My friend Marcus is in the process of compiling supporting documents to apply for a Minister of Religion visa. He renewed his passport last year 2020. Which documents can he use to show his past travel history?

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

Minister of Religion visa (T2)

Overview

You can apply for a Minister of Religion visa (T2) if:

you’ve been offered a job within a faith community (for example as a minister of religion, missionary, or member of a religious order) in the UK

you meet the other eligibility requirements

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

If you or your 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 to work in the UK.

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

Getting sponsored

You need to be employed by a licensed sponsor to apply to live in the UK.

Your sponsor checks that you can do the job they’re hiring you for and if it qualifies you for a visa. They’ll give you a certificate of sponsorship to prove this.

They must also give you other information you need when you apply, for example how much you’ll be paid.

How long it will take

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you’re due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

Find out about paying for a faster decision.

Application fee

How much you pay for a Minister of Religion visa (T2) depends on where you are.

Who you’re applying for | Apply outside the UK | Extend or switch in the UK

You | £610 | £704

All dependants | £610 each person | £704 each person

If you’re from an eligible country

Your application fee will be automatically reduced by £55 if you’re from one of the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden or Turkey.

This reduction only applies to your visa application. Your partner and children will still need to pay the full application fee.

Healthcare surcharge

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.

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 to extend or switch in the UK you can pay an extra £500 for the priority service to get a decision within 5 working days.

You can pay an extra £800 for the super priority service to get a decision:

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.

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

How long you can stay

You can come to the UK with a Minister of Religion visa (T2) for a maximum of up to 3 years and 1 month, or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.

You can apply to extend your stay.

You must apply before your visa expires.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship

do a second job - in certain circumstances

do voluntary work

study as long as it does not interfere with the job you’re sponsored for

travel abroad and return to the UK

bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible

You cannot:

own more than 10% of your sponsor’s shares  (unless you earn more than £159,600 a year)

get public funds

Eligibility

You need to:

have a certificate of sponsorship for your job

prove your knowledge of English

have personal savings so you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK

show you can travel and your travel history over the last 5 years

have tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country

You need to have an eligible qualification if you’re switching from a Tier 4 visa.

Certificate of sponsorship

A certificate of sponsorship holds your personal details and information about the job you’ve been offered. It’s an electronic record, not a paper document. Your sponsor will give you a certificate of sponsorship reference number to add to your application.

You can only use your certificate of sponsorship reference number once. You must use it within 3 months of getting it.

Money to support yourself

You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.

You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless either:

you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months

your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270

Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK. Check how much they’ll need.

Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.

If your employer can support you instead

Your certificate of sponsorship must confirm this. Your employer will need to complete the ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section on your certificate. This is under ‘Additional data’.

Knowledge of English

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

You can prove your knowledge of English by either:

passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening

having an academic qualification that was taught in English and is recognised by Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) as being equivalent to a UK bachelors degree, master’s degree or PhD

You may be able to meet the English language requirement in other ways. Check the full visa guidance for detailed information.

Exceptions

You 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

You also may not have to prove your knowledge of English in other circumstances - check the full visa guidance.

Documents you'll need

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

your certificate of sponsorship reference number (your employer will give you this)

proof of your knowledge of English

evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK, for example bank statements (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your employer can support you)

a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality - you need a blank page in your passport for your visa

expired passports or travel documents if you need them to show your travel history

your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country

If your documents are not in English or Welsh you’ll also need to provide a certified translation.

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

See the full list of documents you can provide.

Read the guidance about the money you’ll need and how to prove it.

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for a Minister of Religion visa (T2).

Check which documents you’ll need to apply.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your online application, you need to book an appointment at a visa application centre.

You’ll have your fingerprints and photograph taken at the visa application centre, so you can get a biometric residence permit.

You’ll have to collect your biometric residence permit within 10 days of when you said you’d arrive in the UK.

Apply for a Minister of Religion visa (T2)

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

Apply now

Continue your application

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

How long it takes to get a decision

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

Find out how to get your visa decision faster - this depends on what country you’re in.

After you apply

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if the application has not been processed yet.

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

Extend your visa

You may be able to apply to extend your stay in the UK under a Minister of Religion visa (T2).

You can add your partner and children to your online application - including children who have turned 18 during your stay.

You should apply before your current visa expires.

Eligibility

You’ll still need to meet the eligibility criteria and provide the right documents.

You’ll also need a new certificate of sponsorship from your sponsor.

How long you can stay

You can extend a Minister of Religion visa (T2) for up to 3 years, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, or the time required to take your total stay in the UK to a maximum of 6 years, whichever time is shorter.

Fees

Check the fees for your visa.

Apply to extend your Minister of Religion visa (T2)

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

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

Apply now

Continue your application

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

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

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

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

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

How long it takes

Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

You’ll usually get a decision:

within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service

within 5 working days of your UKVCAS appointment if you use the priority service

If you use the super priority service you’ll get a decision:

by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday

2 working days after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is at the weekend

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

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

You’ll be contacted if your circumstances or application are more complicated, for example if:

your supporting documents need to be verified

you need to attend an interview

you have a criminal conviction

Switch to this visa

You can apply to change (‘switch’) from another visa to a Minister of Religion visa (T2).

You should apply before your current visa expires.

