I have recently decided to apply for a standard license for national operations. Currently I am tight on funds so I have to plan for the application feesStandard licence what is the application fee for a standard licence ?

Type of licence | Fees

PSV (Public Service Vehicle) operator licences

Overview

You need a public service vehicle (PSV) operator’s licence to:

operate a vehicle for hire or reward (payment or payment in kind) that can carry 9 or more passengers

operate a smaller vehicle carrying passengers and charging separate fares for the journey

Read PSV437, PSV operator licensing: a guide for operators.

Types of PSV licence

There are 4 types of PSV operator licences, plus special licensing rules in London.

Standard licence - national operations only

You can only operate in Great Britain if you apply for a standard licence. Most full-time commercial operators use standard licences.

Standard licence - national and international operations

This kind of licence lets you take passengers abroad as well as within Great Britain.

Restricted licence

You can only apply for a restricted licence for small-scale operations. They allow you to use 1 or 2 vehicles, and neither can carry more than 8 passengers.

You can carry up to 16 passengers in either vehicle if you do not use it as part of a passenger transport business, or you’re operating your vehicles as a sideline and not as your main job.

Special restricted licence

Special restricted licences are used to operate a licensed taxi on a local service. You can only apply for this licence if you’re a licensed taxi operator. A local service is one where:

stops are no more than 24.15 kilometres (15 miles) apart

at least one stop is within the area of the district council that issued your taxi or private hire vehicle (PHV) licence

The service must be registered with the local Traffic Commissioner.

Licensing in London

You’ll need a London Service Permit to run a private bus or coach service in London.

Taxis and private hire services in London are licensed by Transport for London (TfL).

How to apply for a PSV licence

You can apply for a PSV operator’s licence online. You’ll usually get a decision within 7 weeks.

It’s illegal to operate a vehicle before your licence has been issued.

Once you’ve got your licence it will not have an expiry date, but you’ll be asked to confirm your details every 5 years. The Traffic Commissioner’s Office will get in touch with you to check them. You’ll need to pay a continuation fee if you’ve got a special restricted (taxi) licence.

The Traffic Commissioner can suspend or revoke your licence if they suspect you’ve been breaking its terms.

You must also tell the Traffic Commissioner if your circumstances change.

Fees

Type of licence | Fees

Application for a standard licence | £209

Application for a restricted licence | £209

Application for a special restricted (taxi) licence | £61

Continuation fee for a special restricted (taxi) licence (payable every 5 years) | £61

Make changes to a licence | £122

Ways you can pay

Pay for your licence online, by phone or by post.

Paying online

You can pay any application or licence fees when you apply for a vehicle operator licence online.

Paying by phone

You can pay by phone by calling the DVSA helpline.

Paying by post

Send a cheque or postal order made payable to ‘DVSA’ to the Central Licensing Office.

Making changes to your PSV licence

You can make changes to your PSV operator’s licence once you have it, for example add more vehicles to it.

You can update your licence online.

You can make most changes to your licence for free. You must pay £122 if you want to:

increase the vehicle limit on your licence

upgrade your licence from standard national to standard international and increase the vehicle limit at the same time

Changes of circumstance

You must tell the Traffic Commissioner within 28 days if:

there’s any change to the correspondence address of the business

there’s any change to the establishment address (standard licences only)

there’s any change in the address of your operating centres

there’s any change in the trading name of the business

any of the persons named on the licence have died - you may need a new licence

there’s been a change of partners if it’s a partnership firm - you may need a new licence

there’s been a change of transport managers

you, your transport manager, officers employees or agents have any relevant convictions

there’s been any other change that the Traffic Commissioner asked you to report as a condition of getting your licence

You’ll also have to tell the Traffic Commissioner if there’s been a change in the ‘legal entity’ of your business, for example if:

your company changes from being a sole trader or partnership to a limited company

there’s been a change in your registered company number

there’s been a change of directors or change in share holding

Send details of any changes to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner’s Central Licensing Office at the DVSA.

Appealing a decision

You can appeal if your application for a PSV operator licence is refused.

You’ll need to send a written notice of appeal to the Upper Tribunal, Administrative Appeals Chamber. There is no fee.

Your notice of appeal needs to be received within one month of the Traffic Commissioner’s decision.

Guidance on making an appeal

Download detailed Tribunals Service guidance on making an appeal.

Appealing an Upper Tribunal decision

If your appeal is unsuccessful and you think that the decision is wrong, you can appeal to the Court of Appeal (England and Wales) or the Court of Session (Scotland).

You must have permission from the Upper Tribunal, or if the Upper Tribunal refuses, from the Court.

Your application for permission to appeal must be received within 1 month of the original appeal decision.

Download detailed guidance about appealing an Upper Tribunal decision.

Application for a standard licence | £209

Overview

You need a public service vehicle (PSV) operator’s licence to:

Read PSV437, PSV operator licensing: a guide for operators.

Types of PSV licence

Standard licence - national operations only

Standard licence - national and international operations

Restricted licence

Special restricted licence

stops are no more than 24.15 kilometres (15 miles) apart

The service must be registered with the local Traffic Commissioner.

Licensing in London

How to apply for a PSV licence

It’s illegal to operate a vehicle before your licence has been issued.

You must also tell the Traffic Commissioner if your circumstances change.

Fees

Type of licence | Fees

Application for a standard licence | £209

Application for a restricted licence | £209

Application for a special restricted (taxi) licence | £61

Make changes to a licence | £122

Ways you can pay

Pay for your licence online, by phone or by post.

Paying online

Paying by phone

You can pay by phone by calling the DVSA helpline.

Paying by post

Making changes to your PSV licence

You can update your licence online.

increase the vehicle limit on your licence

Changes of circumstance

You must tell the Traffic Commissioner within 28 days if:

there’s any change to the correspondence address of the business

there’s any change to the establishment address (standard licences only)

there’s any change in the address of your operating centres

there’s any change in the trading name of the business

there’s been a change of transport managers

there’s been a change in your registered company number

there’s been a change of directors or change in share holding

Appealing a decision

You can appeal if your application for a PSV operator licence is refused.

Guidance on making an appeal

Download detailed Tribunals Service guidance on making an appeal.

Appealing an Upper Tribunal decision

Download detailed guidance about appealing an Upper Tribunal decision.


I am a small business owner and have just started my business. We are just about to hire our first employee and I am getting set up to pay the required income taxes. I initially registered as an employer with HMRC using a paper form. Can I access PAYE online?

