Visitors (Tourist) visas
If you want to visit the UK as a tourist or for business reasons, you can do so on a Visitors visa. On arrival in the UK, you will need to show the UK Immigration Officer that you:
On a Visitors visa, you are not allowed to work in the UK, or enrol your children in state schools. You also are not allowed to receive free medical treatment from the National Health Service, unless you come from a country which has a visitor health-care agreement with the UK.
As a business visitor, you are free to carry out business in the UK as a visitor or in connection with your business overseas, and you may attend meetings, trade fairs, conferences and classroom training. However, you are not allowed to take paid or unpaid employment, or sell goods or services to the public.
If you are an entertainer or a sportsperson coming to the UK for a trial or audition or for a personal appearance that does not involve a paid performance, you may also enter on a Visitors visa.
Working Holidaymaker visa
A Working Holidaymaker visa allows Commonwealth citizens between the ages of 17 and 30 to travel and work in the UK for a maximum period of two years.
In some circumstances, it may be possible to get an extension to your Working Holidaymaker visa. This is usually only possible if you have been granted a visa for less than 2 years and the extension would not take your stay in the UK beyond two years from the date you entered.
Any time you spend outside the UK during your visa is still counted as part of the two-year limit.
However, after spending 12 months on a Working Holidaymaker visa in the UK, you may be able to switch to a work permit. The Work Permit Scheme is discussed in detail under the work permit section of this website.
Student visas
If you want to study in the UK, a student visa is ideal for you.
To qualify for this visa, you must be able to show that:
However, you are not allowed to do business, be self-employed or provide services as a professional sport person.
Student Dependent visas
If you are eligible for a student visa, your spouse and children under the age of 18 will be able to join you on a Student Dependent visa.
However, your spouse must be able to support themselves either independently or with your help, and will be allowed to work only if your student visa is issued for twelve months or more.
Extension of Student visas
Provided you have attended at least 15 hours of organised daytime study per week for the duration of your initial Student visa, and can prove that you have made suitable progress in your studies, you may be able to extend your visa for further study.
Dependent of Work Permit holder
If your spouse or unmarried or same-sex partner has been granted a UK work permit, you will be eligible to enter the UK as the Dependent of a Work Permit holder, provided that you live with them permanently.
If you are not married, you will need to prove that you have been in a relationship akin to a marriage with your partner for at least two years before the date of application.
Your visa will be granted for the same period as your spouse or partner’s work permit, allowing you employment without restriction and multiple entries to the UK.
Children under the age of 18 who wish to accompany their parents to the UK are also eligible for this visa. Children over the age of 18 will need to qualify independently for the right to live in the UK.
Ancestral and Dependent visas
If you are a Commonwealth citizen and have a grandparent who was born in the UK, you may be able to apply for an Ancestry visa. This visa gives you the freedom to work and eventually settle in the UK based on your ancestral ties.
It is issued for four years, during which time you will be able to work without restriction in any occupation you choose, and will be allowed multiple entries to the UK.
After 4 continuous years in the UK you may apply for indefinite leave to remain, provided that you can prove that you have been working during the four years of your visa and have not spent more than 90 days per year outside the UK. After another year on permanent residence, you can apply to be become a British citizen, when you will receive a British passport.
To apply for this visa you must:
If you or your parents were officially adopted, you may still be eligible for this visa.
Your spouse, unmarried or same-sex partner is also eligible to apply for a UK Ancestry Dependency Visa.
Spouse and Unmarried Partner visas
Spouse visas
If your husband or wife is either a British citizen, or has indefinite leave to remain in the UK, you can join them on a Spouse visa. If you have been granted limited leave to remain in the UK, you can apply for a Spouse visa without having to leave the UK. If not, you must apply for entry clearance to ensure you enter the UK as a spouse.
To qualify for this visa, you must be able to show that:
If you have been married for less than four years, you will be given a probationary period of residence for two years. You will be entitled to apply for indefinite leave to remain after you have lived in the UK for two years, provided you can prove that you have been genuinely living together as husband and wife.
If you can prove you have been married for more than four years, you can apply for indefinite leave to enter immediately.
Once the visa has been issued, you will be able to work without restriction and exit and enter the UK multiple times.
Unmarried Partner visas
If you have lived with a British citizen or a UK permanent resident in a heterosexual or same-sex relationship for at least two years, you can apply to join them in the UK.
To qualify for this visa, you will need to show that:
If you can prove that you have lived together in this relationship for at least four years, you can apply for settlement in the UK immediately. If not, you can apply for settlement after you have lived in the UK for two years.
