British National (Overseas) visa

Overview

If you’re from Hong Kong and are a British national (overseas) you and your family members can apply for a British National (Overseas) visa. This is known as a BNO visa. It allows you to live, work and study in the UK.

Who can apply

You can apply for a BNO visa if you’re:

a British national (overseas)

18 or older

Your permanent home must be:

in Hong Kong, if you’re applying from outside the UK

in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Hong Kong if you’re applying in the UK

Your family members

Your family members can apply for a BNO visa if they (Your family members)’re eligible. They (Your family members) must usually apply at the same time as you.

Check if your family members can apply.

How long you can stay

You can apply to stay for either:

2 years and 6 months

5 years

You will be able to extend your visa if you want to stay longer. You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you want.

After you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years, you can apply to live in the UK permanently.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

work (except you cannot work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach)

study (including at school, college or university)

You cannot usually apply for most benefits (public funds).

Once you have a BNO visa, you might be able to apply for access to benefits. You’ll be eligible for this in certain financial circumstances, for example if you:

do not have a place to live and cannot afford one

have a place to live but cannot afford essential living costs like food or heating

are at risk of losing your place to live or being unable to afford essential living costs

have a very low income, and not having access to benefits would harm your child’s wellbeing

How much it costs

When you apply for a British National (Overseas) visa, you must:

pay the visa application fee

pay the healthcare surcharge

prove that you have enough money to support yourself and your family members for at least 6 months while you’re in the UK

Visa application fee

You and your family members will each need to pay a visa application fee (the visa application fee).

It (the visa application fee) costs:

£180 if you’re applying for 2 years and 6 months

£250 if you’re applying for 5 years

As part of your application, you might need to go to an appointment to give your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo). This (the visa application fee) will cost £19.20.

Healthcare surcharge

You and your family members will each need to pay the healthcare surcharge (Healthcare surcharge).

This (Healthcare surcharge) is so you can use the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. You’ll still need to pay for some NHS care such as prescriptions, dental care and eye tests.

For each adult (18 or older) it (Healthcare surcharge) costs:

£1,560 if you’re staying for 2 years and 6 months

£3,120 if you’re staying for 5 years

For each child (under 18), it costs:

£1,175 if you’re staying for 2 years and 6 months

£2,350 if you’re staying for 5 years

You pay the healthcare surcharge (Healthcare surcharge) as part of your online visa application.

Money to support yourself and your family

You’ll need to show you have enough money to pay for your housing and to support yourself and your family for 6 months.

This (Money to support yourself and your family) can include:

your income and savings as well as your family member’s

money you will earn in your current job in the UK

money you will earn if you’re transferring to a job in the UK with your current employer

an offer of help from family or friends

You usually do not need to show you have enough money to support yourself if you’ve been living in the UK for 12 months or more. You’ll still need to show this if you’ve been in the UK on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa.

As well as money for housing costs, you’ll need at least the same amount as someone would get on Income Support in the UK.

How much you need depends on how many family members are applying with you. For example, you’ll need about:

£2,000 as a single adult

£3,100 as a couple with a child

£4,600 as a couple with 3 children

£9,200 as a couple with 2 parents and 2 adult children

Check what documents you need to show this.

Your family members

If you’re a British national (overseas), your family members can apply as your ‘dependant’ if they (Your family members) normally live with you.

A dependant can include your:

husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner

child or grandchild under 18

child 18 or older, born on or after 1 July 1997 (and their partner or child under 18)

parent, grandparent, brother, sister, son or daughter (18 or older) if they (Your family members) live with you and are very dependent on you for their (Your family members) care

When you apply, you and your family member will need to provide evidence of your relationship and that you normally live together.

Partners

Partners must be 18 or older to apply. They can be either:

your partner

your adult child’s partner

They’ll need to prove that they’re either:

in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK

in a relationship and have been living with their partner for at least 2 years when they apply

Children under 18

All children under 18 need to apply with both parents, unless one parent or grandparent has sole responsibility for them.

The child (All children under 18) must normally live with you, unless they (All children under 18)’re living away from home to study.