Eligibility

You must meet the Minister of Religion visa (T2) eligibility requirements and must already be in the UK under any of the following visas:

Tier 1 visa

Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa

Tier 2 (General) visa

Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) visa under the Immigration Rules in place before 6 April 2010 and you’re applying to change sponsor

Tier 4 visa - if you have an eligible qualification

Start-up visa

Innovator visa

You can also switch to this visa if you meet the eligibility requirements and you’re:

a dependent partner of someone with a Tier 4 visa

a representative of an overseas business

You must leave the UK and make your Minister of Religion visa (T2) application from abroad if you’re not in any of these categories.

Eligible qualifications for Tier 4 visa

You must have been sponsored by a licensed sponsor to get one of the following qualifications:

a UK bachelors degree

a UK masters degree

a postgraduate certificate in education

a professional graduate diploma of education

If you’re a PhD student, you must have also have completed the last 12 months’ study  during your most recent stay in the UK. This can be through a licensed sponsor or another visa that allowed you to study.

How long you can stay

You can stay up to 3 years after switching to a Minister of Religion visa (T2).

Fees

Check the fees for your visa.

Apply to switch to a Minister of Religion visa (T2)

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

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

Apply now

Continue your application

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

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

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

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

How long it takes

Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

You’ll usually get a decision:

within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service

within 5 working days of your UKVCAS appointment if you use the priority service

If you use the super priority service you’ll get a decision:

by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday

2 working days after your UKVCAs appointment if your appointment is at the weekend

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

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

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

your supporting documents need to be verified

you need to attend an interview

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

Your partner and children

Your partner and children can apply to join you or to stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible. If their application is successful, their visa will end on the same date as yours.

Your relationship

A dependant partner or child is any of the following:

your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner

your child under 18 - including if they were born in the UK during your stay

your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant

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

Your partner

You must be able to prove that either:

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

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

If your child is 16 or over

They must:

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

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

be financially supported by you

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

a bank statement

credit card bills

driving licence

NHS registration document

an official letter from their university or college

Money they need to support themselves

Your partner or children must have a certain amount of money available to support themselves while they’re in the UK.

You - or your partner or child - will need:

£285 for your partner

£315 for one child

£200 for each additional child

You - or your partner or child - will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of you or them applying for this visa.

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when they apply, unless either:

you have all been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months

your employer can cover your family’s costs during your first month in the UK - this must be confirmed on your certificate of sponsorship

If your partner or child is applying at a different time to you, they’ll only need to prove they have enough money to support themselves if they have been in the UK for less than one year.

Apply from outside the UK

Your partner and children must apply online.

Each family member will need to complete a separate application and pay the visa fee. They must apply before they travel to the UK.

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

Proving their identity

As part of their application, your partner and children will need to have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre. They may need to travel to get to their nearest centre (this could be in another country).

The visa application centre may need to keep their passport and documents while they process their application.

How long it takes to get a decision

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

They may be able to pay to get their visa faster - check with the visa application centre.

Apply from inside the UK to extend

You can include your partner and children on your application to extend this visa. This includes children who were born or have turned 18 during your stay.

If you cannot apply at the same time, your partner or child can apply to extend their visas at a later date. This must be before their current visa expires.

How to apply

Your partner and children must apply online to either:

extend as a partner

extend as a child

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

As part of their application, your partner and children will need to have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point.

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

How long it takes to get a decision

Once they’ve applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

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

Children born in the UK

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

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

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

You must apply to add them to your visa before they turn 18 if they want to stay in the UK.

Taking a second job

You can take a second job on this visa if you’re working up to 20 hours a week in either:

the same profession as your main job

a profession on the Skilled Worker shortage occupation list

You can also do unpaid voluntary work.

Otherwise, you’ll need to apply for a new visa. You’ll need to be sponsored by your second employer and get a new certificate of sponsorship.

When to apply for a new visa

You cannot apply for a new visa until you’ve started work with your first sponsor.

You cannot start work with your second sponsor until your visa application has been approved.

How to apply

Read the guidance before you apply.

You must apply online.

You must be in the UK to apply.

Documents you must provide

You’ll need to provide some documents with your application.

You must also provide a letter explaining that you want to change your current permission to stay.

Your letter must state:

your name

your date of birth

your current certificate of sponsorship reference number

the date when your current permission to stay runs out

a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality - you need a blank page in your passport for your visa

Minister of Religion visa (T2)

Overview

You can apply for a Minister of Religion visa (T2) if:

you’ve been offered a job within a faith community (for example as a minister of religion, missionary, or member of a religious order) in the UK

you meet the other eligibility requirements

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

If you or your 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 to work in the UK.

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

Getting sponsored

You need to be employed by a licensed sponsor to apply to live in the UK.

They must also give you other information you need when you apply, for example how much you’ll be paid.

How long it will take

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you’re due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

Find out about paying for a faster decision.

Application fee

How much you pay for a Minister of Religion visa (T2) depends on where you are.

Who you’re applying for | Apply outside the UK | Extend or switch in the UK

You | £610 | £704

All dependants | £610 each person | £704 each person

If you’re from an eligible country

Your application fee will be automatically reduced by £55 if you’re from one of the following countries:

This reduction only applies to your visa application. Your partner and children will still need to pay the full application fee.

Healthcare surcharge

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.