EEA Family visas
If you are a citizen of the EU taking up residence in the UK, you are entitled to bring your spouse / family with you.
They will be given an EEA Family visa, which is valid for one year. During this year, and preferably within 6 months of their arrival in the UK, you can apply for a resident’s permit, and your family can apply for five-year resident stamps in their passports.
With this visa, you and your family will be entitled to work in the UK without restriction.
Permanent Residence
Permanent residence or indefinite leave to remain (ILR) means you can stay in the UK for as long as you like, and are usually the final stage before applying for British citizenship.
This status will be given to you provided that you are settled in the UK, and that you have successfully completed one of the following:
If you spend two years or more continuously outside of the UK, then your ILR status may be cancelled.
British citizenship
Once you have been given permanent residence status, you can apply to become a British citizen. To qualify, you will need to have:
If you are married to a British citizen, you will be able to apply for British citizenship after three years in the UK, provided that you have ILR for a year.
If you want to visit the UK as a tourist or for business reasons, you can do so on a Visitors visa. On arrival in the UK, you will need to show the UK Immigration Officer that you:
- 1.Are a genuine visitor
- 2.Intend to stay in the UK for no more than six months
- 3.Plan to leave the UK at the end of your visit
- 4.Have enough money to support yourself without working or relying on public funds
- 5.Can meet the onward cost of your journey
On a Visitors visa, you are not allowed to work in the UK, or enrol your children in state schools. You also are not allowed to receive free medical treatment from the National Health Service, unless you come from a country which has a visitor health-care agreement with the UK.
As a business visitor, you are free to carry out business in the UK as a visitor or in connection with your business overseas, and you may attend meetings, trade fairs, conferences and classroom training. However, you are not allowed to take paid or unpaid employment, or sell goods or services to the public.
If you are an entertainer or a sportsperson coming to the UK for a trial or audition or for a personal appearance that does not involve a paid performance, you may also enter on a Visitors visa.
Working Holidaymaker visa A Working Holidaymaker visa allows Commonwealth citizens between the ages of 17 and 30 to travel and work in the UK for a maximum period of two years.
In some circumstances, it may be possible to get an extension to your Working Holidaymaker visa. This is usually only possible if you have been granted a visa for less than 2 years and the extension would not take your stay in the UK beyond two years from the date you entered.
Any time you spend outside the UK during your visa is still counted as part of the two-year limit.
However, after spending 12 months on a Working Holidaymaker visa in the UK, you may be able to switch to a work permit. The Work Permit Scheme is discussed in detail under the work permit section of this website.
Student visas If you want to study in the UK, a student visa is ideal for you.
To qualify for this visa, you must be able to show that:
- 1.You have been accepted for a course at a publicly-funded institution of further or higher education (for example, a university); a private education institution; or an independent fee-paying school
- 2.You will be following a recognised full-time degree course; or a course run during the week that involves at least 15 hours of full-time day-time daytime study
- 3.You are able to pay for your course, and support and accommodate yourself and any dependents for the duration of your course without relying on public funds
- 4.You plan to leave the UK on completion of your course.
- With this visa, you are entitled to take on part-time work for not more than 20 hours a week, unless it is a work placement and part of a study program which your education institution has agreed to.
However, you are not allowed to do business, be self-employed or provide services as a professional sport person.
Student Dependent visas If you are eligible for a student visa, your spouse and children under the age of 18 will be able to join you on a Student Dependent visa.
However, your spouse must be able to support themselves either independently or with your help, and will be allowed to work only if your student visa is issued for twelve months or more.
Extension of Student visas Provided you have attended at least 15 hours of organised daytime study per week for the duration of your initial Student visa, and can prove that you have made suitable progress in your studies, you may be able to extend your visa for further study.
Dependent of Work Permit holder If your spouse or unmarried or same-sex partner has been granted a UK work permit, you will be eligible to enter the UK as the Dependent of a Work Permit holder, provided that you live with them permanently.
If you are not married, you will need to prove that you have been in a relationship akin to a marriage with your partner for at least two years before the date of application.
Your visa will be granted for the same period as your spouse or partner’s work permit, allowing you employment without restriction and multiple entries to the UK.
Children under the age of 18 who wish to accompany their parents to the UK are also eligible for this visa. Children over the age of 18 will need to qualify independently for the right to live in the UK.
Ancestral and Dependent visas If you are a Commonwealth citizen and have a grandparent who was born in the UK, you may be able to apply for an Ancestry visa. This visa gives you the freedom to work and eventually settle in the UK based on your ancestral ties.