Children 18 or older

You or your partner’s child (18 or older) can apply as your dependant if they were born on or after 1 July 1997. They must apply at the same time as you.

They (your partner’s child (18 or older)) must normally live with you, unless they (your partner’s child (18 or older))’re living away from home to study.

If they (your partner’s child (18 or older))’re not eligible for a BNO visa, they (your partner’s child (18 or older)) may be able to apply for another visa to come to the UK to work or study. Check what visa they (your partner’s child (18 or older)) need.

Other family members who live with you

Other adult family members (18 or older) can only apply if they are very dependent on you for their care. For example, they rely on your care to perform everyday tasks because of illness or disability.

This includes your or your partner’s:

parent or grandparent

brother or sister

son or daughter

If eligible, they can apply as an ‘adult dependent relative’. They must apply at the same time as you.

How long family members can stay

Your family member will need to apply for the same BNO visa as you, for either:

2 years and 6 months

5 years

How to apply with your family

Each family member will need to make their own application as your dependant.

As a British national (overseas), you’ll need to submit your application first to get an application number. This is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN).

Your family members will need to use your application number (an application number) when they apply, and submit it (an application number) within 2 days of your application.

If you have technical problems that mean your family members might not be able to apply within 2 days of you, contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for help.

If your partner or child cannot apply within 2 days

If your partner or child under 18 cannot apply within 2 days of you, they (your partner or child) might still be able to apply later as your dependant. This will only be allowed in cases where they could not apply when you did, for example if:

you start a new relationship when you have a BNO visa

your child was born after you got your BNO visa (a BNO visa)

your partner cannot travel when you apply, for example because of medical needs

They (your partner) may be asked to give evidence to show they (your partner) could not apply within 2 days of your application. Your visa must still be valid when they (your partner) apply to be your dependant.

Apply online

Your family members can either:

apply from outside the UK

apply in the UK

Documents you’ll need to apply

When you apply you’ll need to provide a valid passport or other travel document that shows your identity and nationality.

If you’re a British national (overseas) (BNO), you can use a current or expired BNO passport (or a photocopy) to show your BNO status when you apply.

If you no longer have a BNO passport you can still apply. The Home Office will check your status (your BNO status) but it may take longer to get a decision on your application.

You do not need a BNO passport to travel to the UK. You can use any valid passport or travel document.

You’ll also need to provide evidence:

that you have a permanent home in Hong Kong, the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man

that you have enough money to support yourself and your family

of your relationship with family members

of your tuberculosis (TB) test certificate, if you did not already provide it when you arrived the UK

You must provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English.

Proof of your permanent home address

You’ll need to provide up to 3 documents that show your permanent home address. This can include:

household or utility bills

a visa, residence permit or other immigration document (or a colour photocopy)

payslips or your most recent P60

bank statements

a letter from an employer confirming your employment

records of rent or mortgage payments

an appointment letter from your GP or other healthcare professional

a letter from the local council or a government

Your family members (‘dependants’) will need to provide evidence that their permanent home address (your permanent home address) is the same as yours.

Proof you have enough money to support yourself and your family

You usually need to show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family (dependants) for 6 months in the UK - unless you’ve been living in the UK for at least 12 months.

If you’ve been in the UK for 12 months or more on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa, you still need to show you have enough money to support yourself and your family.

This (show) includes proving you have the money to pay for accommodation or an offer of accommodation from friends or family.

If you’re applying with family, evidence can include you and your family member’s income or savings.

You might need to provide evidence such as:

bank or savings account statements

payslips

proof of income from self-employment

proof of income from rental property

a letter from friends or family with evidence (such as bank statements or payslips) that they (Your family members (‘dependants’)) have the money to support you and your family (yourself and your family)

a letter confirming an offer of accommodation from friends or family

a tenancy or mortgage agreement

At least one piece of evidence must be dated no more than 31 days before you submit your application.

An offer of work does not usually count as evidence unless you’re transferring to a job in the UK with your current employer.

