Family visas: apply, extend or switch

Overview

You need a family visa to live with a family member in the UK for more than 6 months.

Applying from outside the UK

You can apply for a family visa to live with your:

spouse or partner

fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner

child

parent

relative who’ll provide long-term care for you

If you’re visiting the UK for 6 months or less, check if you need a Standard Visitor visa or Marriage Visitor visa.

Extending your family visa

You can apply to extend your stay with your family member if you’re already in the UK on a family visa.

You can extend at any time before your current permission to stay in the UK expires.

If you’re extending to stay with the same family member, you’ll only get up to 28 days left on your current stay added to your new visa.

You must live in the UK for a certain amount of time before you’re eligible for settlement (‘indefinite leave to remain’). Before you extend your visa (your family visa), check how much time you need to settle in the UK.

You might be able to apply to stay on the basis of your private life if you’ve lived in the UK for many years already.

Switching to a family visa

If you came to the UK on a different visa, you might be able to switch to a family visa to stay with your:

spouse or partner

child

parent

You can switch at any time before your current permission to stay in the UK expires.

If you do not meet the rules because of coronavirus (COVID-19)

If you do not meet the rules to enter or remain in the UK because of coronavirus, you might still be able to apply to extend your stay or switch to a family visa. Read the guidance for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents.

Fees

How much it costs depends on how you apply.

| Apply outside the UK | Apply in the UK

Cost if joining your partner, parent or child | £1,523 | £1,033

Cost for each dependant added to your application | £1,523 each person | £1,033 each person

Cost for an adult who needs to be looked after by a relative | £3,250 | £1,033

Let your bank know that a large amount of money will be coming out of your account - otherwise it might cancel your payment.

Healthcare surcharge

You might also need to pay the healthcare surcharge (Healthcare surcharge) as part of your application.

If you’re applying to extend or switch in the UK

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

Get a faster decision on your application

If you’re applying from the UK, you may be able to pay an extra £800 for the super priority service to get a faster decision.

You cannot use the super priority service if you’re applying as an adult coming to be cared for by a relative.

Once you’ve got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to arrive.

How long it takes

If you apply outside the UK a decision will usually be made within 12 weeks.

If you apply in the UK a decision will usually be made within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service.

If you use the super priority service a decision will usually be made:

by the end of the next working day after providing your biometric information if your appointment is on a weekday

2 working days after providing your biometric information if your appointment is at the weekend

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

It might take longer if your application is complex, for example you:

do not meet the minimum income requirement

cannot prove your knowledge of English

need to attend an interview

have not provided all the evidence that the Home Office needs

have a criminal conviction or another personal circumstance that needs to be reviewed

Other ways you can stay

You were the victim of domestic abuse or your partner died

You might be able to apply to settle in the UK if you had permission to stay in the UK as a partner when either:

you were the victim of domestic abuse

your partner died

Your family member has refugee status or humanitarian protection

You might be able to apply for ‘family reunion’ to join a partner or parent who has either:

refugee status in the UK (refugee status)

humanitarian protection in the UK

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 need a visa or family permit to come to the UK.

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

When you cannot get a family visa

In some circumstances you cannot apply for, or switch to, a family visa.

Your family member has a work visa or student visa

You cannot apply for a family visa if your family member is in the UK temporarily on a work visa or student visa.

You can apply to stay with them (your family member) as a dependant instead.

You have a visitor visa or a visa for 6 months or less

You’ll usually need to leave the UK to apply for a family visa if either:

you have permission to be in the UK as a visitor

your visa (permission to be in the UK as a visitor) is for 6 months or less

However, you might be able to switch to a family visa in the UK if you have either:

a 6-month family visa as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner

permission to stay in the UK for the outcome of a family court case or divorce

Apply as a partner or spouse

To apply as a partner, you and your partner both need to be 18 or over.

Your partner must also either:

be a British or Irish citizen

have settled in the UK - for example, they (Your partner) have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence

be from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and have pre-settled status - they (Your partner) must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021

have a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa

have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK

You and your partner must intend to live together permanently in the UK after you apply.

If your partner has settled status you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme or for a family permit.

What you’ll need to prove

You must be able to prove one of the following:

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

you are a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner and will marry or enter into a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arriving

If your wedding or civil ceremony has been delayed because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you might still be able to request an extension or apply to extend your stay. Read the guidance for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents.

You also need to prove you:

have a good knowledge of English

can financially support yourself and your dependants

If you do not meet these requirements you may still be able to apply for a visa or extend your permission to stay if:

you have a child in the UK who is a British or Irish citizen or has lived in the UK for 7 years and it would be unreasonable for them to leave the UK

there would be very significant difficulties for you and your partner if you lived together as a couple outside the UK that could not be overcome

it would breach your human rights to stop you coming to the UK or make you leave

If you’re applying as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner

You must prove that:

any previous marriages or civil partnerships have ended

you plan to marry or become civil partners within 6 months of arriving in the UK

If your wedding or civil ceremony has been delayed because of COVID-19, you might still be able to request an extension or apply to extend your stay.  Read the guidance for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents.

You will not be able to work during your engagement.

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for 2 years and 9 months on this visa. If you’re applying as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner, you can stay for 6 months.

After this (stay) you’ll need to apply to extend your stay.

If you extend or switch to this visa

If you extend your family visa or switch to this visa you can stay in the UK for 2 years and 6 months.

How to apply

You’ll need to prepare information and documents to provide with your application.

How you apply depends on whether you’re in the UK or not.

Outside the UK

You must apply online from outside the UK.

In the UK

You must apply online in the UK.

If you cannot pay the fee

Fill in the online fee waiver request form as well if you cannot pay the fee because 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

have a very low income and paying the fee would harm your child’s wellbeing

Get help to apply online

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

do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device

do not have internet access

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

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

Applying with your children

You can add children to your application as dependants if both of the following apply:

they (children) are under 18 when you apply, or were under 18 when they (children) were first granted leave

they (children) do not live an independent life

Your child is living an independent life if, for example, they’ve left home, got married and had children.

When you can settle permanently

The earliest you can apply to settle in the UK (called ‘indefinite leave to remain’) is after you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years continuously on a family visa as a partner.

You cannot include time you’ve spent in the UK:

on any other visa

as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner

The rules are different if you applied before 9 July 2012.

If you applied before 9 July 2012

You can only extend your family visa (a family visa) if all the following (the following) are true:

you were given permission to stay in the UK as a partner before 9 July 2012

you are not eligible to settle in the UK

you have not been granted or refused another visa

You must also prove that:

you and your partner have enough money to financially support yourself and your dependants without relying on public funds

you have knowledge of English

Apply as a parent

You can apply to live in the UK to care for your child.

If you’re eligible to apply as a partner, you must do that instead of applying as a parent.

Your child must either:

be under 18 on the date you apply

have been under 18 when you were first granted leave and not live an independent life

Your child must be living in the UK. One of the following must also be true:

they (Your child)’re a British or Irish citizen

they (Your child)’ve settled in the UK - for example, they (Your child) have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence

they (Your child)’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and have pre-settled status - they (Your child) must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021

if you’re applying in the UK, they (Your child) must have lived in the UK for 7 years continuously and it would not be reasonable for them (Your child) to leave

If your child has settled status you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme or for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit.

If you do not meet the rules to enter or remain in the UK because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you might still be able to apply to extend your stay or switch to a family visa. Read the guidance for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents.

Parental responsibility

You need to have sole or shared parental responsibility for your child.

If you share parental responsibility, the child’s (your child) other parent must not be your partner. They must also either:

be a British or Irish citizen

have settled in the UK - for example, they (the child’s (your child) other parent) have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence

be from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and have pre-settled status - they (the child’s (your child) other parent) must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021

If the child (your child) lives with their (your child) other parent or carer, you must have access to the child (your child) in person, as agreed with the other parent or carer (the child’s (your child) other parent) or by a court order.

What you’ll need to prove

You must be able to prove that you’re taking an active role in your child’s (your child) upbringing and you plan to continue after you apply. For example you could provide letters from your child’s (your child):

school confirming you take them (your child) to school or go to parent evenings

doctor, dentist, or health visitor confirming that you take them (your child) to appointments

other parent confirming how much contact you have with your child

If you provide a letter from the other parent (the child’s (your child) other parent), you’ll need to include proof of their (the child’s (your child) other parent) identity. This should be an official document which has their (the child’s (your child) other parent) signature on it, for example a copy of their (the child’s (your child) other parent) passport, tax return or photocard driving licence.

