

Read the guidance on why applications can be refused.

Documents you must provide

You must provide:

a current passport or other valid travel identification

previous passports showing you’ve been living legally in the UK for the past 5 years - if your current passport does not show this

the unique reference code that proves you passed the English language requirement

your police registration certificate covering the past 5 years (unless you did not need to register)

If you’re a Turkish Businessperson

You’ll also need to prove that you’re continuing to run a business. You might need to provide documents, such as:

invoices showing work done

business bank statements

proof of National Insurance contributions - if appropriate

advertising materials

proof of renting or having purchased business premises

Family members

Your family members (‘dependants’) can also apply to settle or extend their visa if they are:

your partner (husband, wife, civil partner or the person you’ve been in a genuine relationship with for 5 years before applying to settle)

your child under 21 or in limited circumstances over 21 (including children born in the UK)

Partners applying for indefinite leave to remain

If your partner is applying for indefinite leave to remain, they must:

have been granted leave as your dependant

have lived in the UK with you for a continuous period of 5 years

have met the knowledge of language and Life in the UK test

Partners applying to extend their visa

If you already have indefinite leave to remain, but your partner has not been here for 5 years on your visa they can apply to extend their visa.

For your partner to qualify, they must:

have last been granted entry clearance or leave to remain as your dependant

be living together with you in a genuine relationship

be living in suitable accommodation which you maintain without access to public funds

be registered with the police if they were told to

Children applying for indefinite leave to remain

For your children or child to apply for indefinite leave to remain, they must:

apply at the same time as both parents, or where both parents are settled already

not be married, in a civil partnership, have formed an independent family unit or be leading an independent life

have met the knowledge of language requirement and Life in the UK test - if they’re 18 or over

have registered with the police if they were told to and are 16 or over

Your child may also be able to apply if one of the following applies:

you’re the child’s only living parent

you have sole responsibility for them

there are serious reasons to let your child stay in the UK, for example they have a serious illness

their other parent is in the UK legally

If you already have indefinite leave to remain, your child may be eligible to apply if their other parent is extending a Turkish visa.

Documents your family need to provide

Each family member must provide:

2 passport size colour photographs

proof of your relationship, for example a marriage or birth certificate, council tax bills or bank statements

proof they will live permanently with you, for example letters from your child’s school or their doctor

proof that you have sole responsibility for any children aged under 21 if the other parent will not be in the UK (for example, written permission or relevant legal documents)

Apply

You can apply to settle in the UK (indefinite leave to remain). Your family members (‘dependants’) can also apply to settle or extend their visa. You must be in the UK to apply.

You must apply online.

Get help using a computer to apply online

You can get help with:

accessing a computer or the internet

finding the right information on GOV.UK

You cannot get advice on:

whether you’re eligible to apply

what information to put in your application

an application you’ve already made

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo).

Any children aged 6 and over who you’ve included in your application form must also provide biometric information.

You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.


Derivative residence cards

Overview

You can no longer apply for a derivative residence card. If you already have a card, it will not be valid after 30 June 2021.

If you applied for a derivative residence card before 1 January 2021, you will get a decision on your application within 6 months.

Living in the UK after 30 June 2021

You can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme if you were living in the UK by 31 December 2020 and you’re one of the following:

a child of the primary carer of a British, EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

a child of a former worker from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you’re currently in education

Being a ‘primary carer’ means you’re someone’s main carer, or you share the responsibility with someone else at least equally, and you’re their direct relative or legal guardian.

If you want to move to the UK on or after 1 January 2021, check if you need a UK visa.

If you have a derivative residence card

Until 30 June 2021, you can still use your card to:

help you re-enter the country quicker when you come back from abroad

show employers you’re allowed to work in the UK

show relevant authorities (for example your local council) that you’re allowed to live in the UK

Your card has not arrived

Email the Home Office on BRCDelivery@homeoffice.gov.uk if you have not received your derivative residence card within 10 working days of the date on your decision letter.

Include the following in your email:

your full name, date of birth and nationality

your passport number

your case reference number

a contact telephone number

your delivery address

Correct mistakes on your card

Email the Home Office on BRCError@homeoffice.gov.uk within 10 days of receiving your derivative residence card if there’s a mistake on it.