Most new employers get a login when they register as an employer online. If you do not have a login because you registered in a different way you’ll need to enrol for PAYE Online separately.

PAYE Online for employers

Using PAYE Online

As an employer, you need to use HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) PAYE Online service to:

check what you owe HMRC

pay your bill

see your payment history

access tax codes and notices about your employees

appeal a penalty

get alerts from HMRC when you report or pay late, or do not send the expected number of reports in a month

send expenses and benefits returns such as P46 (car), P11D and P11D(b)

Online services may be slow during busy times. Check if there are any problems with this service.

Sign in

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Before you start

Tax codes and notices

HMRC sends you information about your employees through PAYE Online. You can log in to view:

tax code notices (P6 and P9)

student loan notices (SL1 and SL2)

National Insurance verification notices (NVR and NOT)

late reporting and late payment alerts (HMRC call these ‘generic notifications’)

You can also access these through some payroll software, or by using the PAYE Desktop Viewer.

Enrol if you did not register online

You only need to enrol separately for HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) PAYE Online service if you did not get a login when you registered as an employer - this is usually because you did not register online.

You’ll need your PAYE reference and Accounts Office reference - these are included in the letter from HMRC confirming your registration.

Enrol for PAYE Online

How you enrol depends on whether you already have an online account for other taxes, for example Corporation Tax or Self Assessment.

You already have an account

Sign in to your account and select ‘PAYE for employers’ from the list.

You do not have an account

Enrol as a new business account holder and select ‘Add a tax to your account’ on the ‘Business tax summary’ page. You will then be able to add PAYE for employers.

PAYE Desktop Viewer

PAYE Desktop Viewer is an application from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that allows you to view, search and sort large numbers of employee tax codes and notices.

You can also use it to download notices and view them offline instead of accessing them through HMRC’s PAYE Online service, or your payroll software if it includes this feature.

Download PAYE Desktop Viewer

PAYE Online for employers

Using PAYE Online

check what you owe HMRC

pay your bill

see your payment history

appeal a penalty

Sign in

Before you start

Tax codes and notices

tax code notices (P6 and P9)

student loan notices (SL1 and SL2)

Enrol if you did not register online

Enrol for PAYE Online

You already have an account

You do not have an account

PAYE Desktop Viewer

Download PAYE Desktop Viewer


I am 26 and planning on applying for a start-up visa for my new business in the UK. I speak fluent English. I have a valid passport but all the pages are full. Can I use my current passport for my application?

You’ll need a blank page in your passport for your visa if you’re:

Start-up visa

Overview

You can apply for a Start-up visa if:

you want to set up an innovative business in the UK - it must be something that’s different from anything else on the market

you meet the other eligibility requirements

If you’re 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.

Eligibility

You must be endorsed by an authorised body that is either:

a UK higher education institution

a business organisation with a history of supporting UK entrepreneurs

You must be able to show that your business idea is:

a new idea - you cannot join in a business that is already trading

innovative - you must have an original business idea which is different from anything else on the market

viable - it has potential for growth

If you’re not eligible for a Start-up visa

You may be eligible for another type of visa to work in the UK.

How long you can stay

You can stay for 2 years if you either:

come to the UK on a Start-up visa

switch to this visa from another visa while in the UK

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You cannot apply to extend this visa.

You may be able to switch to an Innovator visa if you set up a business while on a Start-up visa and:

your endorsing body assessed and agreed it

it is active, trading and sustainable

you have day to day involvement in it

If your endorsement is withdrawn

Your visa may be cut short if your endorsement is withdrawn by the endorsing body. If you want to stay longer, you must re-apply with a new endorsement before your current visa expires.

You can only stay for a total of 2 years even if you’re granted a new visa with a new endorsement.

How to apply

You must apply online.

How you apply depends on whether you’re:

outside the UK and are coming to the UK

inside the UK and switching from a different visa

You can include your partner and children in your application to stay in the UK if they are eligible.

How long it takes

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

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

Getting a decision

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

3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK

8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK

If you need to go to an appointment, you may be able to pay for a faster decision. How you do this depends on whether you’re outside the UK or inside the UK.

Fees

How much you pay for a Start-up visa depends on your situation and where you apply from.

Who you’re applying for | Apply (outside the UK) | Switch (in the UK)

Yourself | £363 | £493

Your partner and children | £363 each person | £493 each person

You must pay the visa fee for each person that applies at the same time as you or applies later to join you in the UK.

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 switch in the UK

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

What you can and cannot do

With a Start-up visa you can:

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

work in another job, as well as working for your business

travel abroad and return to the UK

You can also switch to this visa from some other visa categories.

You cannot:

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

work as a professional sportsperson, for example a sports coach

settle in the UK on this visa

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

Eligibility

Before you apply you need to have your business or business idea assessed by an endorsing body.

They will provide you with an endorsement letter if your business is viable.

You must also:

be at least 18 years old

meet the English language requirement

be able to prove that you have enough personal savings to support yourself while you’re in the UK

Read the specific requirements for the Start-up visa before you apply.

Supporting yourself

You need to have had at least £1270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before you apply, or if you’ve been in the UK for less than a year and applying to switch to this visa.

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

Knowledge of English

You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply, unless you did this in a previous successful visa application.

Level of English

You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to a level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

You can prove your knowledge of English by:

passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider

having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English gained through study at a UK school that you began when you were under 18

having a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English - if you studied abroad, you’ll need to apply for confirmation through Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD

Who does not need to prove their knowledge of English

You do 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

Documents you'll need to apply

When you apply you need to provide an ‘endorsement letter’ to show that an endorsing  body has assessed your business.

You’ll also need to provide:

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

bank statements showing you’ve had at least £1270 in savings in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before you apply

proof that you meet the English language requirement

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

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

You’ll need a blank page in your passport for your visa if you’re:

from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein but do not have a biometric passport with a chip in it

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

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for a Start-up visa.

Check which documents you’ll need to apply.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately.

Proving your identity and supplying supporting documents

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

You’ll either:

have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre - this is to get a biometric residence permit

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

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

If you do need an appointment:

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

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

Apply for a Start-up visa

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

Start now

Continue your application

Sign in to your account using the link from your sign-up email.

How long it takes to get a decision

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

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

if you’re applying with a family member who needs an appointment but you do not

if your supporting documents need to be verified

if you need to attend an interview

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

If you’ve applied through a visa application centre, find out if you can pay to get a faster decision - this depends on where you’re applying from.