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 to extend or switch in the UK you can pay an extra £500 for the priority service to get a decision within 5 working days.

You can pay an extra £800 for the super priority service to get a decision:

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.

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

How long you can stay

You can apply to extend your stay.

You must apply before your visa expires.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship

do a second job - in certain circumstances

do voluntary work

study as long as it does not interfere with the job you’re sponsored for

travel abroad and return to the UK

bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible

You cannot:

own more than 10% of your sponsor’s shares  (unless you earn more than £159,600 a year)

get public funds

Eligibility

You need to:

have a certificate of sponsorship for your job

prove your knowledge of English

have personal savings so you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK

show you can travel and your travel history over the last 5 years

have tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country

You need to have an eligible qualification if you’re switching from a Tier 4 visa.

Certificate of sponsorship

You can only use your certificate of sponsorship reference number once. You must use it within 3 months of getting it.

Money to support yourself

You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.

You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless either:

you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months

your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270

Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK. Check how much they’ll need.

Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.

If your employer can support you instead

Knowledge of English

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

You can prove your knowledge of English by either:

passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening

You may be able to meet the English language requirement in other ways. Check the full visa guidance for detailed information.

Exceptions

You 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

You also may not have to prove your knowledge of English in other circumstances - check the full visa guidance.

Documents you'll need

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

your certificate of sponsorship reference number (your employer will give you this)

proof of your knowledge of English

a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality - you need a blank page in your passport for your visa

expired passports or travel documents if you need them to show your travel history

your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country

If your documents are not in English or Welsh you’ll also need to provide a certified translation.

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

See the full list of documents you can provide.

Read the guidance about the money you’ll need and how to prove it.

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for a Minister of Religion visa (T2).

Check which documents you’ll need to apply.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your online application, you need to book an appointment at a visa application centre.

You’ll have your fingerprints and photograph taken at the visa application centre, so you can get a biometric residence permit.

You’ll have to collect your biometric residence permit within 10 days of when you said you’d arrive in the UK.

Apply for a Minister of Religion visa (T2)

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

Apply now

Continue your application

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

How long it takes to get a decision

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

Find out how to get your visa decision faster - this depends on what country you’re in.

After you apply

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if the application has not been processed yet.

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

Extend your visa

You may be able to apply to extend your stay in the UK under a Minister of Religion visa (T2).

You can add your partner and children to your online application - including children who have turned 18 during your stay.

You should apply before your current visa expires.

Eligibility

You’ll still need to meet the eligibility criteria and provide the right documents.

You’ll also need a new certificate of sponsorship from your sponsor.

How long you can stay

Fees

Check the fees for your visa.

Apply to extend your Minister of Religion visa (T2)

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

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

Apply now

Continue your application

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

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

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

How long it takes

Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

You’ll usually get a decision:

within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service

within 5 working days of your UKVCAS appointment if you use the priority service

If you use the super priority service you’ll get a decision:

by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday

2 working days after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is at the weekend

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

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

You’ll be contacted if your circumstances or application are more complicated, for example if:

your supporting documents need to be verified

you need to attend an interview

you have a criminal conviction

Switch to this visa

You can apply to change (‘switch’) from another visa to a Minister of Religion visa (T2).

You should apply before your current visa expires.

Eligibility

You must meet the Minister of Religion visa (T2) eligibility requirements and must already be in the UK under any of the following visas:

Tier 1 visa

Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa

Tier 2 (General) visa

Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) visa under the Immigration Rules in place before 6 April 2010 and you’re applying to change sponsor

Tier 4 visa - if you have an eligible qualification

Start-up visa

Innovator visa

You can also switch to this visa if you meet the eligibility requirements and you’re:

a dependent partner of someone with a Tier 4 visa

a representative of an overseas business

You must leave the UK and make your Minister of Religion visa (T2) application from abroad if you’re not in any of these categories.

Eligible qualifications for Tier 4 visa

You must have been sponsored by a licensed sponsor to get one of the following qualifications:

a UK bachelors degree

a UK masters degree

a postgraduate certificate in education

a professional graduate diploma of education

How long you can stay

You can stay up to 3 years after switching to a Minister of Religion visa (T2).

Fees

Check the fees for your visa.

Apply to switch to a Minister of Religion visa (T2)

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

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

Apply now

Continue your application

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

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

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

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

How long it takes

Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

You’ll usually get a decision:

within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service

within 5 working days of your UKVCAS appointment if you use the priority service

If you use the super priority service you’ll get a decision:

by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday

2 working days after your UKVCAs appointment if your appointment is at the weekend

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

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

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

your supporting documents need to be verified

you need to attend an interview

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

Your partner and children

Your relationship

A dependant partner or child is any of the following:

your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner

your child under 18 - including if they were born in the UK during your stay

your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant

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

Your partner

You must be able to prove that either:

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

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

If your child is 16 or over

They must:

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

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

be financially supported by you

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

a bank statement

credit card bills

driving licence

NHS registration document

an official letter from their university or college

Money they need to support themselves

Your partner or children must have a certain amount of money available to support themselves while they’re in the UK.

You - or your partner or child - will need:

£285 for your partner

£315 for one child

£200 for each additional child

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when they apply, unless either:

you have all been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months

your employer can cover your family’s costs during your first month in the UK - this must be confirmed on your certificate of sponsorship

Apply from outside the UK

Your partner and children must apply online.