Evidence of your relationship with family members

If you’re applying with family members from your household, you’ll need to provide evidence of your relationship with them.

For example:

a copy of a marriage or civil partnership certificate

a birth certificate or adoption certificate for children

evidence that their (family members from your household) permanent home address is the same as yours

When you need a TB test certificate

Whether you need a certificate depends on where you’re applying from.

If you’re applying from outside the UK

If you’ve been living in Hong Kong or another country where you have to take a TB test for the past 6 months, you must provide a TB certificate.

If you’re already in the UK

If you provided a TB certificate to come to the UK, you do not need to show one again.

Otherwise, you’ll need to provide a TB test certificate to stay in the UK if you came from Hong Kong or another country where you have to take the TB test (a TB test).

Getting a TB test certificate

You might not be able to get a TB test (a TB test) appointment straight away. If you apply for your visa without a certificate, you might not get your certificate by the time your application is being considered.

If you wait until you have your certificate before you apply for your visa, you can avoid the risk of your application being looked at before you get your certificate.

The certificate (your certificate) must be no older than 6 months when you apply for your visa.

Your test certificate must be from an approved test centre abroad or an approved test centre in the UK.

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for a British National (Overseas) visa.

Your permanent home must be in Hong Kong.

Before you apply, you can check:

what documents you’ll need to apply

how to apply with your family

Apply online

As part of your online application, you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on what type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your BNO, HKSAR or EEA passport - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

go to an appointment at a visa application centre to give your fingerprints and a photo - this is to get a biometric residence permit

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply. If you’re applying with a family member, your applications will be processed together even if you prove your identity in different ways.

If you need to go to an appointment:

the centre may have to keep your passport and documents while they process your application

you may need to travel to get to your nearest visa application centre (this could be in another country)

If you use a valid BNO or Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) (Hong Kong) passport to prove your identity, you do not need to travel to the UK using the same passport (your BNO, HKSAR or EEA passport).

Apply now

Continue your application

You can continue your application if you’ve saved it (your application). To do this, sign in to your account (your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account) using the link from your sign-up email.

After you apply

UKVI (your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)) aims to make a decision on your application within 12 weeks.

If you applied using the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app, the 12 weeks (12 weeks) starts from the date you submitted your online application (your application).

If you went to a visa application centre, the 12 weeks (12 weeks) starts from the date you attended your appointment and submitted your fingerprints.

Your application may take longer to process if:

your supporting documents need to be verified or you need to provide more evidence

you need to attend an interview

you do not have a valid tuberculosis (TB) certificate

you have a criminal conviction for an offence that is recognised in the UK

you’re applying as a family group, and one or more of your family members has to go to a visa application centre

If you need to change or cancel your application

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it (your application), contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) (your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)).

You can ask to cancel your application. Your fee will only be refunded if UKVI (your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)) has not started processing your application.

After you get a decision

You’ll get a letter or an email containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

Find out what happens after you get your decision (the decision on your application).

If your application is successful

You must travel to the UK:

within 90 days, if you went to a visa application centre to prove your identity

before your visa expires, if you used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ smartphone app to prove your identity

Children under 18 must travel with one or both parents, unless they’re joining their parents who are already in the UK.

If your application is unsuccessful

If you’re a British national (overseas) and your application is unsuccessful, your family members’ applications will also be refused. If your application is successful but your family member’s is not, you can still come to the UK.

You’ll get a refund for the healthcare surcharge you paid for each unsuccessful application.

Apply in the UK

You must apply online for a British National (Overseas) visa.

Your permanent home must be in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Hong Kong.

Before you apply, you can check:

what documents you’ll need to apply

how to apply with your family

Switch to a BNO visa

If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply to switch to a BNO visa if you’re already in the UK on a different UK visa.

Your family members will usually need to apply at the same time as you. Check how to apply with your family.

Apply online

You’ll either:

use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your BNO, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR (Hong Kong)) (Hong Kong) or EEA passport - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

go to a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to give your fingerprints and a photo - this is to get a biometric residence permit

Apply now

Continue an application

You can continue your application (an application) if you’ve saved it (an application). To do this (Continue), you can sign in to your account using the link from your sign-up email.