After you apply

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

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

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

Your partner and children

Your partner and children can apply to 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 2 of the following documents confirming their address:

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

In addition to the £1,270 you must have to support yourself, you - or your partner or child - will need:

£285 for your partner

£315 for one child

£200 for each additional child

You’ll need to have had the money in your bank account or your dependant’s bank account for at least 28 days before you or they apply.

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless you or they are applying from inside the UK and you’ve been here for 1 year or more.

Apply from outside the UK

Your partner and children must either:

apply online as a partner

apply online as a child

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.

As part of their application, they’ll need to have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre. This is to get a biometric residence permit, which they’ll need to collect within 10 days of when they said they’d arrive in the UK.

Apply from inside the UK (switch)

Apply for your partner or child’s visa at the same time as you switch your own 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 switch their visas at a later date. This must be before their current visa expires.

Your partner or children will not be able to apply to switch to a Start-up visa if they are currently in the UK in one of the following circumstances:

on a visit visa

on a short-term student visa

on a Parent of a Child Student visa

on a seasonal worker visa

on a domestic worker in a private household visa

on immigration bail

they were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds

How to apply

Your partner and child must apply online to either:

switch to a Start-up visa as your partner

switch to a Start-up visa as your 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, they’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide their biometric information (fingerprints and a photo).

They’ll also need to submit their supporting documents. They can:

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at their UKVCAS appointment

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.

Getting a faster decision

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 dependant visa. You must do this if you want to travel in and out of the UK with your child.

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

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

Switch to this visa

You might be able to apply to change (‘switch’) to a Start-up visa if you’re already in the UK on a different type of visa.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately.

You should apply before your current visa expires.

Eligibility

You can apply to switch to this visa if you meet the eligibility requirements.

Who cannot apply to switch to this visa

You cannot switch to this visa if you have one of the following:

a visit visa

a short-term student visa

a Parent of a Child Student visa

a seasonal worker visa

a domestic worker in a private household visa

immigration bail

permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds

You must leave the UK and make your application from abroad if you’re here on a different type of visa.

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for 2 years on a Start-up visa. Any time you’ve already spent in the UK on a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa counts as part of the 2 years.

How much it costs

Check the visa application fees.

If you’ve been in the UK for less than 1 year, you’ll also need to prove you have enough money to support yourself.

Proving your identity and supplying supporting documents

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

You’ll either:

have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre - this is to get a biometric residence permit

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

If you do need an appointment:

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

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

Apply to switch to a Start-up visa

You must apply online.

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

Start now

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.

Continue your application

Sign in to your account using the link from your sign-up email.

How long it takes to get a decision

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

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

if you’re applying with a family member who needs an appointment but you do not

if your supporting documents need to be verified

if you need to attend an interview

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

If you’ve applied through a visa application centre, find out if you can pay to get a faster decision - this depends on where you’re applying from.

After you apply

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

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

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

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.

from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

Start-up visa

Overview

You can apply for a Start-up visa if:

you want to set up an innovative business in the UK - it must be something that’s different from anything else on the market

you meet the other eligibility requirements

If you’re 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.

Eligibility

You must be endorsed by an authorised body that is either:

a UK higher education institution

a business organisation with a history of supporting UK entrepreneurs

You must be able to show that your business idea is:

a new idea - you cannot join in a business that is already trading

innovative - you must have an original business idea which is different from anything else on the market

viable - it has potential for growth

If you’re not eligible for a Start-up visa

You may be eligible for another type of visa to work in the UK.

How long you can stay

You can stay for 2 years if you either:

come to the UK on a Start-up visa

switch to this visa from another visa while in the UK

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You cannot apply to extend this visa.

You may be able to switch to an Innovator visa if you set up a business while on a Start-up visa and:

your endorsing body assessed and agreed it

it is active, trading and sustainable

you have day to day involvement in it

If your endorsement is withdrawn

You can only stay for a total of 2 years even if you’re granted a new visa with a new endorsement.

How to apply

You must apply online.

How you apply depends on whether you’re:

outside the UK and are coming to the UK

inside the UK and switching from a different visa

You can include your partner and children in your application to stay in the UK if they are eligible.

How long it takes

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

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

Getting a decision

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

3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK

8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK

Fees

How much you pay for a Start-up visa depends on your situation and where you apply from.

Who you’re applying for | Apply (outside the UK) | Switch (in the UK)

Yourself | £363 | £493

Your partner and children | £363 each person | £493 each person

You must pay the visa fee for each person that applies at the same time as you or applies later to join you in the UK.

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 switch in the UK

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

What you can and cannot do

With a Start-up visa you can:

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

work in another job, as well as working for your business

travel abroad and return to the UK

You can also switch to this visa from some other visa categories.

You cannot:

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

work as a professional sportsperson, for example a sports coach

settle in the UK on this visa

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

Eligibility

Before you apply you need to have your business or business idea assessed by an endorsing body.

They will provide you with an endorsement letter if your business is viable.

You must also:

be at least 18 years old

meet the English language requirement

be able to prove that you have enough personal savings to support yourself while you’re in the UK

Read the specific requirements for the Start-up visa before you apply.

Supporting yourself

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

Knowledge of English

You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply, unless you did this in a previous successful visa application.

Level of English

You can prove your knowledge of English by:

passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider

Who does not need to prove their knowledge of English

You do 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

Documents you'll need to apply

When you apply you need to provide an ‘endorsement letter’ to show that an endorsing  body has assessed your business.

You’ll also need to provide:

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

bank statements showing you’ve had at least £1270 in savings in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before you apply

proof that you meet the English language requirement

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

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

You’ll need a blank page in your passport for your visa if you’re:

from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein but do not have a biometric passport with a chip in it

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

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for a Start-up visa.

Check which documents you’ll need to apply.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately.

Proving your identity and supplying supporting documents

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

You’ll either:

have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre - this is to get a biometric residence permit

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

If you do need an appointment:

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

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

Apply for a Start-up visa

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

Start now

Continue your application

Sign in to your account using the link from your sign-up email.

How long it takes to get a decision

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

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

if you’re applying with a family member who needs an appointment but you do not

if your supporting documents need to be verified

if you need to attend an interview

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

If you’ve applied through a visa application centre, find out if you can pay to get a faster decision - this depends on where you’re applying from.

After you apply

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

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

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

Your partner and children

Your 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 2 of the following documents confirming their address:

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

In addition to the £1,270 you must have to support yourself, you - or your partner or child - will need:

£285 for your partner

£315 for one child

£200 for each additional child

You’ll need to have had the money in your bank account or your dependant’s bank account for at least 28 days before you or they apply.