English language and financial requirements

You must also prove you:

have a good knowledge of English (English language)

can financially support yourself without claiming public funds

If your child or any other dependants live with you, you must also prove you can financially support them without claiming public funds.

If you do not meet the English language and financial requirements (English language and financial requirements) you can still extend your permission to stay if:

your child in the UK is a British or Irish citizen or has lived in the UK for 7 years

it would be unreasonable for them (your child in the UK) to leave the UK

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for 2 years and 9 months on this visa. After this you’ll need to apply to extend your stay.

If you extend your family visa or switch to this visa you can stay in the UK for 2 years and 6 months.

How to apply

You’ll need to prepare information and documents to provide with your application.

How you apply depends on whether you’re in the UK or not.

Outside the UK

You must apply online outside the UK. You must also complete Appendix 5.

In the UK

You must apply online in the UK.

If you cannot afford to pay the fee, you must also apply online to waive the fee. You might not have to pay the fee if you:

do not have a place to live and you cannot afford one

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

have a very low income and paying the fee would harm your child’s wellbeing

Read the guidance for parents before applying.

Get help to apply online

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

do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device

do not have internet access

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

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

Applying with other children

You can add other children to your application as dependants if one of the following applies:

they (other children) are under 18 on the date you apply

they (other children) were under 18 when they (other children) were first granted leave on a family visa and do not live an independent life

When you can settle permanently

The earliest you can apply to settle in the UK (called ‘indefinite leave to remain’) is after you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years continuously on a family visa as a parent.

You cannot include time you’ve spent in the UK on any other visa.

The rules are different if you applied before 9 July 2012.

Apply as a child

You can apply for a family visa to join your parent in the UK.

You may not need a family visa if at least one of your parents has indefinite leave to remain or proof of permanent residence. Check if you can apply to settle in the UK.

If your parent has settled status you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme or for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit.

You were born in the UK

You’ll get the same permission to stay as your parent if you were born in the UK.

If you’re under 18

You can either:

be added to your parent’s next application as a dependant

apply separately

To apply separately, you’ll need to know what kind of permission to stay in the UK (‘limited leave to remain’) your parent (your parent’s) has.

If you’re over 18

Your parent (your parent’s) can only include you in their (your parent’s) application as a dependant if you:

got permission to come to or stay in the UK (‘leave to enter or remain’) on a family visa when you were under 18

do not live an independent life

are applying from inside the UK

You’re living an independent life if, for example, you’ve left home, got married and had children.

You were born outside the UK

Whether you can apply depends on your age and how your parent applied.

If you’re under 18

You must:

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

be financially supported without claiming public funds

One of your parents must also be applying or have applied for a visa or to extend their (your parent’s) permission to stay as a:

partner - and the partner they (your parent’s)’re joining (One of your parents) is your other parent

parent - and they (your parent’s) have sole parental responsibility for you

Otherwise, you might still be eligible to apply if there are serious reasons to let you come to, or stay in the UK and there are plans for your care.

If you’re over 18

Your parent (your parent’s) can include you in their (your parent’s) application as a dependant, or you can apply separately yourself. You can only apply if you:

got permission to stay in the UK (‘leave to remain’) on a family visa when you were under 18

do not live an independent life

If your parent cannot include you in their form and you’re in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for Private Life in the UK (10-year route).

Apply from outside the UK

You’ll need to prepare information and documents to provide with your application.

Apply at the same time as your parent

Which form you need to fill in depends on whether your parent is applying to enter the UK as the partner of one of the following:

a British or Irish citizen

a person with indefinite leave to remain

a person settled in the UK - for example, they have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence

a person from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who has pre-settled status - they must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021

a person with a Turkish Businessperson visa or Turkish Worker visa

a person with refugee status or humanitarian protection

If they are applying as one of these, you must fill in the Appendix FM online form.

If they are not, you must fill in both:

the online application form

the Appendix 1 paper form

Apply separately

Which form you need to fill in depends on whether your parent has leave to enter or remain in the UK on a 5 or 10-year route to settlement as the partner of:

a British or Irish citizen

If they (a person with refugee status or humanitarian protection) do, you must fill in the Appendix FM online form.

If they (a person with refugee status or humanitarian protection) do not, you must fill in both:

the online application form

the Appendix 1 paper form

Apply from the UK

If you’re already in the UK, you must apply online.

Fill in the online fee waiver request form as well if you cannot pay the fee because you:

do not have a place to live and you cannot afford one

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

have a very low income and paying the fee would harm your child’s wellbeing

You can also check if you’re eligible for a different type of visa.

Get help to apply online

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

do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device

do not have internet access

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

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

Apply as an adult coming to be cared for by a relative

You must be outside the UK to apply and need long-term care from a parent, grandchild, brother, sister, son or daughter who is living permanently in the UK.

One of the following must also apply to the relative (a relative):

they (a relative)’re a British or Irish citizen

they (a relative)’ve settled in the UK - for example, they (a relative) have indefinite leave to remain, settled status or proof of permanent residence

they (a relative)’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and have pre-settled status - they (a relative) must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021

they (a relative) have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK

If your family member has settled status you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme or for a family permit.

You must prove all of the following:

you need long-term care to do everyday personal and household tasks because of illness, disability or your age

the care you need is not available or affordable in the country you live in

the person you’ll be joining in the UK will be able to support, accommodate and care for you without claiming public funds for at least 5 years

you’re 18 or over

How long you can stay for

How long you can stay depends on the status of your family member.

If your family member is British, Irish or settled in the UK

Your stay is unlimited. You will not need to apply to extend or settle.

If your family member has pre-settled status

They (your family member) must have started living in the UK before 1 January 2021. You can stay as long as your family member stays. You’ll need to apply to extend or settle when they (your family member) do.

If your family member has refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK

You can stay as long as your family member stays. You’ll need to apply to extend or settle when they (your family member) do.

How to apply

You’ll need to prepare information and documents to provide with your application.

You must apply as an adult dependent relative online and complete Appendix 1.

Apply to extend your stay

Apply online to extend your stay in the UK.

Apply on the basis of your private life

You can only apply on the basis of your private life if you’re already living in the UK.

You must be able to prove that you’re:

under 18 and you’ve lived in the UK continuously for at least 7 years, and it would be unreasonable to expect you to leave the UK

between 18 and 24 and you’ve lived continuously in the UK for more than half your life

18 or over, have spent less than 20 years in the UK and would have very significant problems living in the country you’d have to go to (the UK) - for example, you do not speak the language and could not learn it

25 or over and you’ve been in the UK continuously for 20 years

Your family members can apply on the same application - you’ll be considered separately.

How to apply

You must apply online.

If you cannot pay the application fee

Fill in the online fee waiver request form as well if you cannot afford to pay the fee (the application fee) because you:

do not have a place to live and you cannot afford one

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

have a very low income and paying the fee (the application fee) would harm your child’s wellbeing

Get help using a computer to apply online

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

do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device

do not have internet access

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

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

Knowledge of English

You may need to prove your knowledge of the English language (English) when you apply.

When you do not need to prove it (your knowledge of the English language (English))

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English or take a test if one of the following is true:

you’re applying as a child

you’re applying as an adult coming to be cared for by a relative

you’ve been in the UK on a family visa for 5 years and you’re extending it as a partner or parent

you’re over 65

you have a physical or mental condition that prevents you from meeting the requirement

You also will not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of one of the following countries:

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

the Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Canada

Dominica

Grenada

Guyana

Jamaica

Malta

New Zealand

St Kitts and Nevis

St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

USA

How to prove your knowledge of English

You can prove it (your knowledge of English) with an academic qualification, or by taking a test.

Academic qualifications

You can prove your knowledge of English if you have a degree or academic qualification that was taught or researched in English.

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

If your qualification is from a university or college outside the UK

You’ll need to provide a certificate from Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) to show that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree or higher and that it (your qualification) was taught in English.

There are 2 kinds of certificate:

a statement of comparability

a visa and nationality statement

You need a statement of comparability if you got your qualification from a university or college in one of these countries:

Antigua and Barbuda

Australia

the Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Dominica

Grenada

Guyana

Ireland

Jamaica

Malta

New Zealand

St Kitts and Nevis

St Lucia

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

USA

If you got your qualification from a university or college in any other country, you need a visa and nationality statement.