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 for a visa in the UK.

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

After you apply

UKVI aims to make a decision on your application within 12 weeks.

If you applied using the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app, the 12 weeks (12 weeks) starts from the date you submitted your online application (an application).

If you went to a UKVCAS service point, the 12 weeks (12 weeks) starts from the date you attended your appointment and submitted your fingerprints.

Your application may take longer to process if:

your supporting documents need to be verified or you need to provide more evidence

you need to attend an interview

you do not have a valid tuberculosis (TB) certificate

you have a criminal conviction for an offence that is recognised in the UK

you’re applying as a family group, and one or more of your family members has to go to a visa application centre

You can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision about your application.

You must not travel outside of the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man until you get a decision.

If you need to change or cancel your application

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it (your application), contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. Your fee will only be refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

After you get a decision

You’ll get a letter or an email containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

Find out what happens after you get your decision (the decision on your application).

If your application is unsuccessful

If your application is unsuccessful, your family members’ applications will also be refused.

You may be able to stay in the UK for up to 12 months if you were not able to prove that you:

have enough money to support yourself and your family in the UK

have a permanent home in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Hong Kong

When you get your decision letter, it will say if you’re allowed to do this. You’ll be able to apply for a BNO visa again.

If you stay in the UK for up to 12 months, you’ll get a refund for some of the healthcare surcharge you paid.

As an adult (18 or older), you’ll get a refund of:

£936 if you applied for 2 years and 6 months

£2,496 if you applied for 5 years

As a child under 18 you’ll get a refund of:

£705 if you applied for 2 years and 6 months

£1,880 if you applied for 5 years

If you leave the UK, you’ll get a full refund for the healthcare surcharge you paid.

Living permanently in the UK

If you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years, you may be able to apply to stay permanently.

Applying to settle in the UK

You can apply to settle in the UK (known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) after you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years on a BNO visa. This means you can stay in the UK without any time limits.

If you’ve already spent time in the UK on one of the following visas this will count towards the 5 years (5 years):

Global Talent visa (or a Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa)

Investor visa

Entrepreneur visa

Skilled Worker visa (or a Tier 2 General work visa)

Minister of Religion visa

Sportsperson visa

Representative of an Overseas Business visa

UK Ancestry visa

Time spent on a Student visa (previously called a Tier 4 (General) student visa) or a Youth Mobility Scheme visa will not count.

To apply, you’ll need to:

meet the knowledge of English requirements

pass the Life in the UK Test

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

pay an application fee

Children under 18 applying to settle

If your child applies as a dependent on your BNO visa, they can also apply to settle in the UK with you.

You can only apply once you, your child and your child’s other parent (unless you have sole responsibility) have all been here for 5 years. If you arrived in the UK at different times, those who arrived earlier will have to extend their visa until the last person to arrive has been here for 5 years.

Becoming a British citizen

One year after you settle in the UK (have ‘indefinite leave to remain’), you’ll usually be able to apply for British citizenship.


Turkish Worker visa

Overview

You can apply to extend your Turkish Worker visa if you already have permission to stay in the UK as a Turkish Worker.

Eligibility

You can only extend your visa (your Turkish Worker visa) if you’re already in the UK.

You’ll need to meet the eligibility requirements to extend your visa (your Turkish Worker visa).

How long you can stay

The length of time you can apply to extend your stay for and what job you can do depends on how long you’ve legally worked in the UK.

How long you’ve worked in the UK | Length of permission to be in the UK | What you can do

3 to 4 years | Up to 1 year | Change employer, but in the same occupation

4+ years | Up to 3 years | Work in any occupation for any employer

You must apply from within the UK before your current permission to stay expires.

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You can apply to extend your visa (your Turkish Worker visa) as many times as you like as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle in the UK permanently (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’). This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.

How to apply

You must apply to extend your visa (your Turkish Worker visa) online.

Your partner and children (‘dependants’) can apply separately to extend their dependant visas, if they already have them.