Apply from outside the UK

Your partner and children must either:

apply online as a partner

apply online as a child

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

Apply from inside the UK (switch)

on a visit visa

on a short-term student visa

on a Parent of a Child Student visa

on a seasonal worker visa

on a domestic worker in a private household visa

on immigration bail

they were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds

How to apply

Your partner and child must apply online to either:

switch to a Start-up visa as your partner

switch to a Start-up visa as your child

They’ll also need to submit their supporting documents. They can:

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at their UKVCAS appointment

Getting a faster decision

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 dependant visa. You must do this if you want to travel in and out of the UK with your child.

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

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

Switch to this visa

You might be able to apply to change (‘switch’) to a Start-up visa if you’re already in the UK on a different type of visa.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately.

You should apply before your current visa expires.

Eligibility

You can apply to switch to this visa if you meet the eligibility requirements.

Who cannot apply to switch to this visa

You cannot switch to this visa if you have one of the following:

a visit visa

a short-term student visa

a Parent of a Child Student visa

a seasonal worker visa

a domestic worker in a private household visa

immigration bail

permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds

You must leave the UK and make your application from abroad if you’re here on a different type of visa.

How long you can stay

How much it costs

Check the visa application fees.

If you’ve been in the UK for less than 1 year, you’ll also need to prove you have enough money to support yourself.

Proving your identity and supplying supporting documents

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

You’ll either:

have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre - this is to get a biometric residence permit

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

If you do need an appointment:

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

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

Apply to switch to a Start-up visa

You must apply online.

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

Start now

Continue your application

Sign in to your account using the link from your sign-up email.

How long it takes to get a decision

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

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

if you’re applying with a family member who needs an appointment but you do not

if your supporting documents need to be verified

if you need to attend an interview

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

If you’ve applied through a visa application centre, find out if you can pay to get a faster decision - this depends on where you’re applying from.

After you apply

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

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

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

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.

from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein but do not have a biometric passport with a chip in it

Start-up visa

Overview

You can apply for a Start-up visa if:

you want to set up an innovative business in the UK - it must be something that’s different from anything else on the market

you meet the other eligibility requirements

If you’re 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.

Eligibility

You must be endorsed by an authorised body that is either:

a UK higher education institution

a business organisation with a history of supporting UK entrepreneurs

You must be able to show that your business idea is:

a new idea - you cannot join in a business that is already trading

innovative - you must have an original business idea which is different from anything else on the market

viable - it has potential for growth

If you’re not eligible for a Start-up visa

You may be eligible for another type of visa to work in the UK.

How long you can stay

You can stay for 2 years if you either:

come to the UK on a Start-up visa

switch to this visa from another visa while in the UK

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You cannot apply to extend this visa.

You may be able to switch to an Innovator visa if you set up a business while on a Start-up visa and:

your endorsing body assessed and agreed it

it is active, trading and sustainable

you have day to day involvement in it

If your endorsement is withdrawn

You can only stay for a total of 2 years even if you’re granted a new visa with a new endorsement.

How to apply

You must apply online.

How you apply depends on whether you’re:

outside the UK and are coming to the UK

inside the UK and switching from a different visa

You can include your partner and children in your application to stay in the UK if they are eligible.

How long it takes

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

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

Getting a decision

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

3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK

8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK

Fees

How much you pay for a Start-up visa depends on your situation and where you apply from.

Who you’re applying for | Apply (outside the UK) | Switch (in the UK)

Yourself | £363 | £493

Your partner and children | £363 each person | £493 each person

You must pay the visa fee for each person that applies at the same time as you or applies later to join you in the UK.

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 switch in the UK

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

What you can and cannot do

With a Start-up visa you can:

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

work in another job, as well as working for your business

travel abroad and return to the UK

You can also switch to this visa from some other visa categories.

You cannot:

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

work as a professional sportsperson, for example a sports coach

settle in the UK on this visa

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

Eligibility

Before you apply you need to have your business or business idea assessed by an endorsing body.

They will provide you with an endorsement letter if your business is viable.

You must also:

be at least 18 years old

meet the English language requirement

be able to prove that you have enough personal savings to support yourself while you’re in the UK

Read the specific requirements for the Start-up visa before you apply.

Supporting yourself

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

Knowledge of English

You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply, unless you did this in a previous successful visa application.

Level of English

You can prove your knowledge of English by:

passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider

Who does not need to prove their knowledge of English

You do 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

Documents you'll need to apply

When you apply you need to provide an ‘endorsement letter’ to show that an endorsing  body has assessed your business.

You’ll also need to provide:

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

bank statements showing you’ve had at least £1270 in savings in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before you apply

proof that you meet the English language requirement

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

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

You’ll need a blank page in your passport for your visa if you’re:

from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein but do not have a biometric passport with a chip in it

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

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for a Start-up visa.

Check which documents you’ll need to apply.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately.

Proving your identity and supplying supporting documents

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

You’ll either:

have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre - this is to get a biometric residence permit

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

If you do need an appointment:

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

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

Apply for a Start-up visa

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

Start now

Continue your application

Sign in to your account using the link from your sign-up email.

How long it takes to get a decision

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

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

if you’re applying with a family member who needs an appointment but you do not

if your supporting documents need to be verified

if you need to attend an interview

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

If you’ve applied through a visa application centre, find out if you can pay to get a faster decision - this depends on where you’re applying from.

After you apply

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

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

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

Your partner and children

Your 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 2 of the following documents confirming their address:

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

In addition to the £1,270 you must have to support yourself, you - or your partner or child - will need:

£285 for your partner

£315 for one child

£200 for each additional child

You’ll need to have had the money in your bank account or your dependant’s bank account for at least 28 days before you or they apply.

Apply from outside the UK

Your partner and children must either:

apply online as a partner

apply online as a child

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

Apply from inside the UK (switch)

on a visit visa

on a short-term student visa

on a Parent of a Child Student visa

on a seasonal worker visa

on a domestic worker in a private household visa

on immigration bail

they were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds

How to apply

Your partner and child must apply online to either:

switch to a Start-up visa as your partner

switch to a Start-up visa as your child

They’ll also need to submit their supporting documents. They can:

upload them into the online service

have them scanned at their UKVCAS appointment

Getting a faster decision

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 dependant visa. You must do this if you want to travel in and out of the UK with your child.