Take an approved English language test

You can prove your knowledge of English by passing an approved English language test.

You must pass at least level A1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale for your first visa application. You can choose to take a higher level test.

If you pass level B1 level or higher, the test (an approved English language test) will be accepted if it (an approved English language test)’s still on the list of approved English language tests when you apply for settlement after 5 years.

If you cannot take an English language test because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you might be able to apply for an exemption. Read the guidance for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents.

If you want to settle permanently in the UK (UK) within 5 years

You may have to pass a higher CEFR level if you want to stay in the UK (UK) after 2.5 years. What you need to do depends on what CEFR level you passed for your first visa.

If you passed:

level A1 you’ll need to pass level A2 in speaking and listening

level A2, B1, B2, C1 or C2 you can use the test (an approved English language test) again for your application if it (an approved English language test)’s still on the list of approved English language tests

If you were given an exemption, you’ll need to pass a test at level A1.

Read the English language (English) requirement: family members guidance.

Give proof of your income

You and your partner must have a combined income of at least £18,600 a year if:

you’re applying as a partner

you want to settle in the UK (UK) (get ‘indefinite leave to remain’) within 5 years

You must prove you have extra money if you have children who:

are not British or Irish citizens

do not have pre-settled status

are not permanently settled in the UK (UK)

You might not need to prove you have extra money if your children are citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland and they do not have pre-settled status or are not permanently settled in the UK (UK). Check the guidance in appendix FM 1.7: financial requirement for more information.

If you need to prove extra money for your children, you’ll need to earn an extra:

£3,800 for your first child

£2,400 for each child you have after your first child

This (need) is called the ‘minimum income requirement’.

You may be able to use your savings instead of income.

How you prove you have the money depends on how you got the income.

If you’ve experienced a loss of income because of coronavirus (COVID-19), for example if you’ve been furloughed or you’re self employed, you might still be able to apply. Read the guidance for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents.

What counts as income

You and your partner can use:

income from employment before tax and National Insurance (check your P60 or payslips) - you can only use your own income if you earn it in the UK (UK)

income you earn from self-employment or as a director of a limited company in the UK (UK) - check your Self Assessment tax return

cash savings above £16,000

money from a pension

non-work income, for example from property rentals or dividends

If you’re using income from self-employment or employment, you’ll need to prove you or your partner received that income for 6 months or more.

What proof you need to give

You’ll need to provide proof of your income with your application. If you or your partner are employed, you could include:

bank statements showing you or your partner’s income

6 months of payslips

a letter from an employer, dated and on headed paper

The employer’s letter (an employer) should confirm:

you or your partner are employed there

the job title or position you or your partner hold

how long you or your partner have worked there

the type of contract (for example, permanent, fixed term)

what you or your partner earn before tax and National Insurance

how long you or your partner have been paid your current salary

the payslips are genuine

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

Check the guidance in appendix FM 1.7: financial requirement if:

you or your partner’s income is more complicated

you or your partner (your partner’s) have taken maternity or paternity leave in the last 6 months

you want to combine different income sources

The detailed guidance (the guidance in appendix FM 1.7: financial requirement) also explains the evidence you need to provide for each of the types of income you’re relying on.

If you cannot meet the minimum income requirement

You need to show you and your partner (you or your partner) meet the minimum income requirement if you want to settle in 5 years as a partner.

If you do not meet the requirement (the minimum income requirement), you may be able to settle in 10 years.

When you do not need to meet the income requirement (the minimum income requirement)

You may be able to settle in 5 years without meeting the minimum income requirement if either:

you’re applying as a parent

you get certain benefits, for example Disability Living Allowance or Carer’s Allowance.

You need to show you and your family have enough money to adequately support and accommodate yourselves without relying on public funds. The caseworker considers your income and housing costs.

Check the guidance in appendix FM 1.7: financial requirement for more information

Information you must provide

You’ll need to have information and some evidence ready when you make your application. Include information for you and any dependants applying at the same time.

You’ll need to provide:

all your names

your date of birth

your current passport or other valid travel ID

copies of the photo page and any visa or entry stamps in your previous passports

a copy of your biometric residence permit, if you have one

details of any previous immigration applications you’ve made

details of any criminal convictions

your national insurance number, if you have one

your parents’ date of birth and nationality if you’re applying from outside the UK

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

a certified translation of any document that is not in English or Welsh

You’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa if you’re applying outside the UK.

You’ll need an email address to make an online application.

You’ll also need to:

give proof of your finances

prove your knowledge of English

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances - for example a sponsorship form from your family member in the UK.

You’ll be told how to provide your documents when you apply.

If you’re unable to provide specified documents because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you might still be able to apply. Read the guidance for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents.

Your partner’s details

If you have a partner, you’ll be asked about their:

name

date of birth

nationality

passport

right to be in the UK, for example they (a partner)’re a British citizen

You’ll also need to give details of:

any people your partner was previously married to, in a civil partnership with or had children with

evidence of marriages ending, for example a divorce certificate

anyone your partner supports with money, for example their parents

Proof of relationship

If you’re applying as a spouse or partner, you’ll be asked about:

your relationship with your partner, for example how you met and how often you see each other

how long you’ve lived together - you’ll need to provide proof like council tax bills

things you pay for together

whether you’re your partner’s (a partner) carer

Your previous partners

You’ll need to include details of anyone you previously married or had children with. Include evidence of marriages ending, for example a divorce certificate.

Children

You’ll need to give details of your children (and your partner’s children if you have one). You’ll be asked about all children, even if they’re not applying.

You’ll need to give details of:

their (all children) name

their (all children) nationality

their (all children) date of birth

their (all children) passport details

who the child (all children) normally lives with

any other people with parental responsibility for your child, for example your step children’s other parents

how you’re involved in their (your step children’s) day to day life

arrangements you have to see the child - for example the courts have granted you access

the child’s (the child) extended family

any countries your child has visited or lived in

Your life outside the UK

You’ll need to give details of:

countries outside the UK you’ve lived in and visited

family and friends in the countries where you were born or have nationality

After you apply

You’ll need to attend an appointment to provide your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo). You’ll be told how to make an appointment when you apply.

Getting your documents back

You can ask for your passport and other documents (your documents) to be returned if you’ve provided them (your documents) with your application but need them (your documents) urgently.

You might have to cancel your application to get your documents back.

If your application is approved

You’ll get a biometric residence permit.

You can:

work

study

You cannot work or study if you’re applying for a visa or extending your stay to get married or become civil partners.

You cannot:

usually get benefits or other public funds for you or your dependants

apply to settle in the UK until you’re eligible


Prove you have right of abode in the UK

Overview

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

you will not need a visa to come to the UK

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

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

Some Commonwealth citizens may also have right of abode.

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

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

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

Commonwealth citizens

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

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

Parents

You have right of abode if all the following apply:

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

you were a Commonwealth citizen on 31 December 1982

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

Marriage

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

You must have:

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

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

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

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

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

However, you may still have right of abode if:

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

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

Apply for a certificate of entitlement

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

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

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

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

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

A certificate of entitlement costs £372 in the UK.

Read the guidance to check you can apply.

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

You can also apply in other ways.

Get help to apply online

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

do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device

do not have internet access

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

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

Apply from outside the UK or from a British overseas territory

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

A certificate of entitlement costs £388 outside the UK.

North Korea

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

To apply from North Korea you must:

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

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

If your application is refused

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

Appeals

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

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

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


Derivative residence cards

Overview

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

If you applied for a derivative residence card before 1 January 2021 (30 June 2021), you will get a decision on your application within 6 months.

Living in the UK after 30 June 2021

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

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

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

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

If you want to move to the UK on or after 1 January 2021 (30 June 2021), check if you need a UK visa.

If you have a derivative residence card

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

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

show employers you’re allowed to work in the UK

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

Your card has not arrived

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

Include the following in your email:

your full name, date of birth and nationality

your passport number

your case reference number

a contact telephone number

your delivery address

Correct mistakes on your card

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

Include the following in your email:

your passport number

your derivative residence card reference number

your case reference number

a contact telephone number

details of exactly what information is wrong

Report a lost or stolen card

Your card has been lost or stolen

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

your contact details

your passport number

your police case reference number

when, where and how the loss or theft occurred

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

Your card is damaged

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

Include the following in your email:

your contact details

your passport number

what the damage is

You can also send this information by post.