Each family member will need to complete a separate application and pay the visa fee. They must apply before they travel to the UK.

Proving their identity

The visa application centre may need to keep their passport and documents while they process their application.

How long it takes to get a decision

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

They may be able to pay to get their visa faster - check with the visa application centre.

Apply from inside the UK to extend

You can include your partner and children on your application to extend this visa. This includes children who were born or have turned 18 during your stay.

If you cannot apply at the same time, your partner or child can apply to extend their visas at a later date. This must be before their current visa expires.

How to apply

Your partner and children must apply online to either:

extend as a partner

extend as a child

How long it takes to get a decision

Once they’ve applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

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

Children born in the UK

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

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

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

You must apply to add them to your visa before they turn 18 if they want to stay in the UK.

Taking a second job

You can take a second job on this visa if you’re working up to 20 hours a week in either:

the same profession as your main job

a profession on the Skilled Worker shortage occupation list

You can also do unpaid voluntary work.

Otherwise, you’ll need to apply for a new visa. You’ll need to be sponsored by your second employer and get a new certificate of sponsorship.

When to apply for a new visa

You cannot apply for a new visa until you’ve started work with your first sponsor.

You cannot start work with your second sponsor until your visa application has been approved.

How to apply

Read the guidance before you apply.

You must apply online.

You must be in the UK to apply.

Documents you must provide

You’ll need to provide some documents with your application.

You must also provide a letter explaining that you want to change your current permission to stay.

Your letter must state:

your name

your date of birth

your current certificate of sponsorship reference number

the date when your current permission to stay runs out

expired passports or travel documents if you need them to show your travel history

Minister of Religion visa (T2)

Overview

You can apply for a Minister of Religion visa (T2) if:

you’ve been offered a job within a faith community (for example as a minister of religion, missionary, or member of a religious order) in the UK

you meet the other eligibility requirements

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

If you or your 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 to work in the UK.

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

Getting sponsored

You need to be employed by a licensed sponsor to apply to live in the UK.

They must also give you other information you need when you apply, for example how much you’ll be paid.

How long it will take

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you’re due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

Find out about paying for a faster decision.

Application fee

How much you pay for a Minister of Religion visa (T2) depends on where you are.

Who you’re applying for | Apply outside the UK | Extend or switch in the UK

You | £610 | £704

All dependants | £610 each person | £704 each person

If you’re from an eligible country

Your application fee will be automatically reduced by £55 if you’re from one of the following countries:

This reduction only applies to your visa application. Your partner and children will still need to pay the full application fee.

Healthcare surcharge

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.

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 to extend or switch in the UK you can pay an extra £500 for the priority service to get a decision within 5 working days.

You can pay an extra £800 for the super priority service to get a decision:

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.

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

How long you can stay

You can apply to extend your stay.

You must apply before your visa expires.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship

do a second job - in certain circumstances

do voluntary work

study as long as it does not interfere with the job you’re sponsored for

travel abroad and return to the UK

bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible

You cannot:

own more than 10% of your sponsor’s shares  (unless you earn more than £159,600 a year)

get public funds

Eligibility

You need to:

have a certificate of sponsorship for your job

prove your knowledge of English

have personal savings so you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK

show you can travel and your travel history over the last 5 years

have tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country

You need to have an eligible qualification if you’re switching from a Tier 4 visa.

Certificate of sponsorship

You can only use your certificate of sponsorship reference number once. You must use it within 3 months of getting it.

Money to support yourself

You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.

You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless either:

you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months

your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270

Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK. Check how much they’ll need.

Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.

If your employer can support you instead

Knowledge of English

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

You can prove your knowledge of English by either:

passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening

You may be able to meet the English language requirement in other ways. Check the full visa guidance for detailed information.

Exceptions

You 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

You also may not have to prove your knowledge of English in other circumstances - check the full visa guidance.

Documents you'll need

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

your certificate of sponsorship reference number (your employer will give you this)

proof of your knowledge of English

a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality - you need a blank page in your passport for your visa

expired passports or travel documents if you need them to show your travel history

your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country

If your documents are not in English or Welsh you’ll also need to provide a certified translation.

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

See the full list of documents you can provide.

Read the guidance about the money you’ll need and how to prove it.

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for a Minister of Religion visa (T2).

Check which documents you’ll need to apply.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your online application, you need to book an appointment at a visa application centre.

You’ll have your fingerprints and photograph taken at the visa application centre, so you can get a biometric residence permit.

You’ll have to collect your biometric residence permit within 10 days of when you said you’d arrive in the UK.

Apply for a Minister of Religion visa (T2)

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

Apply now

Continue your application

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

How long it takes to get a decision

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

Find out how to get your visa decision faster - this depends on what country you’re in.

After you apply

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if the application has not been processed yet.

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

Extend your visa

You may be able to apply to extend your stay in the UK under a Minister of Religion visa (T2).

You can add your partner and children to your online application - including children who have turned 18 during your stay.

You should apply before your current visa expires.

Eligibility

You’ll still need to meet the eligibility criteria and provide the right documents.

You’ll also need a new certificate of sponsorship from your sponsor.

How long you can stay

Fees

Check the fees for your visa.