How long it takes

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa extension within 6 months.

How much it costs

There’s no fee to apply to extend your visa.

What you can and cannot do

With a Turkish Worker visa extension you can:

include your family (‘dependants’) on this extension (a Turkish Worker visa extension) if they (Your partner and children (‘dependants’))’re already in the UK and have a dependant visa

study

do voluntary work

apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) if you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements

You cannot:

apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension

If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with a Turkish Worker visa.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for an extension of your Turkish Worker visa (a Turkish Worker visa) you need to:

have a valid Turkish Worker visa

show you have not broken any immigration laws

Documents you’ll need to apply

When you apply to extend your visa (a Turkish Worker visa) you’ll need to provide:

a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality

a biometric residence permit showing your Turkish Worker visa (a Turkish Worker visa)

proof of all your employment during your current stay in the UK, including payslips and bank statements for the whole period you’ve worked here

You’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa (your visa extension).

If you’re an au pair, you can provide a letter from your host family if you do not have payslips and bank statements.

You may be asked to get a police certificate for yourself and your family in the UK if you or they don’t already have one.

Your job

You should also provide evidence that shows you have been legally employed in the UK with the same employer for at least 3 years, and you’re planning to:

carry on doing the same type of job, if you’ve been legally employed for between 3 and 4 years

work for any employer doing any job, if you’ve been legally employed for 4 years or longer

Evidence can include things like a letter from your current or prospective employer, or a current job application letter.

Extend your visa

You can usually apply to extend a Turkish Worker visa if you’re in the UK and all of the following are true:

you have a valid Turkish Worker visa

you can show you have not broken any immigration laws

Your partner or children will need to apply separately, including children who have turned 21 during your stay.

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.

Fees

There’s no fee to apply to extend your visa.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your application you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and the type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

give your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point - this is to get a biometric residence permit

use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

Apply to extend your Turkish Worker visa

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it (a biometric residence permit) later.

Apply now

Continue your application

Sign in to your account (your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account) using the link from your sign-up email.

How long it takes to get a decision

You’ll usually get a decision within 6 months of your application date.

You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:

your supporting documents need to be verified

you need to attend an interview

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

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision - you’ll be told if you can when you apply.

After you apply

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it (your application) contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)) has not started processing your application.

You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

Your partner and children

Your partner and children can apply to extend their (Your partner and children) permission to stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they (Your partner and children)’re eligible. To do this, they (Your partner and children) must have a valid dependant visa.

Your children or those of your partner can apply to come to the UK if you have a Turkish Worker visa. They’ll need to apply for a visa as your dependant.

If their (Your children or those of your partner) application is successful, their (Your children or those of your partner) visa (a visa) will end on the same date as yours.

Your relationship

A dependant partner or child is any of the following:

your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner

your child under 21 - including if they (Your partner and children) were born in the UK during your stay

your child over 21 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant

You’ll need to provide evidence of your relationship when you apply.

Your partner

You must be able to prove that either:

you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK

you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply

Your child

Your child must:

live with you (unless they’re in full-time education at boarding school, college or university)

not be married, in a civil partnership or have any children

be financially supported by you

If your child lives with you, you’ll need to provide evidence of their address such as:

a bank statement

credit card bills

driving licence

NHS registration document

an official letter from their (your child) university or college

Documents you must provide

For each dependant in the UK applying to extend you must have:

a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality

a biometric residence permit (BRP) showing their current dependant visa

bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months showing you can support them

a police registration certificate if your dependants were asked to register with the police when they came to the UK

If you’re the only parent of any dependants aged under 18 in the UK, you must provide legal documents or written permission from their other parent showing you legally have sole responsibility.

Applying inside the UK (extend)

Your partner or children who are already in the UK can apply to extend their visa.

Your partner or child will need to apply separately (including children who have turned 21 during your stay).

How to apply

If the dependant is your partner, they must apply online as a partner.

You need to apply online for your child.