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

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

Switch to this visa

You might be able to apply to change (‘switch’) to a Start-up visa if you’re already in the UK on a different type of visa.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately.

You should apply before your current visa expires.

Eligibility

You can apply to switch to this visa if you meet the eligibility requirements.

Who cannot apply to switch to this visa

You cannot switch to this visa if you have one of the following:

a visit visa

a short-term student visa

a Parent of a Child Student visa

a seasonal worker visa

a domestic worker in a private household visa

immigration bail

permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds

You must leave the UK and make your application from abroad if you’re here on a different type of visa.

How long you can stay

How much it costs

Check the visa application fees.

If you’ve been in the UK for less than 1 year, you’ll also need to prove you have enough money to support yourself.

Proving your identity and supplying supporting documents

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

You’ll either:

have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre - this is to get a biometric residence permit

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

If you do need an appointment:

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

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

Apply to switch to a Start-up visa

You must apply online.

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

Start now

Continue your application

Sign in to your account using the link from your sign-up email.

How long it takes to get a decision

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

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

if you’re applying with a family member who needs an appointment but you do not

if your supporting documents need to be verified

if you need to attend an interview

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

If you’ve applied through a visa application centre, find out if you can pay to get a faster decision - this depends on where you’re applying from.

After you apply

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

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

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

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.


I am a illustrator of children's books and recently learned that some of my early illustrations have been used without my permission. I am really unhappy about this but am not sure where to turn. How do I go about getting a copy of my trademark papers and reclaiming my work?

You need a certified copy to:

Get copies of patent, trade mark or design registration documents

Overview

You can get copies of documents if you need to prove who owns or has applied for a UK patent, trade mark or design registration.

There are 2 types of copy – certified and uncertified.

Certified copy

This is an official document, also called a Certificate of the Registrar.

You need a certified copy to:

register a piece of intellectual property (IP) outside the UK

prove legal ownership of intellectual property, such as in a court case

Uncertified copy

An uncertified copy is a photocopy or digital copy of the details on the register. You can use this for research or personal use.

Request patent documents

Use patents form 23 to apply for either a certified or uncertified copy of a patent.

You must send a separate form for each certified copy you need, but you can make multiple requests on one form.

Fill in the form and post it. The address is on the form.

You can request uncertified copies of patent documents online.

How much they cost

Certified copies cost £20 each.

Uncertified copies cost £5.

Uncertified copies by email cost a £5 set fee and £1.20 per page.

Request trade marks documents

Use form TM31R to get a certified copy of a trade mark.

Certified copies cost £20 each.

Uncertified copies

Send an email to Intellectual Property Office (IPO) sales including:

the trade mark number

your telephone number

the address you want the photocopy sent to

Uncertified copies usually cost £5 - large documents may cost more.

After you email, you’ll get a quote and instructions on how you pay.

Request design registration documents

Use form DF23 to request a certified copy of a design registration or application.

You should use one form for each certified copy you’re requesting.

Certified copies cost £30 each.

Uncertified copies

the design number

your telephone number

Overview

There are 2 types of copy – certified and uncertified.

Certified copy

You need a certified copy to:

register a piece of intellectual property (IP) outside the UK

Uncertified copy

Request patent documents

Fill in the form and post it. The address is on the form.

How much they cost

Certified copies cost £20 each.

Uncertified copies cost £5.

Request trade marks documents

Use form TM31R to get a certified copy of a trade mark.

Certified copies cost £20 each.

Uncertified copies

the trade mark number

your telephone number

the address you want the photocopy sent to

Request design registration documents

Certified copies cost £30 each.

Uncertified copies

the design number

your telephone number

Overview

There are 2 types of copy – certified and uncertified.

Certified copy

You need a certified copy to:

register a piece of intellectual property (IP) outside the UK

Uncertified copy

Request patent documents

Fill in the form and post it. The address is on the form.

How much they cost

Certified copies cost £20 each.

Uncertified copies cost £5.

Request trade marks documents

Use form TM31R to get a certified copy of a trade mark.

Certified copies cost £20 each.

Uncertified copies

the trade mark number

your telephone number

the address you want the photocopy sent to

Request design registration documents

Certified copies cost £30 each.

Uncertified copies

the design number

your telephone number

Certified copies cost £20 each.

Overview

There are 2 types of copy – certified and uncertified.

Certified copy

You need a certified copy to:

register a piece of intellectual property (IP) outside the UK

Uncertified copy

Request patent documents

Fill in the form and post it. The address is on the form.

You can request uncertified copies of patent documents online.

How much they cost

Certified copies cost £20 each.

Uncertified copies cost £5.

Request trade marks documents

Use form TM31R to get a certified copy of a trade mark.

Certified copies cost £20 each.

Uncertified copies

the trade mark number

your telephone number

the address you want the photocopy sent to

Request design registration documents

Certified copies cost £30 each.

Uncertified copies

the design number

your telephone number

Overview

There are 2 types of copy – certified and uncertified.

Certified copy

You need a certified copy to:

register a piece of intellectual property (IP) outside the UK

Uncertified copy

Request patent documents

Fill in the form and post it. The address is on the form.

You can request uncertified copies of patent documents online.

How much they cost

Certified copies cost £20 each.

Uncertified copies cost £5.

Request trade marks documents

Use form TM31R to get a certified copy of a trade mark.

Certified copies cost £20 each.

Uncertified copies

the trade mark number

your telephone number

the address you want the photocopy sent to

Request design registration documents

Certified copies cost £30 each.

Uncertified copies

the design number

your telephone number


I am 34, live in the UK and have a 30 year old brother who works for a charity in Senegal. He failed to turn up for work one day just over six months ago, and is now officially listed as "missing" by the UK Foreign Office and the Sengalese government. He has no partner or children. If I apply to be his Guardian, who exactly do I need to notify of this?

You’ll need to tell the missing person’s:

Manage a missing person's finances and property

Overview

You can apply to be a guardian and manage the finances or property of someone who:

is missing

is in prison abroad and cannot communicate

has been taken hostage or kidnapped

The person must be missing from home and their usual activities.

One of the following must also apply:

you do not know where they are

they cannot contact you to let you know their decisions

You must apply to the High Court for a guardianship order.

You can apply when the person has been missing for the previous 90 days. You can apply earlier if it’s urgent, for example the person’s house is being repossessed.

The Office of the Public Guardian will supervise you while you are acting as a guardian. You’ll need to keep records of the activities you carry out and decisions you make.