Apply to extend your Minister of Religion visa (T2)

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

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

Apply now

Continue your application

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

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

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

How long it takes

Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

You’ll usually get a decision:

within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service

within 5 working days of your UKVCAS appointment if you use the priority service

If you use the super priority service you’ll get a decision:

by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday

2 working days after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is at the weekend

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

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

You’ll be contacted if your circumstances or application are more complicated, for example if:

your supporting documents need to be verified

you need to attend an interview

you have a criminal conviction

Switch to this visa

You can apply to change (‘switch’) from another visa to a Minister of Religion visa (T2).

You should apply before your current visa expires.

Eligibility

You must meet the Minister of Religion visa (T2) eligibility requirements and must already be in the UK under any of the following visas:

Tier 1 visa

Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa

Tier 2 (General) visa

Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) visa under the Immigration Rules in place before 6 April 2010 and you’re applying to change sponsor

Tier 4 visa - if you have an eligible qualification

Start-up visa

Innovator visa

You can also switch to this visa if you meet the eligibility requirements and you’re:

a dependent partner of someone with a Tier 4 visa

a representative of an overseas business

You must leave the UK and make your Minister of Religion visa (T2) application from abroad if you’re not in any of these categories.

Eligible qualifications for Tier 4 visa

You must have been sponsored by a licensed sponsor to get one of the following qualifications:

a UK bachelors degree

a UK masters degree

a postgraduate certificate in education

a professional graduate diploma of education

How long you can stay

You can stay up to 3 years after switching to a Minister of Religion visa (T2).

Fees

Check the fees for your visa.

Apply to switch to a Minister of Religion visa (T2)

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

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

Apply now

Continue your application

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

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

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

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

How long it takes

Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

You’ll usually get a decision:

within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service

within 5 working days of your UKVCAS appointment if you use the priority service

If you use the super priority service you’ll get a decision:

by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday

2 working days after your UKVCAs appointment if your appointment is at the weekend

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

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

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

your supporting documents need to be verified

you need to attend an interview

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

Your partner and children

Your relationship

A dependant partner or child is any of the following:

your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner

your child under 18 - including if they were born in the UK during your stay

your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant

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

Your partner

You must be able to prove that either:

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

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

If your child is 16 or over

They must:

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

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

be financially supported by you

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

a bank statement

credit card bills

driving licence

NHS registration document

an official letter from their university or college

Money they need to support themselves

Your partner or children must have a certain amount of money available to support themselves while they’re in the UK.

You - or your partner or child - will need:

£285 for your partner

£315 for one child

£200 for each additional child

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when they apply, unless either:

you have all been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months

your employer can cover your family’s costs during your first month in the UK - this must be confirmed on your certificate of sponsorship

Apply from outside the UK

Your partner and children must apply online.

Each family member will need to complete a separate application and pay the visa fee. They must apply before they travel to the UK.

Proving their identity

The visa application centre may need to keep their passport and documents while they process their application.

How long it takes to get a decision

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

They may be able to pay to get their visa faster - check with the visa application centre.

Apply from inside the UK to extend

You can include your partner and children on your application to extend this visa. This includes children who were born or have turned 18 during your stay.

If you cannot apply at the same time, your partner or child can apply to extend their visas at a later date. This must be before their current visa expires.

How to apply

Your partner and children must apply online to either:

extend as a partner

extend as a child

How long it takes to get a decision

Once they’ve applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

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

Children born in the UK

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

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

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

You must apply to add them to your visa before they turn 18 if they want to stay in the UK.

Taking a second job

You can take a second job on this visa if you’re working up to 20 hours a week in either:

the same profession as your main job

a profession on the Skilled Worker shortage occupation list

You can also do unpaid voluntary work.

Otherwise, you’ll need to apply for a new visa. You’ll need to be sponsored by your second employer and get a new certificate of sponsorship.

When to apply for a new visa

You cannot apply for a new visa until you’ve started work with your first sponsor.

You cannot start work with your second sponsor until your visa application has been approved.

How to apply

Read the guidance before you apply.

You must apply online.

You must be in the UK to apply.

Documents you must provide

You’ll need to provide some documents with your application.

You must also provide a letter explaining that you want to change your current permission to stay.

Your letter must state:

your name

your date of birth

your current certificate of sponsorship reference number

the date when your current permission to stay runs out


My Aunt is a widow and recieves widows benefits. Due to her work efficiency her UK employer has requested her to go and work in their other office  in France for the next 2 years. She has a 2 children who are on childtax credit. Will her tax credits and childtax credits be affected if she moves to france?

You may continue to get tax credits if you’re a Crown servant posted overseas or you live abroad with your child and get UK benefits or the State Pension.

Tax credits if you leave or move to the UK

Your family lives abroad

If your partner is outside the UK and you do not have children, check the Working Tax Credit guidance for information on whether you can continue to claim.

You have a child who lives abroad

If you already get Working Tax Credit and want to add Child Tax Credit to your claim, check if you’re eligible.