Replacement derivative residence cards

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

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

If your passport has expired

You cannot transfer your card to a new passport.

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

your new passport (your passport)

your old passport, if it includes your derivative residence card (your card)


Asylum support

Overview

You may be able to get housing and money to support you and your family while you’re waiting to find out if you’ll be given asylum.

This also means your children will go to a free state school and you may get free healthcare from the National Health Service (NHS).

You can still apply for short-term support if you’ve been refused asylum and are preparing to leave the UK.

Call an asylum helpline for free help with asylum support or short-term support.

What you'll get

You can ask for somewhere to live, a cash allowance or both as an asylum seeker.

Housing

You’ll be given somewhere to live if you need it. This could be in a flat, house, hostel or bed and breakfast.

You cannot choose where you live. It’s unlikely you’ll get to live in London or south-east England.

Cash support

You’ll get £39.63 for each person in your household. This (Cash support) will help you pay for things you need like food, clothing and toiletries.

Your allowance (Cash support) will be loaded onto a debit card (ASPEN card) each week. You’ll be able to use the card to get cash from a cash machine.

If you’ve been refused asylum

You’ll be given:

somewhere to live

£39.63 per person on a payment card for food, clothing and toiletries

You will not be given:

the payment card (a payment card for food, clothing and toiletries) if you do not take the offer of somewhere to live

any money

Extra money for mothers and young children

You’ll get extra money to buy healthy food if you’re pregnant or a mother of a child under 3. The amount you get will depend on your situation.

Your situation | Extra payment per week

Pregnant mother | £3

Baby under 1 year old | £5

Child aged 1 to 3 | £3

Maternity payment

You can apply for a one-off £300 maternity payment if your baby is due in 8 weeks or less, or if your baby is under 6 weeks old.

If you’ve been refused asylum

You can apply for a one-off £250 maternity payment if your baby is due in 8 weeks or less, or if your baby is under 6 weeks old.

Applying for the maternity grant

You apply for the maternity grant in the same way whether you’re still an asylum seeker or you’ve been refused asylum.

You’ll need to request form MAT B1 from your doctor to apply for the payment (the maternity grant). You can apply for the maternity payment (the maternity grant) at the same time you apply for asylum support.

If you get pregnant after you’ve applied for asylum support, you can apply to the support team that dealt with your application for asylum support.

Healthcare

You may get free National Health Service (NHS) healthcare, such as to see a doctor or get hospital treatment.

You’ll also get:

free prescriptions for medicine

free dental care for your teeth

free eyesight tests

help paying for glasses

Education

Your children must attend school if they are aged 5 to 17. All state schools are free and your children may be able to get free school meals.

Eligibility

You can apply for asylum support if you’re homeless or do not have money to buy food.

If you’ve been refused asylum

You can ask for the following if you’re homeless, do not have any money to buy food and you can show that there’s a reason why you cannot leave the UK yet:

short-term housing

help with prescriptions for medicine, dental care for your teeth, eyesight tests and glasses

a payment card for food and toiletries

You will not be given the payment card (a payment card for food and toiletries) without the housing and you will not be given any cash.

How to claim

Housing and cash support for asylum seekers

Apply using form ASF1 to claim housing and cash support.

Send the form (form ASF1) to the asylum support casework team.

You might be able to apply for additional support if the general allowance will not cover your needs. You’ll have to show that you cannot meet your needs in any other way.

Read the guidance on additional support.

Fill in form ASF2 and contact the Asylum Support Application Service. The details are on the form.

Call an asylum helpline for help with applications.

If you’re refused asylum

You must return to your country as soon as possible if you’re refused asylum.

You can apply for short-term support using form ASF1.

You’ll need to complete a ‘section 4(2)’ medical declaration if you have a specific medical issue.

You can also apply for additional help (section 4(2) support), for example:

medical appointments

getting your new baby’s birth certificate

maternity payments

Read the guidance on section 4(2) support (the guidance on additional support).

Send all forms to the asylum support casework team by email or post.

Education for children

Contact your local council if you have children and want to:

apply for a primary school place

apply for a secondary school place

Healthcare

Contact the free National Health Service (NHS) 111 service for help and advice with health problems when it’s not an emergency.

Phone NHS Help With Health Costs for help with prescriptions for medicine, dental care, eyesight tests and buying glasses.

Help and advice

Call one of the asylum helplines to get free help with filling in forms.

You can get more information about asylum support from the customer contact centre. Email for an ARC appointment.

Further information

Appeal

You can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Asylum Support) if:

you’ve applied for asylum support and been turned down

you were claiming asylum support and it’s been stopped

Contact asylum support

You can contact Migrant Help if your application for support has been refused or you have questions about your appeal against the decision (Appeal).


Ask for a visa administrative review

If you're outside the UK

You’ll be told in your application refusal letter if you can ask for the decision on your visa application to be reviewed. This is known as an ‘administrative review’.

You can only ask for an administrative review if all of the following apply:

you’re outside the UK

you applied outside the UK

your application (your visa application) was refused on or after 6 April 2015

you do not have a right of appeal against the refusal (refused)

you did not make an application as a short term student or a visitor (except if you applied as an S2 Healthcare Visitor)

There’s a different way to ask for an administrative review if you applied:

to the EU Settlement Scheme

as a Frontier Worker

as an S2 Healthcare Visitor

as a Service Provider from Switzerland

How to apply

You must apply for an administrative review within 28 days of getting the decision. It costs £80.

You can apply online.

The decision will be checked for the errors you point out.

You’ll usually receive the result of the administrative review (an administrative review) within 28 calendar days.

You cannot request a second review (unless the result of the first review found new reasons why you were refused).

Withdraw your request

Your request for an administrative review (your request) will be withdrawn (cancelled) if you make any other immigration or visa application.

Your request will be rejected if you ask for a review of a previous decision after submitting a new application.

You can email the Home Office and ask for your request to be withdrawn.

You must include your name, date of birth, nationality and your Global Web Form (GWF) reference number.

Your GWF reference number (your Global Web Form (GWF) reference number) was given to you when you first applied. You can find it (your Global Web Form (GWF) reference number) on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

If you're in the UK

You’ll be told in your application refusal letter if you can ask for the decision on your visa application (the decision) to be reviewed. This is known as an ‘administrative review’.

You can ask for your application to be reviewed if one of the following apply:

your application was refused

This (ask) is known as an ‘administrative review’.

You may be able to appeal if you’re not eligible for an administrative review.

to the EU Settlement Scheme

as a Frontier Worker

as an S2 Healthcare Visitor

as a Service Provider from Switzerland

Apply for administrative review

If your application was refused, you must apply for an administrative review within 14 days of getting the decision.

Your refusal letter will tell you how to apply. You may be able to apply online. It costs £80.

You must apply within 7 days if you’ve been detained.

If your application was granted but you’re unhappy with the amount or conditions of your leave, you must email the Home Office within 14 days of getting your biometric residence permit.

Contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) if you have a general enquiry about immigration.

Get a decision

The decision (a decision) will be checked for the errors you point out. Do not send new information or documents for review unless you’ve been asked to.

You’ll usually receive the result of the administrative review (an administrative review) within 28 days. You cannot request a second review (unless the result included new reasons why you were refused).

If your visa’s expired, you will not usually be removed from the UK until your review has been completed.

Withdraw your request

Your request for an administrative review (your request) will be withdrawn (cancelled) if you:

ask for your passport back so you can travel

leave the UK

You can also email the Home Office and ask for your request to be withdrawn.

You must include your name, date of birth, nationality and either your administrative review payment reference number or Home Office (the Home Office) reference number in your email.

If your visa was cancelled at the border

You’ll be told in your decision letter if you can ask for the decision to cancel your visa to be reviewed. This is known as an ‘administrative review’.

You can ask for the decision to be reviewed if your visa was cancelled for one or more of the following reasons:

there has been a change in your circumstances

you gave false information

you failed to include relevant facts

Apply for administrative review

Your letter will tell you how to apply. It costs £80.

If you were given temporary admission to the UK

You must apply for an administrative review within 14 days of your visa being cancelled or 7 days if you are detained. You need to do this from the UK.