Include the following in your email:

your passport number

your derivative residence card reference number

your case reference number

a contact telephone number

details of exactly what information is wrong

Report a lost or stolen card

Your card has been lost or stolen

Email BRCLost@homeoffice.gov.uk immediately if your derivative residence card has been lost or stolen. You must include:

your contact details

your passport number

your police case reference number

when, where and how the loss or theft occurred

You must contact the police to report the loss or theft and get a police case reference number.

Your card is damaged

Report a damaged card to BRCError@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Include the following in your email:

your contact details

your passport number

what the damage is

You can also send this information by post.

Replacement derivative residence cards

You can no longer apply for a replacement derivative residence card.

If your card is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, you’ll need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

If your passport has expired

You cannot transfer your card to a new passport.

You can still use your existing card if it’s valid, but when you travel you must also show both:

your new passport

your old passport, if it includes your derivative residence card


Prove your knowledge of English for citizenship and settling

Overview

You might need to prove your knowledge of the English language if you’re 18 or over and applying for citizenship or to settle in the UK (known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’).

You can prove it by having either:

an English qualification at B1, B2, C1 or C2 level

a degree taught or researched in English

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English in certain circumstances.

Your citizenship or settlement application will be refused if you send the wrong qualifications.

If you need more time

If you’re already in the UK you may be able to extend your permission to stay, so that you can prove your knowledge of English.

Check the guide for your current visa for instructions on how to apply for an extension.

Who does not need to prove their knowledge of English

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re:

aged 65 or over

unable to, because of a long-term physical or mental condition

You must provide a completed exemption form from a doctor confirming your physical or mental condition.

Nationalities that are exempt

You will not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a citizen of:

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

The Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Canada

Dominica

Grenada

Guyana

Jamaica

Ireland (for citizenship only)

Malta

New Zealand

St Kitts and Nevis

St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

USA

If you’re from a country that’s not on the list you’ll need to prove your knowledge of English, even if English is an official language.

If you’re applying for citizenship

There are no other exemptions if you’re applying to become a British citizen. You must have a relevant English language qualification even if you were exempt when you were granted settlement.

Exemptions if you’re applying to settle

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re applying as:

a victim of domestic violence as the partner or spouse of a British citizen or someone settled in the UK

the partner or spouse of a person who has died who was either a British citizen or someone settled in the UK

an adult dependent relative between 18 and 64 of someone who is present and settled in the UK, is a refugee or has humanitarian protection

a refugee living in the UK

someone living in the UK with discretionary leave

someone living in the UK for with humanitarian protection

someone who has permission to stay in the UK as a retired person of independent means

a Commonwealth citizen on discharge from HM Forces, including Gurkhas

someone in exceptional circumstances, for example as an orphan, widow or over-age dependant

Approved English language qualifications

You can prove your knowledge of English by having a recognised English test qualification from an approved test centre.

You need to have a certificate to prove you have the qualification, or be able to view your results online.

You can only use English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualifications if they’re on the list. You cannot use other qualifications, for example GCSEs, A levels or National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs).

If your qualification has run out

Some recognised test qualifications only last for 2 years. You can still use a B1 level qualification that you took more than 2 years ago in 2 situations.

Applying for citizenship

You can use a B1 level qualification that’s run out if you’re applying for citizenship and it was accepted when you settled in the UK.

It does not matter if the B1 level test you took is not on the current list of recognised tests. You do not need to take another test.

Applying to settle in the UK

You can use a B1 level qualification that’s run out if both of the following are true:

it’s on the current list of recognised tests

it was accepted for another UK immigration application, for example when you got permission to enter

If your degree was taught or researched in English

You can prove your knowledge of English by having a degree that was taught or researched in English.

If your degree is from a UK university, you only need your degree certificate.

If your degree is not from a UK university you’ll need:

a copy of your degree certificate

an Academic Qualification Level Statement (AQUALS) from Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) confirming the degree is equivalent to a UK qualification.

If your degree is from a non-majority English-speaking country you’ll also need an English Language Proficiency Statement (ELPS) from Ecctis confirming the degree was taught in English.