They (the dependant)’ll need your application number - you’ll get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You’ll find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

Proving their (Your partner or child) identity

As part of their (Your partner or child) application, your partner and children (Your partner or child) will need to prove their (Your partner or child) identity. They (Your partner or child)’ll either:

have their (Your partner or child) fingerprints and photograph taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point - this is to get a biometric residence permit

use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their (Your partner or child) identity document - they (Your partner or child)’ll also create or sign in to their (Your partner or child) UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

They (Your partner or child)’ll be told what they (Your partner or child) need to do when they (Your partner or child) apply.

They (Your partner or child) must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until they (Your partner or child) get a decision. Their (Your partner or child) application will be withdrawn if they (Your partner or child) do.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once they (Your partner or child)’ve applied online, proved their (Your partner or child) identity and provided their (Your partner or child) documents, they (Your partner or child)’ll usually get a decision within 6 months.

They (Your partner or child) may be able to pay to get a faster decision - they (Your partner or child)’ll be told if they (Your partner or child) can when they (Your partner or child) apply.

Applying from outside the UK

Your children or those of your partner can apply to come to the UK if you have a Turkish Worker visa. They (Your partner or child)’ll need to apply for a visa as your dependant.

If you’re already in the UK and want your child to join you, they (Your partner or child) must apply online for a dependant visa.

As part of their (Your partner or child) application, your children (or your partner’s children) (Your partner or child), will need to prove their (Your partner or child) identity. They (Your partner or child)’ll either:

How long it takes to get a decision

Once they (Your partner or child)’ve applied online, proved their (Your partner or child) identity and provided their (Your partner or child) documents, they (Your partner or child)’ll usually get a decision within 12 weeks.

Children born in the UK

If you have a child while you’re in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen.

You can apply online for their (a child) dependant visa. You must do this if you want to travel in and out of the UK with your child.

You’ll need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.

You must apply for their dependant visa before they turn 18 if they want to stay in the UK.


Study English in the UK (Short-term study visa)

Overview

You can apply for a Short-term study visa to study English language in the UK.

This visa is for English language courses lasting longer than 6 months and up to 11 months.

If your course is different to this (This visa), check which visa you need.

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you or a close family member started living in the UK before 1 January 2021, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme.

Otherwise, you’ll need to apply for a visa to study for longer than 6 months in the UK. The earliest date your visa will start from is 1 January 2021.

Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme (the free EU Settlement Scheme).

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for the length of your course plus an extra 30 days as long as your stay is no longer than 11 months.

Fees and costs

It costs £186 for a Short-term study visa.

Healthcare surcharge

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge (Healthcare surcharge) as part of your online application. It (Healthcare surcharge) usually costs £470.

This (pay) is so you can use the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.

Check how much you’ll need to pay before you apply.

What you cannot do

You cannot:

study on any other course or change your course while in the UK

study at a state-funded school

work or carry out any business (this includes paid or unpaid work, work experience or work placements)

extend this visa

bring family members (‘dependants’) with you on this visa

apply for most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension

Who can apply

You must be 16 or older to apply.

You must prove that:

you’ve been accepted onto an English language course that lasts 11 months or less and includes no other subjects

your course is with an accredited institution

you have enough money to support yourself without working or help from public funds, or that relatives and friends can support and house you

you can pay for your return or onward journey

If you’re under 18 you must also:

have made arrangements for your travel and stay in the UK

have the consent of your parent or guardian to study in the UK

Your course

Your English language course (your course) must be with an ‘accredited institution’.

This (an ‘accredited institution’) can be either:

an accredited UK institution

an eligible overseas provider, if you’re studying in the UK as part of an overseas course

Accredited UK institutions

An accredited institution must either have a student sponsor licence or have a valid accreditation and be listed by one of the following:

Accreditation Body for Language Services

Accreditation Service for International Colleges

Accreditation UK (the UK)

British Accreditation Council

Education and Training Inspectorate (in Northern Ireland)

Estyn (in Wales)

Education Scotland

Independent Schools Inspectorate

Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)

Office for Students

Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education

Eligible overseas providers

You can also apply for a Short-term study visa if you’re studying at an overseas higher education institution and part of your English language course (your course) is in the UK.