If your visa was cancelled at border controls outside the UK

You must apply for an administrative review within 28 days of your visa being cancelled in any of the following cities:

Paris

Brussels

Dunkirk

Coquelles

Calais

Lille

Get a decision

The decision (a decision) will be checked for the errors you point out. Do not send new information or documents unless you’ve been asked to.

You’ll usually receive the result of the administrative review (administrative review) within 28 days. You cannot request a second review (unless the result included new reasons for the cancellation of your leave).

If you’re in the UK, you will not usually be removed until your review (administrative review) has been completed.

Withdraw your request

leave the UK


Appeal a decision against financial assistance for a reservist

Appeal to the tribunal

You can appeal to the Reserve Forces Appeal Tribunals (RFAT) if your claim for financial assistance has been turned down.

The tribunal must receive your appeal within 5 days of you getting the decision letter or your application (your claim for financial assistance) will be rejected.

If you’re going to miss the deadline and have a valid reason for doing so, then say why in your notice of appeal. Extensions are only granted in exceptional circumstances.

The tribunal is independent of government. A judge will listen to both sides of the argument before making a decision.

Help you can get

Contact RFAT (the Reserve Forces Appeal Tribunals (RFAT)) or your legal representative if you have any questions about appealing. RFAT (the Reserve Forces Appeal Tribunals (RFAT)) cannot give you legal advice.

You can find legal advice, including from a lawyer.

How to appeal

Write a letter called a ‘notice of appeal’ (your notice of appeal) to the Secretary of Tribunals.

You must include:

your name, address and telephone number

a statement that it (your notice of appeal)’s a ‘notice of appeal’

the grounds for appealing the decision

what you want the tribunal to decide (known as the ‘determination’)

whether you want to attend the hearing

whether you’ll be legally represented

the names and addresses of any witnesses

You’ll need to include:

a copy of the decision you’re appealing

all documents that were part of your original application

any relevant documents that were not part of your original application and the reasons why they were not included

Send your letter (your notice of appeal)

You can email, fax, post or deliver your notice of appeal in person to:

After you send your appeal (your notice of appeal)

You’ll be told straight away when your appeal (your notice of appeal) has been received.

You’ll also be given:

a case name

a case number

an address for sending any further letters and documents to the tribunal

a hearing date

You’ll normally find out within a week of sending your notice of appeal:

whether the tribunal will consider your case

whether the Armed Forces opposes the appeal (your notice of appeal) and why

if the tribunal needs more information

You’ll get another letter a few days before the hearing telling you what documents to bring with you, or send by post in advance.

Witnesses

The tribunal may suggest witnesses. You must contact them and make sure they appear at the hearing.

The tribunal can force witnesses to appear at the hearing if you’re unable to do it yourself - the tribunal will tell you how.

What happens at a tribunal hearing

What happens at the hearing

You (or your legal representative) will present your case to the tribunal. An ‘adjudication officer’ will represent the Armed Forces.

Both sides can to give evidence, call witnesses, question witnesses and make statements to the tribunal.

If neither side wants to attend a hearing, a decision will be made without a hearing. This is called a ‘paper hearing’.

You and any witnesses who attend a hearing may be able to claim for expenses you have, for example accommodation or travel.

Hearings are usually held in public.

The tribunal’s (the tribunal) decision

You may get a decision at the end of the hearing. You’ll also get a written copy sent to you.

If a decision’s not made at the hearing, you’ll get a letter telling you the decision within 1 month. This is known as a ‘reserved’ decision.

If you're unhappy with the tribunal's (the tribunal) decision (The tribunal’s (the tribunal) decision)

You cannot appeal if you lose the case.

In exceptional circumstances, you may be able to ask for the tribunal to review its (the tribunal) decision (The tribunal’s (the tribunal) decision), for example if:

new evidence becomes available

the Secretary of Tribunals made a mistake in the proceedings

someone had the right to attend the hearing but could not, and had a valid reason for doing so

something else has gone wrong that’s made the process or decision unfair (known as a review ‘in the interests of justice’)

You can get legal advice, including from a lawyer if you need help.

Write to the Secretary of Tribunals within 5 days of getting the decision (The tribunal’s (the tribunal) decision).

What happens next

The tribunal can:

‘set aside’ the decision (The tribunal’s (the tribunal) decision) - this means you’ll have another hearing

change the decision

Legislation

The tribunal must follow the rules and process in:

the Reserve Forces Appeal Tribunals Rules 1997

Part IX of the Reserve Forces Act 1996

The tribunal will make a decision based on the Reserve Forces (Call-out and Recall) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2005.


Contact Jobcentre Plus

How to contact Jobcentre Plus

You can contact Jobcentre Plus about:

new benefit claims

existing benefit claims

changing or cancelling an appointment

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Contact your nearest Jobcentre Plus

If you want to contact your nearest office, you can find their details using the local office search.

You can write to your nearest office by using their address from the local office search. Their address will also be on any letters you’ve been sent.

If you’re in Northern Ireland

For Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Income Support, contact your Jobs and Benefits office. For Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), contact the ESA Centre.

Complain about Jobcentre Plus

You can complain about the service you’ve received from Jobcentre Plus.

Find a job

Use the ‘Find a job’ service (previously Universal Jobmatch).

Get a National Insurance number

Apply for a National Insurance number or find your National Insurance number if you’ve lost it.

New benefit claims

Call Jobcentre Plus to claim ‘new style’ Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).

There are different contact details for:

Universal Credit

‘new style’ Employment and Support Allowance

You can also claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)) online.

Alternative formats

Call Jobcentre Plus to ask for alternative formats, such as braille, large print or audio CD.

Use a benefits calculator to find out what benefits you could get.

Existing benefit claims

Call the appropriate number for your benefit to:

discuss a claim you’ve made

tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about a change in your circumstances, for example if you start working or your income changes

You’ll need your National Insurance number when you call any of these numbers.

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support, Incapacity Benefit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

If you’re in Northern Ireland

For JSA and Income Support, contact your Jobs and Benefits office. For ESA (Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), contact the ESA Centre.

Universal Credit

You can contact Jobcentre Plus by signing in to your online account - you’ll get a reply Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Social Fund

Maternity Allowance

Bereavement benefits

Change or cancel an appointment

Universal Credit appointments

You can change or cancel a Universal Credit appointment by signing in to your Universal Credit account.

Other appointments


Handing in your notice

Your employment contract

If you want to leave your job, check your employment contract to find out your employer’s policy on handing in notice.

There are rules about:

giving notice

how much you’ll be paid during your notice period

what will happen if you leave to work for a competitor

Giving notice

You must give at least a week’s notice if you’ve been in your job for more than a month.

Your contract (Your employment contract) will tell you whether you need to give notice in writing - otherwise you can do it verbally.

Give written notice if you think you’ll need to refer to it later, for example at an employment tribunal.

You may be in breach of your contract (Your employment contract) if you don’t give enough notice, or give notice verbally when it should be given in writing. Your employer (your employer’s) could take you to court.

Your notice period usually runs from the start of the day after you handed your notice in.

If you change your mind

If you resign in the ‘heat of the moment’ (eg during an argument) and you change your mind, you should tell your employer (your employer’s) immediately. They (your employer’s) can choose to accept your resignation or not.

Get free advice from Acas

Call the Acas helpline to get advice about handing in your notice and pay rights.

Payment during your notice period

You’re entitled to your normal pay rate during your notice period, including when you’re:

off sick

on holiday

temporarily laid off

on maternity, paternity or adoption leave

available to work, even if your employer (your employer’s) has nothing for you to do

‘Payment in lieu’ of notice period (your notice period)

Your employer (your employer’s) can ask you to leave immediately after handing in your notice.

If they (your employer’s) do, they (your employer’s)’ll probably offer you a one-off payment instead of allowing you to work out your notice period - called ‘payment in lieu’.

You can only get payment in lieu if it’s in your contract, or if you agree to it. If you don’t agree to it, you can work out your notice period.

Disputes over notice pay

If you can’t resolve a dispute about notice pay with your employer informally, you can follow your company’s grievance procedures.

If this (follow) doesn’t work, you may be able to make a complaint to an employment tribunal for breach of contract.

Gardening leave

Your employer may ask you not to come into work, or to work at home or another location during your notice period. This (Gardening leave) is called ‘gardening leave’.

You’ll get the same pay and contractual benefits.