You must send reports to the Office of the Public Guardian when they ask you for them. They will tell you when it’s time to send your report.

The Office of the Public Guardian might visit you.

Who can apply

You can apply if you’re the missing person’s:

husband, wife or civil partner

parent

child

brother or sister

guardian already and you’re renewing the order

You can also apply if you can give the court evidence that you have a ‘sufficient interest’ in the person’s finances or property. This might be, for example, because:

you have been in a relationship for a long time with the person and you live with them

the person is your business partner and you need to continue to run the business

you are the person’s step-parent, step-sibling or step-child

The longer you’ve known the person and the better you know them, the easier it will be for you to convince the court that you have ‘sufficient interest’.

You must be over 18 to apply.

Apply to be a guardian

You can make a claim yourself or use a legal representative.

Fill in the form

Download and fill in a part 8 claim form.

Include:

your name and address (under ‘claimant’)

the missing person’s name (under ‘defendant’)

your relationship to the missing person

the last known address of the person

when the person went missing

how long the person has been missing

If you’re applying with other people, complete one form with everyone’s details in it.

You’ll need to write a witness statement to help the court decide if you’re a suitable guardian.

Witness statement

Confirm that the missing person normally lives in England or Wales.

If you’re not the person’s husband, wife, civil partner, parent, child, brother or sister, explain why you’re interested in the person’s property or financial affairs.

If it’s less than 90 days since the person went missing, explain you need the guardianship order urgently, for example, because the person is going to lose their house.

In the statement, include:

the person’s usual day-to-day activities and when they stopped doing them

evidence that the person has been missing for at least the last 90 days

information about the property and finances of the person

what you know about their disappearance and where they might be

details of any police investigation or report

the names and addresses of the missing person’s family, if they have any

the proposed news advert

whether you’ve been convicted of a criminal offence

whether you’ve been refused credit

whether you’ve ever been bankrupt

whether you’ve run a company that became insolvent or went bankrupt

confirmation that you believe the facts in the document are true and accurate (a ‘truth statement’)

Send the form to the High Court

Apply to one of the following:

the Chancery Division of the High Court - if there are complicated issues with a property or trust

the Family Division of the High Court - if it’s likely that family disagreements and issues will happen

Your local High Court District Registry

The High Court can transfer your hearing from one division to another. This will not change what you have to pay.

Send one identical copy for each person you need to tell, plus a copy for the court.

the form and witness statement

any documents you have as supporting evidence, for example police reports

a cheque for the court fee, made payable to ‘HM Courts and Tribunals Service’

Find your local High Court District Registry.

After you apply you’ll need to advertise your claim in a newspaper. The High Court will ask you to go to a hearing.

How much it costs

You must pay either:

a £528 application fee if you apply to the Chancery Division of the High Court

a £245 application fee if you apply to the Family Division of the High Court

Send a cheque for HM Courts and Tribunals with your application.

You might also have to pay a security bond.

Once you’re appointed as a guardian you must pay:

a £200 set up fee

a £320 supervision fee every year of your guardianship

The Office of the Public Guardian will tell you how and when to pay your set up and supervision fees.

If you want to get the money back for the fees from the missing person’s account, ask the court to give you permission in the guardianship order.

Pay the security bond

You might have to pay a security bond before you can use the guardianship order. The High Court will tell you if you need to pay a bond.

If the guardianship order gives you permission, either:

pay the bond from the person’s funds

pay the bond yourself then pay yourself back once you have access to the person’s finances

You cannot start acting for the person until you’ve paid the security bond.

Get help with your fees

You might also be able to get help paying court fees.

After you've applied

The court will send copies of your form back to you, with ‘acknowledgement of service’ forms and a case number. It will keep a copy of the form. The High Court will let you know the hearing date.

The hearing will take place at least 8 weeks after the High Court sends you the claim forms back.

When you have a hearing date from the court, you need to tell other people that you’ve applied before the hearing, in case they object. You must also advertise your claim in a newspaper.

Tell the person’s family that you’ve applied to be their guardian

You’ll need to tell the missing person’s:

husband, wife or civil partner

parents, brothers and sisters

children

Send:

a copy of the claim form

the acknowledgement of service form that the court has sent you

copies of the supporting evidence you sent with your application

a letter telling them the date of the first hearing

Advertise your claim in the news

You must advertise your claim within 14 days from the day you get a date for the first court hearing. The advert must appear in a print or online newspaper that covers the missing person’s last known usual address.

How to write the advert

You can use this template for the advert. Add your own information where there are square brackets.

In the High Court of Justice [Family or Chancery] Division

Case number [  ]

In the matter of an application made under the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act 2017 for a guardianship order in respect of [insert missing person name].

A claim has been issued in the High Court of Justice, [Family or Chancery] Division, case no. [case number], by [your name] for an order that [your name] be appointed guardian in respect of [missing person] (“the missing person”), whose last usual place of residence was [missing person’s address].

The date and venue for the first hearing of the claim application is [date] at [court address]. Any spouse, civil partner, parent, child or sibling of the missing person is entitled to intervene in the matter. Any other person having an interest may apply to the court for permission to intervene in the matter.

If you wish to give notice of intention to intervene or to apply to the court for permission to intervene, you should do so at [court address] as soon as possible, and no later than 14 days before the date of the first hearing, and serve a copy of that notice or application on the claimant at the address given below. Delay may harm your prospects of obtaining permission to intervene if you are not entitled to intervene, and, in any event, may be taken into account on any question relating to costs.

[your name]
[Name and address of your legal representative, if you have one]
[Your address, if you do not have a legal representative]

Tell the court about the advert

At least 7 days before the first court hearing, send evidence to the High Court that you advertised the claim. Include the case number the court has sent you. Evidence could be:

a copy of the printed page

a working link to a website

confirmation from the news organisation

At the hearing

Bring any supporting documents you have to the hearing.

At the hearing, the judge might consider:

your relationship with the missing person

the missing person’s opinion of you (for example, if there is evidence in writing from before they disappeared)

whether you have the right skills and knowledge to be a guardian

any conflict of interest between you and the missing person

You might be:

asked for more information

told there has to be another hearing

The court will tell you how to get a court order if someone’s refusing to give you information you need.

There might be several hearings before the High Court makes a decision. It depends on how complicated the case is.

If the High Court approves your claim

The judge might tell you at the hearing that you have been successful, or there could be a short wait before you find out. It depends on how complicated your case is and how much the missing person owns.