If you already get Child Tax Credit, you may be able to make a claim for an additional child if:

you are working in the UK

the child is living in the EEA or Switzerland

you are supporting the child

You must also be one of the following:

an EEA or Swiss citizen who has settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

an EEA or Swiss citizen who had a right to reside in the UK on 31 December 2020

a family member of an EEA or Swiss citizen (who has settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme or had a right to reside in the UK on 31 December 2020) and you are residing in the UK

a person with dual nationality, one of which is nationality of an EEA country or Switzerland

covered by any of the other conditions in the Withdrawal Agreement with the EEA and Switzerland

You usually cannot claim for a child who lives outside the EEA or Switzerland. There’s an exception if your partner is a Crown servant posted abroad.

You must let HMRC know within a month if your partner or child join you in the UK. This is because your tax credits payments may change.

Your partner gets benefits in an EEA country or Switzerland

If you’ve got children and your partner gets benefits paid by an EEA country or Switzerland, this may affect your tax credits. You must tell HMRC if you or your partner are paid benefits by an EEA country or Switzerland.

Some benefits are counted as income, for example benefits paid because of unemployment.

Going abroad

Your tax credits will stop if you expect to be away for one year or more.

You may still qualify for tax credits if you go abroad for a short period, for example on holiday or for medical treatment.

Reason for leaving | How long you can get tax credits for

Medical treatment for yourself, your partner or your child | Up to 12 weeks

Death of your partner, a child or close relative of either you or your partner | Up to 12 weeks

Any other reason, for example holidays or business | Up to 8 weeks

If your trip is going to last longer than 8 or 12 weeks, contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) within a month. Your tax credits will end unless:

you get UK benefits or State Pension and you live in another European country with a child

you work and pay National Insurance contributions in the UK, but your family lives in another European country

You live outside the UK

You’re a Crown servant posted overseas

You may continue to get tax credits, just as if you were living in the UK. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will treat you as being in the UK if any of the following applies:

you are, or were just before you were posted abroad, ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK

you’ve had a series of postings abroad, with no breaks in between - and you are or were ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK immediately before the first of those postings

you were in the UK just before you were posted abroad and the reason you were in the UK was connected to your posting - this can apply to a single posting or to a series of postings

Ordinarily resident

Ordinarily resident means you normally live in the UK, and plan to stay here for the time being. When HMRC decides if you’re ordinarily resident in the UK they’ll look at things like:

where your settled home is

where your close family live

why you came to the UK

if you plan to leave the UK permanently in the next 2 or 3 years

Your partner’s a Crown servant posted overseas

You may continue to get tax credits if your partner’s a Crown servant posted outside the UK and you:

live with your partner while they work abroad

live in the UK while your partner works abroad

You do not need to be ordinarily resident in the UK during the time you’re with your Crown servant partner overseas.

You have a child - and get UK benefits or State Pension

If none of the sections above apply to you, you may continue to get Child Tax Credit (or add it to an existing Working Tax Credit claim) if you and your child live in a European Union (EU) member state and you get State Pension or one of the following benefits:

Incapacity Benefit

State Pension

Widow’s Benefit

Bereavement Benefit

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance

Severe Disablement Allowance

You will not be able to get Child Tax Credit if you do not live in an EU member state, unless you (or your partner) are a Crown servant posted abroad.

Moving to the UK

You must have been living in the UK for 3 months before you were eligible to claim Child Tax Credit if you moved to the UK on or after 1 July 2014 and do not have a job. This does not apply if you:

are a family member of someone who works or is self-employed

are a refugee

have been granted discretionary leave to enter or stay in the UK and you can get benefits

have been given leave to stay as a displaced person and you can get benefits

have been given to leave to stay and have applied for settlement as a victim of domestic violence

have been granted humanitarian protection

were made redundant in the UK (or your family member was) and you’re looking for a job or in training

were working in the UK before but temporarily cannot work because of your health or an accident

have been abroad for less than a year but usually live in the UK and were claiming Child Tax Credits before moving

have been abroad for less than a year but usually live in the UK and were in the UK for at least 3 months before moving

paid Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions while you were working abroad, and paid these in the 3 month period before returning to the UK

Cross-border workers

You may continue to get tax credits if you regularly travel from:

another country to work in the UK

the UK to work in another country

Working Tax Credit

You may continue to get Working Tax Credit if you live in:

an EEA country (including Switzerland) and work in the UK

the UK and work in an EEA country (including Switzerland)

Child Tax Credit

You and your partner - if you have one - may continue to get Child Tax Credit for your children if:

you work in the UK

you pay National Insurance as a worker here

your child lives in an EEA country or in Switzerland

your child is living with your partner or someone else and they depend on you to support them

Childcare costs

You can usually claim help for your childcare costs through the childcare element of Working Tax Credit.

To qualify your children must either:

be in registered or approved childcare in the UK

be in childcare approved by a Ministry of Defence accreditation scheme abroad - if you’re a Crown servant posted abroad

Immigration control

You usually cannot get tax credits if you’re ‘subject to immigration control’, although there are some exceptions. You’ll still need to meet the other qualifying rules, for example work the right number of hours.

When you arrived in the UK your passport may have been stamped. The stamp shows the conditions of your stay in the UK, for example ‘no recourse to public funds’. Public funds include tax credits and most benefits.

Exceptions

You may continue to get tax credits if:

your partner lives in the UK and is not subject to immigration control

one of the examples below applies to you or your partner

You have permission to stay in the UK because someone else supports you

You may continue to get tax credits if someone else is responsible for your maintenance while you’re in the UK. This means they pay for your upkeep and provide you with somewhere to live. This person is often called your ‘sponsor’, and could be a friend, employer or relative.