Restrictive covenants

There may be terms in your contract that says you can’t work for a competitor or have contact with customers for a period of time after you leave the company.

These are called ‘restrictive covenants’.

Your company could take you to court if you breach the restrictive covenants in your contract.


The new State Pension

Eligibility

You’ll be able to claim the new State Pension if you’re:

a man born on or after 6 April 1951

a woman born on or after 6 April 1953

The earliest you can get the new State Pension is when you reach State Pension age.

If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, you’ll get the State Pension under the old rules instead.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Your National Insurance record

You’ll usually need at least 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to get any State Pension. They do not have to be 10 qualifying years in a row.

This (need) means for 10 years at least one or more of the following applied to you:

you were working and paid National Insurance contributions

you were getting National Insurance credits for example if you were unemployed, ill or a parent or carer

you were paying voluntary National Insurance contributions

If you’ve lived or worked abroad you might still be able to get some new State Pension.

You might also qualify if you’ve paid married women’s or widow’s reduced rate contributions.

Working after State Pension age

You do not have to stop working when you reach State Pension age but you’ll no longer have to pay National Insurance. You can also request flexible working arrangements.

What you'll get

The full new State Pension (the new State Pension) is £179.60 per week.

The actual amount you get depends on your National Insurance record.

The only reasons the amount (The actual amount you get) can be higher are if:

you have over a certain amount of Additional State Pension

you defer (delay) taking your State Pension

You can get a State Pension forecast to find out how much you could get and when.

You can still get a State Pension if you have other income like a personal pension or a workplace pension.

You might have to pay tax on your State Pension.

If you’ve reached State Pension age and you’re on a low income, you may also qualify for Pension Credit, even if you’ve saved money for retirement.

How it (the new State Pension)’s paid

After you’ve made a claim you’ll get a letter about your payments.

The new State Pension is usually paid every 4 weeks into an account of your choice. You’re paid in arrears (for the last 4 weeks, not the coming 4 weeks).

There are different rules if you live abroad.

Your first payment

Your first payment will be within 5 weeks of reaching State Pension age. You’ll get a full payment every 4 weeks after that.

You might get part of a payment before your first full payment. The letter will tell you what to expect.

Your payment day

The day your pension is paid depends on your National Insurance number.

You might be paid earlier if your normal payment day is a bank holiday.

Last 2 digits of your National Insurance number | Payment day of the week

00 to 19 | Monday

20 to 39 | Tuesday

40 to 59 | Wednesday

60 to 79 | Thursday

80 to 99 | Friday

How to claim

You will not get your new State Pension (the new State Pension) automatically - you have to claim it (the new State Pension). You should get a letter no later than 2 months before you reach State Pension age, telling you what to do.

If you have not received an invitation letter, but you are within 4 months of reaching your State Pension age you can still make a claim.

The quickest way to get your State Pension is to apply online.

Apply now

How to claim is different if you claim from Northern Ireland.

Other ways to apply

You can also:

print off and post the State Pension claim form to the Pension Service

phone the Pension Service to get a State Pension claim form posted to you

Send your completed form to:

There’s a different way to claim your pension from abroad, including the Channel Islands.

If you want to keep working

You can claim your new State Pension even if you carry on working. However, you have the option to defer which can increase the amount you get.

Claiming an Isle of Man pension

If you’re eligible for a state pension from the Isle of Man, you’ll need to claim it separately from your UK new State Pension.

Find out if you’re eligible and how to claim your Isle of Man pension (a state pension from the Isle of Man).

You’ll get one payment for your UK pension (your UK new State Pension) and a separate payment for your Isle of Man pension (a state pension from the Isle of Man).

You cannot defer an Isle of Man pension after 6 April 2016.

How it's calculated

The full new State Pension is £179.60 per week. What you’ll receive is based on your National Insurance record.

Valuing your National Insurance contributions and credits made before 6 April 2016

Your National Insurance record before 6 April 2016 (your National Insurance record) is used to calculate your ‘starting amount’. This is part of your new State Pension (The full new State Pension).

Your starting amount (your ‘starting amount’) will be the higher of either:

the amount you would get under the old State Pension rules (which includes basic State Pension and Additional State Pension)

the amount you would get if the new State Pension (The full new State Pension) had been in place at the start of your working life

Your starting amount will include a deduction if you were contracted out of the Additional State Pension (The full new State Pension). You may have been contracted out because you were in a certain type of workplace, personal or stakeholder pension.

If your starting amount is less than the full new State Pension

You can get more State Pension by adding more qualifying years to your National Insurance record after 5 April 2016 (6 April 2016). You can do this until you reach the full new State Pension amount or reach State Pension age - whichever is first.

Each qualifying year on your National Insurance record after 5 April 2016 (6 April 2016) will add about £5.13 a week to your new State Pension (The full new State Pension). The exact amount you get is calculated by dividing £179.60 by 35 and then multiplying by the number of qualifying years after 5 April 2016 (6 April 2016).

If your starting amount is more than the full new State Pension

The part of your starting amount which is above the full new State Pension is called your ‘protected payment’. This is paid on top of the full new State Pension.

Any qualifying years you have after 5 April 2016 (6 April 2016) will not add more to your State Pension (The full new State Pension).

You did not make National Insurance contributions or get National Insurance credits before 6 April 2016

Your State Pension (The full new State Pension) will be calculated entirely under the new State Pension rules.

You’ll need 35 qualifying years to get the full new State Pension.

You’ll get a proportion of the new State Pension (The full new State Pension) if you have between 10 and 35 qualifying years.

Your new State Pension (The full new State Pension) is more likely to be calculated in this way if you were born after the year 2000 or became a resident of the UK after 2015.

Annual increases

The new State Pension (The full new State Pension) increases each year by whichever is the highest:

earnings – the average percentage growth in wages (in Great Britain)

prices – the percentage growth in prices in the UK as measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI)

If you have a protected payment, it (The full new State Pension) increases each year in line with the CPI.

Get a State Pension forecast

You can get a State Pension forecast to find out how much new State Pension you may get.

Further information

You can read ‘Your new State Pension explained’ for more detailed information about the changes to the State Pension scheme.

You've been in a workplace, personal or stakeholder pension

Your starting amount may include a deduction if you were in certain:

earnings-related pension schemes at work (such as a final salary or career average pension) before 6 April 2016

workplace, personal or stakeholder pensions before 6 April 2012

You may have paid lower National Insurance contributions and paid into one of these pensions instead. This is known as being ‘contracted out’ of the Additional State Pension (The full new State Pension) and will affect most people who have been in work.

You can check with your pension provider if you’ve been contracted out in the past. The Pension Tracing Service might be able to find your pension providers’ contact details if you’ve lost contact with them.

Changes to contracting out from 6 April 2016

On 6 April 2016 these rules changed so that if you were contracted out:

you’ll no longer be contracted out

you’ll pay more National Insurance (the standard amount)

Check if you were contracted out

Check your old payslips. You were contracted out if the National Insurance contributions line has the letter D or N next to it. You were not contracted out if it has a letter A.

If there’s a different letter, check with your employer or pension provider.

You’re more likely to have been contracted out if you worked in the public sector, for example:

the NHS

local councils

fire services

the civil service

teaching

police forces

the armed forces

You paid National Insurance at a lower rate if you were contracted out.

Your National Insurance record and your State Pension

Your new State Pension is based on your National Insurance record when you reach State Pension age.

You’ll usually need to have 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to get any new State Pension.

You may get less than the new full State Pension (Your new State Pension) if you were contracted out before 6 April 2016.

You may get more than the new full State Pension (Your new State Pension) if you would have had over a certain amount of Additional State Pension under the old rules.

You’ll need 35 qualifying years to get the new full State Pension (Your new State Pension) if you do not have a National Insurance record before 6 April 2016.

Qualifying years if you’re working

When you’re working you pay National Insurance and get a qualifying year if:

you’re employed and earning over £184 a week from one employer

you’re self-employed and paying National Insurance contributions

You might not pay National Insurance contributions because you’re earning less than £184 a week. You may still get a qualifying year if you earn between £120 and £184 a week from one employer.

Qualifying years if you’re not working

You may get National Insurance credits if you cannot work - for example because of illness or disability, or if you’re a carer or you’re unemployed.