Once the High Court has given you a guardianship order, they will send you several copies of it and a copy to the Office of the Public Guardian.

The Office of the Public Guardian will register your guardianship and supervise you. You might have to pay a security bond. The High Court will tell you if you do.

When you’re appointed as a guardian

The guardianship order will tell you when you can start to make decisions for the person and what kinds of decision you can make.

The order will also say how long you are guardian for.

Contact the High Court if there are mistakes on the order.

You’ll need apply again to make a decision on anything that’s not covered by the order.

Let people know you’re a guardian

The court might give you the right to find out where the person has bank or building society accounts, if you do not know already. You’ll need to write to banks and building societies to find out.

If the order mentions people or organisations, tell them that you’re the guardian.

Some examples are:

Department for Work and Pensions

banks or building societies

life assurance companies

the payer of any private pensions

the solicitor who holds the person’s will or property deeds

utility providers

the company where the person has a mortgage

Send:

the guardianship order

proof of your name and address

proof of the name and address of the person you are guardian for

Proof of name and address could be a driving licence or utility bill. Check with the organisation:

what proof of name and address they accept

whether they’ll accept a photocopy of the guardianship order or only the original

Ask organisations to return your guardianship order when you send it out or you may run out of copies.

Pay bills and cancel payments

Once you have access to the person’s accounts and know where their income comes from and their assets, you can make a full list of what’s in their estate so you know what you’re responsible for. If the guardianship order gives you permission, pay any outstanding bills and cancel any payments if they no longer apply.

Make decisions

The Office of the Public Guardian will supervise you while you act as a guardian. You’ll need to keep a record of the decisions you make.

The kinds of decision the guardianship order might let you make include:

making an investment for the person

selling some of the person’s assets

cancelling direct debits

Any decisions you make for someone must be right for them (‘in their best interests’).

Making decisions in someone’s best interests

Take into account:

what they would have decided if they could

their feelings and wishes

their values and beliefs, including moral, political and religious views

the views of other people who have an interest in the missing person’s property

Do not make assumptions based on their age, gender, ethnic background, sexuality or health.

It can help to:

write down what the person has told you is important to them

look at other things they wrote down or recorded (such as household budgets or home videos)

speak to friends, family or colleagues who know them well

You’ll need to send a report to the Office for the Public Guardian explaining what decisions you took.

Difficult decisions and disagreements

Consult the person’s family and friends. Including everyone in a meeting can help you reach agreement.

If you cannot agree you can get advice about how to reach agreement from the Office of the Public Guardian.

You must apply again to the High Court to make a decision not covered by the guardianship order.

Keeping records, giving gifts and claiming expenses

You must keep financial records and accounts. Follow the rules for gifts and expenses. You must also record the transactions in your guardianship report.

Keeping records

Keep a record if you:

make an investment for the person

sell the person’s home, car or other valuables

use the person’s money to buy someone a gift

ask someone for advice and any disagreements

close an account

pay a bill

You must keep copies of:

bank statements and receipts

invoices

contracts for services or tradespeople

letters and emails about your activities as a guardian

The Office of the Public Guardian might ask you to send these in when it reviews your guardian report.

Giving gifts

Your guardianship order will say if you can buy gifts or give gifts of money on behalf of the person, including donations to charities. It will also say if there’s a limit on what you can spend.

You must be sure the person can afford the gift.

Expenses

Check your guardianship order to find out whether or not you can claim expenses. You can only claim expenses if the order gives you permission and for things you must do to carry out your role as a guardian, for example:

hiring a professional to do things like fill in the person’s tax return

travel costs

stationery

postage

phone calls

You can be ordered to repay the person’s money if you misuse it or make decisions to benefit yourself.

Keep your receipts and invoice the person for your expenses.

Complete your report

You must write a report for the Office of the Public Guardian each year explaining the decisions you’ve made as a guardian.

It must include:

the reasons for your decisions and why they were in the person’s best interests

who you spoke to and what they said was in the person’s best interests

the opening and closing balances and bank statements

payments and transfers in and out of their accounts

details of the person’s assets

any assets you bought or sold

The Office of the Public Guardian will tell you when to send your report and how to send it.

If you do not send the report, the Office of the Public Guardian might:

increase the amount of supervision you get

ask the court to replace you with a different guardian

Make a decision that's not covered by the order

You must apply to the High Court if you need to change your guardianship, for example to make decisions not covered by the original order.

How to apply

Apply to the High Court to change the guardianship order.

Download and fill in form N244.

Include your case number and select that you are the ‘claimant’.

When the guardianship ends

Your guardianship ends automatically if one of the following things happens:

your guardianship order expires

the person dies

someone makes a declaration of presumed death

you die

If the person returns or you decide to step down

You’ll need to apply to the High Court to end (‘revoke’) the guardianship order.

Download and fill in form N244.

Explain in the details section that you want to revoke the guardianship because the missing person has returned or you’ve decided to step down.

Renew your guardianship

The guardianship order will make you a guardian for a maximum of 4 years.

You can apply for another guardianship order when it expires. The process is the same as applying for guardianship.

parents, brothers and sisters

Overview

You can apply to be a guardian and manage the finances or property of someone who:

is missing

is in prison abroad and cannot communicate

has been taken hostage or kidnapped

The person must be missing from home and their usual activities.

One of the following must also apply:

you do not know where they are

they cannot contact you to let you know their decisions

You must apply to the High Court for a guardianship order.

The Office of the Public Guardian might visit you.

Who can apply

You can apply if you’re the missing person’s:

husband, wife or civil partner

parent

child

brother or sister

guardian already and you’re renewing the order

you have been in a relationship for a long time with the person and you live with them

the person is your business partner and you need to continue to run the business

you are the person’s step-parent, step-sibling or step-child

You must be over 18 to apply.

Apply to be a guardian

You can make a claim yourself or use a legal representative.

Fill in the form

Download and fill in a part 8 claim form.

Include:

your name and address (under ‘claimant’)

the missing person’s name (under ‘defendant’)

your relationship to the missing person

the last known address of the person

when the person went missing

how long the person has been missing

If you’re applying with other people, complete one form with everyone’s details in it.

You’ll need to write a witness statement to help the court decide if you’re a suitable guardian.

Witness statement

Confirm that the missing person normally lives in England or Wales.