Your institution (an overseas higher education institution) must:

hold its (an overseas higher education institution) own national accreditation

offer no more than half of its (an overseas higher education institution) educational programme in the UK

offer programmes that are equivalent to a UK degree

Documents you'll need

When you apply you must provide:

a current passport (with a blank page for your visa) or other valid travel document

evidence that you can support yourself during your trip, for example bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months

details of where you intend to stay and your travel plans - you should not pay for accommodation or travel until you get your visa

evidence that you’ve paid your course fees or have enough money to pay them

You also need to provide:

your tuberculosis (TB) test results, if you’re from a country where you have to take the TB test

contact details for at least one parent or guardian in your home country, if you’re under 18 years old

a certified translation if any documents are not in English or Welsh

Documents about your course

You must provide written proof of the course you’re studying. For example, a letter of acceptance from the educational institution (an overseas higher education institution) stating the course’s name, duration and cost (including accommodation).

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances, such as evidence of your:

permission to be in the country you’re applying from (if you’re not a national)

financial sponsor’s occupation, income, savings or funds that will support your studies

If you’re under 18

If you’re under 18 you need to provide additional documents if:

you’re travelling on your own

you’re travelling with someone who is not your parent or guardian

Travelling on your own

You can travel to the UK without an adult (someone 18 or older).

You must have written consent from both parents (or one parent if they have sole responsibility) or your legal guardian. This must confirm they consent to:

your visa application

your living arrangements and care in the UK

your travel to the UK

They also need to provide proof that you have somewhere suitable to live during your stay in the UK, including:

the name and date of birth of the person that you will be staying with

an address where you will be living

details of your relationship to the person who’ll be looking after you

consent in writing so they can look after you during your stay in the UK

Your parent, guardian or school must tell the relevant local authority about your visit if either of the following are true:

you’re under 18 and have a disability

you’re going to be looked after for more than 28 days by someone who is not a close relative (called ‘private foster care’)

You should provide a reply from the local authority if you have one.

Travelling with an adult

If you travel to the UK with an adult (someone 18 or older), you need to identify them in your visa application.

Their (an adult (someone 18 or older)) name will appear on your visa, and you’ll be refused entry to the UK if you arrive in the UK without them (an adult (someone 18 or older)).

You can identify up to 2 adults in your visa application, and your visa will only be valid if you travel with at least one of them.

The adult (an adult (someone 18 or older)) can apply for a visa at the same time, but you must each complete separate applications.

Apply

You must apply online before you come to the UK. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel to the UK.

As part of your online application, you’ll need to book an appointment at a visa application centre to provide your documents and prove your identity.

Allow time to attend your appointment (an appointment at a visa application centre).

The visa application centre (a visa application centre) may keep your passport and documents while processing your application (your online application).

How long it takes to get a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision. Check if your visa application centre offers faster decisions and other services.

Apply online

You must apply online.

Before you start, check what documents you’ll need to apply.

Once you’ve started your application you can save your form and complete it later.

Apply now

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you’ve saved it (your form). Check your email and follow the link to return to your application.

After you apply

You’ll get a letter containing the result of your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

Find out what happens after you get your decision.

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.


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 (the EU Settlement Scheme) 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 (the EU Settlement 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 (the EU Settlement 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 (Northern 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 (the 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 (the UK) 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 (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 (the EU), EEA and Swiss citizens living in the UK by 31 December 2020 will remain the same until 30 June 2021.