All of the following must apply:

your sponsor has given the Home Office a written statement saying that they’re sponsoring you

your sponsor has permission to stay in the UK

you’ve been living permanently in the UK for at least 5 years, either since you came into the UK or since you started being sponsored (whichever date is later)

You may also continue to get tax credits if you’ve been living in the UK for fewer than 5 years, but:

your sponsor has died

all your sponsors - if you had more than one - have died

You’re from Albania, Morocco, San Marino or Tunisia

You cannot get Working Tax Credit.

You may continue to get Child Tax Credit if you’re either working in the UK or you’re not working because you’re:

retired

pregnant or looking after children

sick or disabled or your partner has died

You’re from Turkey

To continue to get Working Tax Credit you need to be lawfully present in the UK and a Turkish national.

retired

pregnant or looking after children

You’re from North Macedonia

You may continue to get Working Tax Credit if you’re a national of North Macedonia. You’ll need to be lawfully present in the UK.

You cannot normally get Child Tax Credit. However, you may continue to if you’ve been getting payments for your children through Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

You claimed asylum before 5 February 2006

You may continue to get Child Tax Credit if you received financial support for your children through Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Your family lives abroad

You have a child who lives abroad

If you already get Working Tax Credit and want to add Child Tax Credit to your claim, check if you’re eligible.

If you already get Child Tax Credit, you may be able to make a claim for an additional child if:

you are working in the UK

the child is living in the EEA or Switzerland

you are supporting the child

You must also be one of the following:

an EEA or Swiss citizen who has settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

an EEA or Swiss citizen who had a right to reside in the UK on 31 December 2020

a person with dual nationality, one of which is nationality of an EEA country or Switzerland

covered by any of the other conditions in the Withdrawal Agreement with the EEA and Switzerland

You must let HMRC know within a month if your partner or child join you in the UK. This is because your tax credits payments may change.

Your partner gets benefits in an EEA country or Switzerland

Some benefits are counted as income, for example benefits paid because of unemployment.

Going abroad

Your tax credits will stop if you expect to be away for one year or more.

You may still qualify for tax credits if you go abroad for a short period, for example on holiday or for medical treatment.

Reason for leaving | How long you can get tax credits for

Medical treatment for yourself, your partner or your child | Up to 12 weeks

Death of your partner, a child or close relative of either you or your partner | Up to 12 weeks

Any other reason, for example holidays or business | Up to 8 weeks

you get UK benefits or State Pension and you live in another European country with a child

you work and pay National Insurance contributions in the UK, but your family lives in another European country

You live outside the UK

You’re a Crown servant posted overseas

you are, or were just before you were posted abroad, ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK

Ordinarily resident

where your settled home is

where your close family live

why you came to the UK

if you plan to leave the UK permanently in the next 2 or 3 years

Your partner’s a Crown servant posted overseas

You may continue to get tax credits if your partner’s a Crown servant posted outside the UK and you:

live with your partner while they work abroad

live in the UK while your partner works abroad

You do not need to be ordinarily resident in the UK during the time you’re with your Crown servant partner overseas.

You have a child - and get UK benefits or State Pension

Incapacity Benefit

State Pension

Widow’s Benefit

Bereavement Benefit

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance

Severe Disablement Allowance

Moving to the UK

are a family member of someone who works or is self-employed

are a refugee

have been granted discretionary leave to enter or stay in the UK and you can get benefits

have been given leave to stay as a displaced person and you can get benefits

have been given to leave to stay and have applied for settlement as a victim of domestic violence

have been granted humanitarian protection

were made redundant in the UK (or your family member was) and you’re looking for a job or in training

were working in the UK before but temporarily cannot work because of your health or an accident

have been abroad for less than a year but usually live in the UK and were claiming Child Tax Credits before moving

have been abroad for less than a year but usually live in the UK and were in the UK for at least 3 months before moving

Cross-border workers

You may continue to get tax credits if you regularly travel from:

another country to work in the UK

the UK to work in another country

Working Tax Credit

You may continue to get Working Tax Credit if you live in:

an EEA country (including Switzerland) and work in the UK

the UK and work in an EEA country (including Switzerland)

Child Tax Credit

You and your partner - if you have one - may continue to get Child Tax Credit for your children if:

you work in the UK

you pay National Insurance as a worker here

your child lives in an EEA country or in Switzerland

your child is living with your partner or someone else and they depend on you to support them

Childcare costs

You can usually claim help for your childcare costs through the childcare element of Working Tax Credit.

To qualify your children must either:

be in registered or approved childcare in the UK

be in childcare approved by a Ministry of Defence accreditation scheme abroad - if you’re a Crown servant posted abroad

Immigration control

Exceptions

You may continue to get tax credits if:

your partner lives in the UK and is not subject to immigration control

one of the examples below applies to you or your partner

You have permission to stay in the UK because someone else supports you

All of the following must apply:

your sponsor has given the Home Office a written statement saying that they’re sponsoring you

your sponsor has permission to stay in the UK

You may also continue to get tax credits if you’ve been living in the UK for fewer than 5 years, but:

your sponsor has died

all your sponsors - if you had more than one - have died

You’re from Albania, Morocco, San Marino or Tunisia

You cannot get Working Tax Credit.