In the statement, include:

the person’s usual day-to-day activities and when they stopped doing them

evidence that the person has been missing for at least the last 90 days

information about the property and finances of the person

what you know about their disappearance and where they might be

details of any police investigation or report

the names and addresses of the missing person’s family, if they have any

the proposed news advert

whether you’ve been convicted of a criminal offence

whether you’ve been refused credit

whether you’ve ever been bankrupt

whether you’ve run a company that became insolvent or went bankrupt

confirmation that you believe the facts in the document are true and accurate (a ‘truth statement’)

Send the form to the High Court

Apply to one of the following:

the Chancery Division of the High Court - if there are complicated issues with a property or trust

the Family Division of the High Court - if it’s likely that family disagreements and issues will happen

Your local High Court District Registry

The High Court can transfer your hearing from one division to another. This will not change what you have to pay.

Send one identical copy for each person you need to tell, plus a copy for the court.

the form and witness statement

any documents you have as supporting evidence, for example police reports

a cheque for the court fee, made payable to ‘HM Courts and Tribunals Service’

Find your local High Court District Registry.

After you apply you’ll need to advertise your claim in a newspaper. The High Court will ask you to go to a hearing.

How much it costs

You must pay either:

a £528 application fee if you apply to the Chancery Division of the High Court

a £245 application fee if you apply to the Family Division of the High Court

Send a cheque for HM Courts and Tribunals with your application.

You might also have to pay a security bond.

Once you’re appointed as a guardian you must pay:

a £200 set up fee

a £320 supervision fee every year of your guardianship

The Office of the Public Guardian will tell you how and when to pay your set up and supervision fees.

Pay the security bond

If the guardianship order gives you permission, either:

pay the bond from the person’s funds

pay the bond yourself then pay yourself back once you have access to the person’s finances

You cannot start acting for the person until you’ve paid the security bond.

Get help with your fees

You might also be able to get help paying court fees.

After you've applied

The hearing will take place at least 8 weeks after the High Court sends you the claim forms back.

Tell the person’s family that you’ve applied to be their guardian

You’ll need to tell the missing person’s:

husband, wife or civil partner

parents, brothers and sisters

children

Send:

a copy of the claim form

the acknowledgement of service form that the court has sent you

copies of the supporting evidence you sent with your application

a letter telling them the date of the first hearing

Advertise your claim in the news

How to write the advert

You can use this template for the advert. Add your own information where there are square brackets.

In the High Court of Justice [Family or Chancery] Division

Case number [  ]

Tell the court about the advert

a copy of the printed page

a working link to a website

confirmation from the news organisation

At the hearing

Bring any supporting documents you have to the hearing.

At the hearing, the judge might consider:

your relationship with the missing person

the missing person’s opinion of you (for example, if there is evidence in writing from before they disappeared)

whether you have the right skills and knowledge to be a guardian

any conflict of interest between you and the missing person

You might be:

asked for more information

told there has to be another hearing

The court will tell you how to get a court order if someone’s refusing to give you information you need.

There might be several hearings before the High Court makes a decision. It depends on how complicated the case is.

If the High Court approves your claim

When you’re appointed as a guardian

The order will also say how long you are guardian for.

Contact the High Court if there are mistakes on the order.

You’ll need apply again to make a decision on anything that’s not covered by the order.

Let people know you’re a guardian

If the order mentions people or organisations, tell them that you’re the guardian.

Some examples are:

Department for Work and Pensions

banks or building societies

life assurance companies

the payer of any private pensions

the solicitor who holds the person’s will or property deeds

utility providers

the company where the person has a mortgage

Send:

the guardianship order

proof of your name and address

proof of the name and address of the person you are guardian for

Proof of name and address could be a driving licence or utility bill. Check with the organisation:

what proof of name and address they accept

whether they’ll accept a photocopy of the guardianship order or only the original

Ask organisations to return your guardianship order when you send it out or you may run out of copies.

Pay bills and cancel payments

Make decisions

The kinds of decision the guardianship order might let you make include:

making an investment for the person

selling some of the person’s assets

cancelling direct debits

Any decisions you make for someone must be right for them (‘in their best interests’).

Making decisions in someone’s best interests

Take into account:

what they would have decided if they could

their feelings and wishes

their values and beliefs, including moral, political and religious views

the views of other people who have an interest in the missing person’s property

Do not make assumptions based on their age, gender, ethnic background, sexuality or health.

It can help to:

write down what the person has told you is important to them

look at other things they wrote down or recorded (such as household budgets or home videos)

speak to friends, family or colleagues who know them well

You’ll need to send a report to the Office for the Public Guardian explaining what decisions you took.

Difficult decisions and disagreements

Consult the person’s family and friends. Including everyone in a meeting can help you reach agreement.

If you cannot agree you can get advice about how to reach agreement from the Office of the Public Guardian.

You must apply again to the High Court to make a decision not covered by the guardianship order.

Keeping records, giving gifts and claiming expenses

Keeping records

Keep a record if you:

make an investment for the person

sell the person’s home, car or other valuables

use the person’s money to buy someone a gift

ask someone for advice and any disagreements

close an account

pay a bill

You must keep copies of:

bank statements and receipts

invoices

contracts for services or tradespeople

letters and emails about your activities as a guardian

The Office of the Public Guardian might ask you to send these in when it reviews your guardian report.

Giving gifts

You must be sure the person can afford the gift.

Expenses

hiring a professional to do things like fill in the person’s tax return

travel costs

stationery

postage

phone calls

You can be ordered to repay the person’s money if you misuse it or make decisions to benefit yourself.

Keep your receipts and invoice the person for your expenses.

Complete your report

It must include:

the reasons for your decisions and why they were in the person’s best interests

who you spoke to and what they said was in the person’s best interests

the opening and closing balances and bank statements

payments and transfers in and out of their accounts

details of the person’s assets

any assets you bought or sold

The Office of the Public Guardian will tell you when to send your report and how to send it.

If you do not send the report, the Office of the Public Guardian might:

increase the amount of supervision you get

ask the court to replace you with a different guardian

Make a decision that's not covered by the order

How to apply

Apply to the High Court to change the guardianship order.

Download and fill in form N244.

Include your case number and select that you are the ‘claimant’.

When the guardianship ends

Your guardianship ends automatically if one of the following things happens:

your guardianship order expires

the person dies

someone makes a declaration of presumed death

you die

If the person returns or you decide to step down

You’ll need to apply to the High Court to end (‘revoke’) the guardianship order.

Download and fill in form N244.

Renew your guardianship

The guardianship order will make you a guardian for a maximum of 4 years.

You can apply for another guardianship order when it expires. The process is the same as applying for guardianship.