It is issued for four years, during which time you will be able to work without restriction in any occupation you choose, and will be allowed multiple entries to the UK.
After 4 continuous years in the UK you may apply for indefinite leave to remain, provided that you can prove that you have been working during the four years of your visa and have not spent more than 90 days per year outside the UK. After another year on permanent residence, you can apply to be become a British citizen, when you will receive a British passport.
To apply for this visa you must:
- 1.Be 17 or older
- 2.Be a citizen of the Commonwealth.
- 3.Be able to prove through original birth certificates that you have a grandparent (living or deceased) who was born in the UK.
- 4.Be able and plan to be employed in the UK.
- 5.Be able to support and accommodate yourself and any dependents without relying on public funds.
If you or your parents were officially adopted, you may still be eligible for this visa.
Your spouse, unmarried or same-sex partner is also eligible to apply for a UK Ancestry Dependency Visa.
Spouse and Unmarried Partner visas Spouse visas If your husband or wife is either a British citizen, or has indefinite leave to remain in the UK, you can join them on a Spouse visa. If you have been granted limited leave to remain in the UK, you can apply for a Spouse visa without having to leave the UK. If not, you must apply for entry clearance to ensure you enter the UK as a spouse.
To qualify for this visa, you must be able to show that:
- 1.You are over the age of 18, and your spouse is over the age of 18.
- 2.You are lawfully married to a person who is either settled in the UK or being admitted for settlement.
- 3.You have met your spouse in person.
- 4.You intend to live permanently with your husband or wife and that your marriage is subsisting.
- 5.You and any dependents have adequate accommodation which you will own or occupy exclusively, and will be able to maintain yourselves without relying on public funds.
If you have been married for less than four years, you will be given a probationary period of residence for two years. You will be entitled to apply for indefinite leave to remain after you have lived in the UK for two years, provided you can prove that you have been genuinely living together as husband and wife.
If you can prove you have been married for more than four years, you can apply for indefinite leave to enter immediately.
Once the visa has been issued, you will be able to work without restriction and exit and enter the UK multiple times.
Unmarried Partner visas If you have lived with a British citizen or a UK permanent resident in a heterosexual or same-sex relationship for at least two years, you can apply to join them in the UK.
To qualify for this visa, you will need to show that:
- 1.You are the unmarried partner of a person present and settled in the UK or who is being admitted for settlement.
- 2.You have been living together in a marriage-like relationship for two years or more, either in the UK or in another country.
- 3.Any previous marriage or similar relationship by either partner has ended.
- 4.You are not related by blood.
- 5.You and any dependents will be able to accommodate and maintain yourselves without relying on public funds.
- 6.You intend to live permanently with your partner for the future.
If you can prove that you have lived together in this relationship for at least four years, you can apply for settlement in the UK immediately. If not, you can apply for settlement after you have lived in the UK for two years.
EEA Family visas If you are a citizen of the EU taking up residence in the UK, you are entitled to bring your spouse / family with you.
They will be given an EEA Family visa, which is valid for one year. During this year, and preferably within 6 months of their arrival in the UK, you can apply for a resident’s permit, and your family can apply for five-year resident stamps in their passports.
With this visa, you and your family will be entitled to work in the UK without restriction.
Permanent Residence - 1.After 4 years on a work permit, including dependents
- 2.After 4 years on an Ancestral visa, including dependents
- 3.After 2 years on a Spouse or Unmarried Partners visa
- 4.After 4 years on your EEA Family visa
Permanent residence or indefinite leave to remain (ILR) means you can stay in the UK for as long as you like, and are usually the final stage before applying for British citizenship.
This status will be given to you provided that you are settled in the UK, and that you have successfully completed one of the following:
- 1.A four-year work permit or dependency visa
- 2.A four-year Ancestry or dependency visa
- 3.A two-year Spousal or Unmarried partners visa
- 4.A four-year EEA Family visa
If you spend two years or more continuously outside of the UK, then your ILR status may be cancelled.
British citizenship Once you have been given permanent residence status, you can apply to become a British citizen. To qualify, you will need to have:
- 1.Had indefinite leave to remain (ILR) status for a year.
- 2.Lived in the UK for at least five years and have not been outside of the UK for more than 450 days during these five years, including not more than 90 days in the last twelve months.
- 3.Proof of up to date tax and national insurance.
If you are married to a British citizen, you will be able to apply for British citizenship after three years in the UK, provided that you have ILR for a year.
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