You may continue to get Child Tax Credit if you’re either working in the UK or you’re not working because you’re:

retired

pregnant or looking after children

sick or disabled or your partner has died

You’re from Turkey

To continue to get Working Tax Credit you need to be lawfully present in the UK and a Turkish national.

retired

pregnant or looking after children

You’re from North Macedonia

You may continue to get Working Tax Credit if you’re a national of North Macedonia. You’ll need to be lawfully present in the UK.

You claimed asylum before 5 February 2006

Widow’s Benefit

Your family lives abroad

You have a child who lives abroad

If you already get Working Tax Credit and want to add Child Tax Credit to your claim, check if you’re eligible.

If you already get Child Tax Credit, you may be able to make a claim for an additional child if:

you are working in the UK

the child is living in the EEA or Switzerland

you are supporting the child

You must also be one of the following:

an EEA or Swiss citizen who has settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

an EEA or Swiss citizen who had a right to reside in the UK on 31 December 2020

a person with dual nationality, one of which is nationality of an EEA country or Switzerland

covered by any of the other conditions in the Withdrawal Agreement with the EEA and Switzerland

You must let HMRC know within a month if your partner or child join you in the UK. This is because your tax credits payments may change.

Your partner gets benefits in an EEA country or Switzerland

Some benefits are counted as income, for example benefits paid because of unemployment.

Going abroad

Your tax credits will stop if you expect to be away for one year or more.

You may still qualify for tax credits if you go abroad for a short period, for example on holiday or for medical treatment.

Reason for leaving | How long you can get tax credits for

Medical treatment for yourself, your partner or your child | Up to 12 weeks

Death of your partner, a child or close relative of either you or your partner | Up to 12 weeks

Any other reason, for example holidays or business | Up to 8 weeks

If your trip is going to last longer than 8 or 12 weeks, contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) within a month. Your tax credits will end unless:

you get UK benefits or State Pension and you live in another European country with a child

you work and pay National Insurance contributions in the UK, but your family lives in another European country

You live outside the UK

You’re a Crown servant posted overseas

you are, or were just before you were posted abroad, ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK

Ordinarily resident

where your settled home is

where your close family live

why you came to the UK

if you plan to leave the UK permanently in the next 2 or 3 years

Your partner’s a Crown servant posted overseas

You may continue to get tax credits if your partner’s a Crown servant posted outside the UK and you:

live with your partner while they work abroad

live in the UK while your partner works abroad

You do not need to be ordinarily resident in the UK during the time you’re with your Crown servant partner overseas.

You have a child - and get UK benefits or State Pension

Incapacity Benefit

State Pension

Widow’s Benefit

Bereavement Benefit

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance

Severe Disablement Allowance

Moving to the UK

are a family member of someone who works or is self-employed

are a refugee

have been granted discretionary leave to enter or stay in the UK and you can get benefits

have been given leave to stay as a displaced person and you can get benefits

have been given to leave to stay and have applied for settlement as a victim of domestic violence

have been granted humanitarian protection

were made redundant in the UK (or your family member was) and you’re looking for a job or in training

were working in the UK before but temporarily cannot work because of your health or an accident

have been abroad for less than a year but usually live in the UK and were claiming Child Tax Credits before moving

have been abroad for less than a year but usually live in the UK and were in the UK for at least 3 months before moving

Cross-border workers

You may continue to get tax credits if you regularly travel from:

another country to work in the UK

the UK to work in another country

Working Tax Credit

You may continue to get Working Tax Credit if you live in:

an EEA country (including Switzerland) and work in the UK

the UK and work in an EEA country (including Switzerland)

Child Tax Credit

You and your partner - if you have one - may continue to get Child Tax Credit for your children if:

you work in the UK

you pay National Insurance as a worker here

your child lives in an EEA country or in Switzerland

your child is living with your partner or someone else and they depend on you to support them

Childcare costs

You can usually claim help for your childcare costs through the childcare element of Working Tax Credit.

To qualify your children must either:

be in registered or approved childcare in the UK

be in childcare approved by a Ministry of Defence accreditation scheme abroad - if you’re a Crown servant posted abroad

Immigration control

Exceptions

You may continue to get tax credits if:

your partner lives in the UK and is not subject to immigration control

one of the examples below applies to you or your partner

You have permission to stay in the UK because someone else supports you

All of the following must apply:

your sponsor has given the Home Office a written statement saying that they’re sponsoring you

your sponsor has permission to stay in the UK

You may also continue to get tax credits if you’ve been living in the UK for fewer than 5 years, but:

your sponsor has died

all your sponsors - if you had more than one - have died

You’re from Albania, Morocco, San Marino or Tunisia

You cannot get Working Tax Credit.

You may continue to get Child Tax Credit if you’re either working in the UK or you’re not working because you’re:

retired

pregnant or looking after children

sick or disabled or your partner has died

You’re from Turkey

To continue to get Working Tax Credit you need to be lawfully present in the UK and a Turkish national.

retired

pregnant or looking after children

You’re from North Macedonia

You may continue to get Working Tax Credit if you’re a national of North Macedonia. You’ll need to be lawfully present in the UK.

You claimed asylum before 5 February 2006