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

If you apply to the EU (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 (pre-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 (pre-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 (pre-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 (pre-settled status) before your pre-settled status (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 (pre-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 (30 June 2021) to apply. You must apply for pre-settled status by 30 June 2021. You can then switch to settled status (pre-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 (31 December 2020). 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 (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 (settled 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 (pre-settled status) 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 (your close family members) started on or before 31 December 2020 (unless they (your close family members)’re a child born or adopted after that date (31 December 2020))

the relationship still exists when they (your close family members) 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 (your family member) will need to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme (the EU Settlement Scheme) family permit to come to the UK. Once they (your family member)’re in the UK they (your family member) can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

They (your family member) cannot apply to the EU Settlement Scheme from inside the UK if they (your family member) arrived after 31 December 2020 and they (your family member)’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 (your family member) came through an e-passport gate

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

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 (your spouse or civil partner) began between 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2025 (31 December 2020)

you are still in the relationship when they (your spouse or civil partner) 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 (the ‘EU Exit: ID Document Check’ app) (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 (the ‘EU Exit: 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 (lived), 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 (the UK) 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 (your family member in the UK) identity

of their (your family member in the UK) nationality

that they (your family member in the UK) lived in the UK by 31 December 2020, and have continued living here since

Read what documents you can provide to show when they (your family member in the UK) started living here and have continued living here since.

The EEA (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 (link), select the option to apply ‘using your parent’s residence’, then enter your application number.

You will need to do this (link) 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 (your child) identity

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

your child’s (your child) 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 (your child) 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 (your child)’ve continued to live here.

If you have not applied to the EU Settlement Scheme

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

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

You’ll need to provide proof:

of your child’s (your child) identity

of your child’s (your child) UK (the 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 (your child) apply, they (your child)’ll usually get pre-settled status.

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

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

If they (your child)’ll reach 5 years’ continuous residence by 30 June 2021, you can choose to wait until they (your child) reach 5 years’ continuous residence before applying. If their (your child) application is successful, they (your child)’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 (your child) 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 (this service) to apply to the scheme (the EU Settlement 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 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

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 (the EU Settlement 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 (the 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

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 (an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen).

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

The EEA (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 (your family member) in an EU or EEA country (or Switzerland) before 1 January 2021, and be:

their (your family member) spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner

under 21 years old, and are their (your family member) child or grandchild

21 years or older, and are their (your family member) dependent child or grandchild

their (your family member) 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 (an EU or EEA country (or Switzerland)) must have been your main residence. Your British family member (your family member) must also have been working, studying or self-sufficient in the country (an EU or EEA country (or Switzerland)) 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 (your family member) 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 (an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen) 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 (an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen) child

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

you or another family member was the victim of domestic abuse in the marriage or civil partnership (an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen)

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 (an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen):

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 (someone’s) day to day care, including making decisions about their (someone’s) education, health, and finances

a family member or their (someone’s) 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 (your EU, EEA or Swiss citizen family member), you’ll also need to provide evidence of their (your EU, EEA or Swiss citizen family member) 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 (a British, EU, EEA or Swiss citizen) 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 (your family member) apply. You can use this to ‘link’ your application to theirs (your family member), 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 (your partner) 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 (your family member) death. They (your family member) must have been resident in the UK by 31 December 2020.

You must also have been living with them (your family member) just before their (your family member) death and either:

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

their (your family member) 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 (31 December 2020))

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 (the family member) spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner and your relationship started before 1 February 2020

under 21 years old, and are their (the family member) child or grandchild

21 years or older, and are their (the family member) dependent child or grandchild

their (the family member) dependent parent or grandparent

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

their (the family member) 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 (your family member) 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 (the 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 (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 (settled status) means you should be able to spend up to 5 years in a row outside the UK without losing your settled status (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 (settled status).

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

If you moved to the UK before it (the UK) joined the EU (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 (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 (your status) 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 (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 (The document you get under the EU Settlement Scheme).

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 (a mistake in your application).

They (the Home Office)’ll also tell you if you need to provide more evidence before they (the Home Office) 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 (an administrative review) costs £80 and you’ll usually get the result within 28 days.

You’ll get your money back if the original decision (the 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 (an outstanding immigration application) will not be considered if you apply for the EU Settlement Scheme. You’ll get a refund for your outstanding application (an outstanding immigration 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 (pre-settled status) status (pre-settled status).

You must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme again before your pre-settled status (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 (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 (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 (pre-settled status) was based on your relationship to a family member from the EU, EEA or Switzerland (Swiss), 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.