For example, you can get National Insurance credits if you:

claim Child Benefit for a child under 12 (or under 16 before 2010)

get Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance

get Carer’s Allowance

You’re not working or getting National Insurance credits

You might be able to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions if you’re not in one of these groups but want to increase your State Pension amount.

Gaps in your National Insurance record

You can have gaps in your National Insurance record and still get the full new State Pension (Your new State Pension).

You can get a State Pension forecast which will tell you how much State Pension you may get. You can then apply for a National Insurance statement from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to check if your record (Your National Insurance record) has gaps.

If you have gaps in your National Insurance record that would prevent you from getting the full new State Pension (Your new State Pension), you may be able to:

get National Insurance credits

make voluntary National Insurance contributions

Inheriting or increasing State Pension from a spouse or civil partner

You might be able to inherit an extra payment on top of your new State Pension if you’re widowed.

You will not be able to inherit anything if you remarry or form a new civil partnership before you reach State Pension age.

Inheriting Additional State Pension

You might inherit part of your deceased partner’s Additional State Pension if your marriage or civil partnership with them began before 6 April 2016 and one of the following applies:

your partner (your deceased partner’s) reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016

they (your deceased partner’s) died before 6 April 2016 but would have reached State Pension age on or after that date (6 April 2016)

It will be paid with your State Pension.

Inheriting a protected payment

You’ll inherit half of your partner’s protected payment if your marriage or civil partnership with them began before 6 April 2016 and:

their (your partner’s) State Pension age is on or after 6 April 2016

they (your partner’s) died on or after 6 April 2016

It (a protected payment) will be paid with your State Pension.

Inheriting extra State Pension or a lump sum

You may inherit part of or all of your partner’s extra State Pension or lump sum (extra State Pension or a lump sum) if:

they (your partner’s) died while they (your partner’s) were deferring their (your partner’s) State Pension (before claiming) or they (your partner’s) had started claiming it after deferring

they (your partner’s) reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016

you were married or in the civil partnership when they (your partner’s) died

Your partner’s National Insurance record and your State Pension

The new State Pension (extra State Pension) is based on your own National Insurance record.

If you paid married women’s or widows’ reduced rate National Insurance, you might be able to increase your new State Pension (extra State Pension) if you’re eligible.

If you get divorced or dissolve your civil partnership

The courts can make a ‘pension sharing order’ if you get divorced or dissolve your civil partnership.

You’ll get an extra payment on top of your State Pension if your ex-partner is ordered to share their Additional State Pension or protected payment with you.

Your State Pension will be reduced if you’re ordered to share your Additional State Pension or protected payment (their Additional State Pension or protected payment) with your partner.

Living and working overseas

If you live or work in another country, you might be able to contribute towards that country’s State Pension scheme.

If you’ve lived or worked in another country in the past, you might be eligible for that country’s state pension and a UK State Pension.

To check if you can pay into or receive another country’s state pension, contact the pension service for that country.

Claiming another country’s state pension

Depending on where you’ve lived or worked, you may need to make more than one pension claim.

European Economic Area (EEA) countries, Gibraltar and Switzerland

You only need to claim your state pension in the last country where you lived or worked. Your claim will cover all EEA countries, Gibraltar and Switzerland. You do not need to claim for each country separately.

Countries outside the EEA (EEA) (except Switzerland)

You need to claim your pension from each country separately.

Check with the pension service for the country where you’ve lived or worked to find out how to make a claim.

Your UK State Pension (a UK State Pension) if you’ve lived or worked abroad

Your UK State Pension (a UK State Pension) will be based on your UK National Insurance record. You need 10 years of UK National Insurance contributions to be eligible for the new State Pension (a UK State Pension).

You may be able to use time spent abroad to make up the 10 qualifying years (10 years of UK National Insurance contributions). This is most likely if you’ve lived or worked in:

the EEA

Switzerland

Gibraltar

certain countries that have a social security agreement with the UK (UK)

You want to retire overseas

You can claim the new State Pension (a UK State Pension) overseas in most countries.

Your State Pension will increase each year but only if you live in:

the EEA

Gibraltar

Switzerland

Your new State Pension (a UK State Pension) may be affected if your circumstances change. You can get more information from the International Pension Centre.


Over 80 pension

Overview

The over 80 pension is a State Pension for people aged 80 or over.

To be eligible you must get either a basic State Pension of less than £82.45 a week, or no basic State Pension at all.

It (The over 80 pension) can give you £82.45 a week in the 2021 to 2022 tax year.

What you'll get

What you get depends on how much basic State Pension you get, if any.

If you do not get the basic State Pension or you get less than £82.45 a week, you could get the difference paid up to this amount.

Eligibility

You cannot get the over 80 pension if you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016.

You can claim the over 80 pension if all of the following apply:

you’re 80 or over

you do not get basic State Pension or your basic State Pension (the basic State Pension) is less than £82.45 a week in 2021 to 2022

you were resident in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 10 years out of 20 (this does not have to be 10 years in a row) - this 20 year period must include the day before you turned 80 or any day after

you were ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar on your 80th birthday or the date you made the claim for this pension (The over 80 pension), if later

If you live in or are moving to a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, find out about pensions and benefits for UK nationals in the EU, EEA and Switzerland.

Your eligibility for the over 80 pension is not based on National Insurance contributions.

How to claim

You can get a claim form from either:

your pension centre

your local Jobcentre Plus

The earliest you can claim is 3 months before your 80th birthday.

Further information

Effect on other benefits

The over 80 pension counts as taxable income, so it (The over 80 pension) may affect other benefits you’re getting.

You must include the over 80 pension as income if you’re claiming other income related benefits.

What to do if your situation changes

If your circumstances change it (changes) could affect your eligibility.

It’s important you contact the office that deals with your payments if you:

move house

change your bank account

go into (or leave) hospital or a health authority funded care home

leave the UK to live abroad, or for a long visit

Report your change of situation to The Pension Service.

Who to contact if you have further questions

You can call The Pension Service if you have more questions about the over 80 pension.


Transferring your pension

Overview

You may want to move some or all of your pension fund (sometimes called a ‘pension pot’) if:

you’re changing job

your pension scheme is being closed or wound up

you want to transfer to a better pension scheme

you have pensions from more than one employer and want to bring them together

you’re moving overseas and want to move your pension to a scheme in that country

Get help and advice

You can get free, impartial information about transferring your pension from:

the Money Advice Service

the Pensions Advisory Service

You can also get impartial advice about workplace pensions from an independent financial adviser. You’ll usually have to pay for the advice.

If you’re concerned about a pension scam

Contact Action Fraud if you’re transferring a pension and are concerned about a scam.

You can also report a pension scam online to Action Fraud.

Transferring to a UK pension scheme

You can transfer your UK pension pot to another registered UK pension scheme.

You can also use it (your UK pension pot) to buy a ‘deferred annuity contract’ - an agreement that gives you a guaranteed income in the future.

Transferring your pension pot anywhere else - or taking it as an unauthorised lump sum - will be an ‘unauthorised payment’ and you’ll have to pay tax on the transfer.

Before you make a transfer

Contact your current pension provider and the provider you want to transfer to. You’ll need to check if:

your existing pension scheme allows you to transfer some or all of your pension pot

the scheme that you wish to transfer into will accept the transfer (a transfer)

Get help and advice including if you’re concerned about a pension scam.

If you transfer your pension, you may:

have to make payments to the new scheme (the scheme that you wish to transfer into)

have to pay a fee to make the transfer (transfer)

lose any right you had to take your pension at a certain age

lose any fixed or enhanced protection you have when you transfer

lose any right you had to take a tax free lump sum of more than 25% of your pension pot

Your pension providers can tell you whether any of these will apply.

Transferring to an overseas pension scheme

You may be able to transfer your UK pension savings to an overseas pension scheme.

Schemes you can transfer to

The overseas scheme you want to transfer your pension savings (your UK pension savings) to must be a ‘qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme’ (QROPS). It’s up to you to check this with the overseas scheme (the scheme that you wish to transfer into) or your UK pension provider (your existing pension scheme) or adviser.

If it (the scheme that you wish to transfer into)’s not a QROPS, your UK pension scheme may refuse to make the transfer (transfer), or you’ll have to pay at least 40% tax on the transfer (transfer).

Tax when you transfer to a QROPS

Whether you pay tax depends on where the QROPS you transfer to (a QROPS) is based. It’s your responsibility to find out where this (a QROPS) is.