If you’ve lost your certificate or you’re waiting for graduation

You must have proof that you’ve passed your degree. This can be either:

an official transcript with your name, the name of the institution, your degree and confirmation of the award

an official letter from your university confirming it cannot reissue your certificate or when it will be issued

Your letter must include:

your name

your degree

the date the degree was or will be awarded


Life in the UK Test

Book the Life in the UK Test

This is the only official government service for booking the Life in the UK Test. You need to take the test as part of your application for British citizenship or settlement in the UK.

You must book your Life in the UK Test online at least 3 days in advance. It costs £50.

There are over 30 test centres in the UK. You can choose where to take your test when you book.

Prepare for the test

You’ll be tested on information in the official handbook for the Life in the UK Test. You should study it to prepare for the test. The handbook is available as a book, an eBook, an e-Learning subscription or in audio formats.

You’ll have 45 minutes to answer 24 questions about British traditions and customs.

Book the test

You need all of the following to book a test:

email address

debit or credit card

an accepted form of ID

Start now

Accepted forms of ID

You can use one of the following as ID to book the test:

valid passport

valid travel document with a photo (you cannot use an emergency travel document)

biometric residence permit

biometric residence card

Check the ‘Identification requirements’ document to make sure the ID you have is acceptable.

Email nationalityenquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk for help if you do not have any of these documents.

The name you give on your test booking must be an exact match with the name on the ID you use to book the test.

If you have a previous gender (including a different name) that you do not want the test centre staff to see or for it to show on your test result, email sensitivebookings@homeoffice.gov.uk before booking your test. They’ll tell you what you need to do.

If you have a disability

You can make special requests when you book your test, for example if you have a disability and need extra equipment or help accessing the centre.

Get help

Contact the Life in the UK Test Helpline if you need help with your booking.

When you do not need to take the test

You do not need to take the test if you:

are under 18

are 65 or over

have passed it before - for example, if you’re applying to become a citizen and already passed it as part of your settlement application

have a long-term physical or mental condition - you must provide either a form or letter from a doctor confirming your physical or mental condition

If you’re an EU citizen and you were living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living here after 30 June 2021. If you want to move to the UK from 1 January 2021, you may need to apply for a visa.

What happens at the test

You have 45 minutes to answer 24 questions based on the Life in the UK handbook.

You cannot bring children or other family members with you to the centre.

What to bring to your test

You must bring the same ID that you used to book the test. Your photo will also be taken on the day to confirm your ID.

You will not be able to take the test and you will not get a refund if you do not bring the correct ID or if you refuse to have your photo taken.

If you pass the test

You must score 75% or more to pass the test.

You’ll get a ‘unique reference number’. You’ll need this number to complete your citizenship or settlement application. The Home Office will use it to check that you’ve passed.

If you took your test before 17 December 2019, you’ll have a letter with a ‘test reference ID’ instead of a unique reference number.

If you have lost your letter, send a letter explaining that you have lost it with your citizenship or settlement application.

If you fail the test

You must wait 7 days before taking the test again, but you can take the test as many times as you need to. You need to book and pay again each time.

Cancellations, refunds and complaints

You must cancel your test if you cannot make it.

You’ll get a refund if you cancel your test at least 3 days (72 hours) before you’re due to take the test. You will not get a refund if you cancel or rearrange within 3 days of your test.

How to cancel

Sign into your Life in the UK account.

Select ‘Confirmed tests’.

Select ‘Cancel tests’.

If you’re eligible for a refund due to cancellation, the £50 fee will be refunded to the card you used to book the test - you do not need to contact UK Visas and Immigration.

You can then book a test on another date.

Ask for a refund

You can ask for a refund if the test centre cancels the test.

You cannot ask for a refund for any other reason, for example if you brought the wrong ID, you were ill, you were late, you did not bring the right documents or you refused to have your photo taken.

You must ask for a refund within 3 months of the test date. The fee will be refunded to the card you used to book the test.

Contact PSI to ask for a refund.

Or write to PSI e-Assessments.

Make a complaint

Contact PSI to make a complaint.

You’ll get a response within 10 working days.

You must make your complaint within 3 months of the test date.