You do not have to pay any tax if you asked for a transfer to a QROPS before 9 March 2017.

You usually do not pay tax if you transfer to a QROPS provided by your employer. Check with the scheme (your UK pension scheme) to find out.

You transfer to a QROPS based in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Gibraltar

You pay 25% tax if you either:

move to live outside the UK, Gibraltar or the EEA (the European Economic Area (EEA)) within 5 years

Otherwise you do not pay tax.

You can get tax refunded if you move to the UK, Gibraltar or an EEA (the European Economic Area (EEA)) country within 5 years of the transfer. To claim, tell your UK scheme’s (your UK pension scheme) administrator and your overseas scheme manager you’ve moved using form APSS 241. They’ll put the tax refund back into the pension it was taken from.

You transfer to a QROPS based outside the UK, Gibraltar or the EEA (the European Economic Area (EEA))

You do not have to pay tax if you live in the country your QROPS is based in. Otherwise you’ll have to pay 25% tax.

If you move countries within 5 years of the transfer, fill in form APSS 241 and give it to your scheme administrator (your UK scheme’s (your UK pension scheme) administrator). You’ll:

get a refund if you’ve moved to the country your QROPS is based in

have to pay 25% tax on your transfer if you’ve moved away from the country your QROPS is based in

How to transfer

Form APSS 263 tells you what information you’ll need to provide before making a transfer.

Download and fill in the form (Form APSS 263) and give it (Form APSS 263) to your UK pension scheme administrator (your UK scheme’s (your UK pension scheme) administrator).

Your transfer will be taxed at 25% if you do not provide all the information the form (Form APSS 263) asks for within 60 days of requesting the transfer (a transfer).

If you’re under 75, your UK pension scheme administrator will work out what percentage of your lifetime allowance is used by the transfer (a transfer).

They (your UK pension scheme administrator)’ll tell you if the amount you’re transferring is more than your allowance and if you’ll be taxed on it.

Payments from an overseas pension

You may have to pay UK tax on some payments from your overseas scheme. This depends on when you were a UK resident.


Understanding your pay

Overview

When you start work, your employer should tell you how much you’ll be paid and how often. They should also tell you:

the day or date you’ll be paid, for example each Friday or the last day of the month

how you’ll be paid, for example cash, cheque or bank transfer

If you’re an employee or ‘worker’ (not a contractor or freelancer), you have the right to a payslip, which shows:

your earnings before and after any deductions

the amount of any deductions that may change each time you’re paid, for example tax and National Insurance

the number of hours you worked, if your pay varies depending on time worked

You might need to know how to work out your weekly pay if you have to claim payments for redundancy or compensation from your employer.

Part-time workers

If you’re a part-time worker, you must get at least the same hourly pay rate as a full-time worker doing a similar job.

Working out your pay

Knowing how to work out your weekly pay is important because it’s used to work out how much you should get for:

redundancy pay and pay during time off for job-hunting if you’re made redundant

pay during your notice period when leaving a job

holiday pay

guarantee pay for work - you get this if your employer cannot provide you with work, but your contract says they have to pay you anyway

compensation awarded by Employment Tribunals

What you’re entitled to depends on your work status.

You do not need to calculate your weekly pay, if you’re paid weekly and your pay does not vary.

If your pay varies or you’re not paid weekly, you have to use a 12-week period for working it out.

The 12-week period (a 12-week period)

You can work out your weekly pay by getting an average figure for a 12-week period. The particular 12 weeks you use varies depending on what you’re calculating your pay for.

Redundancy

Use the 12 weeks up to the day you got your redundancy notice to work out your pay.

Notice pay

Use the 12 weeks up to the first day of the notice period to work out what your notice pay should be.

Paid annual leave

Work this out using the 12 weeks leading up to your holiday.

Guarantee payments

Use the 12 weeks leading up to when your payment is due. If you no longer work for that employer, use the last 12 weeks of your employment with them.

If you’ve worked for your employer for less than 12 weeks, you should be allowed to calculate your average weekly pay using:

the number of hours you would have worked

the hours of other workers doing a similar job for your employer

Working out your weekly figure

Add up the total amount of pay for the period (a 12-week period) and divide it by 12 to get the weekly figure (your weekly figure). You do this even if you’ve had to use a period of more than 12 weeks.

You can also include bonuses.

Overtime

You can include overtime in your calculations if your contract says your employer has to pay it.

Work done for a previous employer

You can include pay for work done for a previous employer if you’re calculating your average weekly pay and you did not have a gap in employment when you changed jobs.

Get help with the calculations

You can get help to calculate a week’s pay from Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) or Citizens Advice.

Pay calculations if you work shifts or get bonuses

If your pay or working hours vary from week to week, the calculations for working out your weekly pay are more complicated.

Bonuses and commission

Your pay could vary depending on the amount of work you do, because of:

bonuses

commission

‘piece work’ - you’re paid by the amount of work you do, rather than by the hour

The 12-week period (a 12-week period)

If you get bonuses, commission or piece work, you’ll need to work out your average hourly rate over a 12-week period to work out your weekly pay.

Add up your total pay for the 12 weeks (a 12-week period) first. You can include overtime and bonuses. There are special calculations for bonuses.

Quarterly bonuses

You can include a proportion of your quarterly bonuses in your calculations.

Divide the bonus amount by 13 (the number of weeks in a quarter of a year).

Multiply this figure by 12 (the number of weeks your pay is averaged across).

Annual bonuses

If you get an annual bonus here’s what you need to do.

Divide the bonus amount (an annual bonus) by 52 (the number of weeks in a year).

Multiply this (an annual bonus) by 12.

Hourly rate

Work out the average hourly rate (Hourly rate) by dividing the total amount you earned in 12-week period by the number of hours you worked.

Weekly rate

Multiply your hourly rate (Weekly rate) by the average number of hours you worked each week in the 12-week period (a 12-week period), to get your weekly rate.

Shift or rota work

Your week’s pay will be the average number of hours you work at an average pay rate over a 12-week period.

Get help with the calculations

Performance-related pay

Your employer should base your performance-related pay (Performance-related pay) on clear, measurable targets - they should tell you about these.

There are 2 main types of performance pay:

short-term schemes, like bonus payments or sales commission

long-term schemes, like company shares

Non-payment of bonuses or commission

If you do not get a bonus or commission you’re owed and you think there’s been a mistake:

speak to your employer to see if there’s been a misunderstanding

ask them (your employer) set out in writing how they (your employer)’ve calculated your pay

keep copies of any letters and notes of any meetings

If a bonus or commission is included in your contract, non-payment is a breach of contract. You can get help with making a complaint.

Non-payment of bonuses may also be covered legally under:

unlawful deductions from wages - for example, you’re entitled to payment but it has not been given

unlawful discrimination - your employer must not discriminate against particular groups, for example giving smaller bonuses to women

You can get advice from Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), Citizens Advice or your trade union representative.

Deductions from your pay

Your employer is not allowed to make deductions unless:

it (make)’s required or allowed by law, for example National Insurance, income tax or student loan repayments

you agree in writing

your contract says they (Your employer) can

there’s a statutory payment due to a public authority

you have not worked due to taking part in a strike or industrial action

there’s been an earlier overpayment of wages or expenses

it’s a result of a court order

A deduction cannot normally reduce your pay below the National Minimum Wage even if you agree to it, except if the deduction is for:

tax or National Insurance

something you’ve done and your contract says you’re liable for it (an earlier overpayment of wages or expenses), for example a shortfall in your till if you work in a shop

repayment of a loan or advance of wages

repayment of an accidental overpayment of wages

buying shares or share options in the business

accommodation provided by your employer

your own use, for example union subscriptions or pension contributions

If you work in retail - for example shops, restaurants

Your employer cannot take more than 10% from your gross pay (pay before tax and National Insurance) each pay period to cover any shortfalls.

If you have not been paid in full

Speak to your employer first to try to sort out the problem informally.

If this (Speak) does not work, talk to Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), Citizens Advice or your trade union representative.

You have the right to go to an Employment Tribunal to get your money.

If you leave your job

Check your contract to see if your employer is allowed to withhold your pay. Normally you’re entitled to be paid everything you’ve earned up to the point you finish.

If you’re forced to resign because your employer refuses to pay you, you may be able to make a constructive dismissal claim in an Employment Tribunal.