Fiance(e) visas are valid for 6 months. Once the relationship has been formalised through marriage or civil partnership, the applicant can switch to a Partner visa. Partner visas are valid for 30 months, which can then be extended for another 30 months. After this, the applicant will be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Extension of this visa

• Partner (married or in a civil partnership),
• Partner (unmarried or same-sex relationship),
• Fiance(e) or proposed civil partner.

Must reach a minimum standard in the English language.

There are certain financial and accommodation requirements.

The relationship must be genuine.

Basic Rules Overview

The documents required are different for each category, but in all cases:

These visas are for the partners of people who are UK citizens or permanent residents, or with refugee status.

There are three categories:

Your stay is unlimited if your family member is British, Irish or settled in the UK, and you will not need to extend or settle.

If your family member has refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK, you can stay as long as your family member stays. You’ll need to apply to extend or settle when they do.

Extension of this visa

You are 18 years old and above.

You need long-term care to do every day personal and household tasks due to illness, disability, or your age.

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

That the person you will be joining in the UK will accommodate, support and care for you without claiming public funds for at least 5 years.

To apply as an Adult Relative, you must prove the following:

Basic rules overview

Indefinite Leave to Remain allows the applicant to live permanently in the UK.

Basic Rules Overview

• ILR is only granted after an applicant has already been in the UK for a certain period of time.
• There are different rules according to the type of visa they originally had.
• Most visas are 5 years residence requirement before an individual has a right to apply.
• However, there are other categories that require 10 years.
• Also, some types of visa can never be converted to ILR.

There are also different rules that apply to each category, such as passing the Life in the UK Test and financial status.

This visa is for applicants with an offer of a place at a UK educational institution. There are two types:

• General Student Visa
• Child (for school students studying at an independent school).

Basic Rules Overview

There are two fundamental requirements:

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

Must have an offer of a place to study from a licensed sponsor. The sponsor is the educational institution you will be studying at.

Maintenance

Must possess a certain amount of funds to support yourself (and any dependants) in the UK.

Extension of this visa

The visa is valid for the length of the course undertaken, plus a short time afterwards. It may be extended by making a new application for a new course, but this type of visa cannot be used as a route to obtaining Indefinite Leave to Remain.

The Start-up Visa category is reserved for early-stage, high potential entrepreneurs starting a business in Britain for the first time.

An applicant can apply for a Start-up visa if:

Wants to set up a business in the UK.

Basic Rules Overview

Non European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland national.

An applicant 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

Meets the other eligibility requirements.

Endorsement

There are several endorsing bodies depending on the business area the applicant wants to set up. The list of endorsing bodies is here.

Unique business

The applicant must be able to show that their business idea is:

• A new idea – cannot join or invest in a business that is already trading.
• Innovative – must have an original business idea, different from anything else on the market.
• Viable – with potential for growth.

There are several endorsing bodies depending on the business area the applicant wants to set up. The list of endorsing bodies is here.

Maintenance Requirement

The applicant must be able to prove that he has enough personal savings to support himself while in the UK by demonstrating that he has had at least £945 in his bank account for 90 consecutive days before application.

Extension of this visa

An applicant can only stay in the UK for 2 years on a Start-up visa. No extension is permitted on this visa.

This visa is for applicants who wants to set up or run a business in the UK.

• The applicant must have at least £50,000 in investment funds to set up a new business.
• Funds are not needed if the business is already established and has been endorsed for an earlier visa.

Basic Rules Overview

Endorsement

• An applicant must be endorsed by an approved body before an application is made for this visa.
• The applicant must ensure that his business or business idea is assessed by an approved body, after which they will provide an endorsement letter if the business is viable.

Unique business

The applicant must be able to show that his business idea is:

• A new idea – you cannot join or invest in a business that is already trading.
• Viable, with potential for growth.

Maintenance requirement

The applicant must be able to prove that he has enough personal savings to support himself while in the UK by demonstrating that he has had at least £945 in his bank account for 90 consecutive days before application.

Extension of this visa

An applicant can initially stay in the UK for 3 years on an innovator visa. He can subsequently extend his stay for a further 3 years when his visa is due to expire. There’s no limit on the number of times he can extend.

This visa leads to settlement as the applicant can apply for settlement (known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) once he has been in the UK for 3 years.

Basic Rules Overview

To qualify:

Application as a representative of an overseas business visa is eligible to you if you are an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation posted on a long-term assignment to the UK.

To be eligible for this visa you must have enough money to support yourself without help from public funds and also meet the English requirements except you are a National from an exempt country.

The representative of an overseas visa also allows you to work for your employer full-time and also bring in your dependents.

Extension of this visa

This visa entitles you to stay in the UK for an initial period of 3 years, with a possibility of an extension of your visa for an additional 2 years which must be done before your visa expires. This visa also allows you the opportunity to apply for permission to settle permanently in the UK after 5 years of being in the country.

Basic Rules Overview

This visa allows you to come to the UK to set up a branch as an overseas business that has not started trading in the UK.

To be eligible for the UK Expansion Worker visa:

• You must already work for the overseas business as a senior manager or specialist employee outside the UK.
• Have a valid certificate of sponsorship from your employer.
• Do a job that is on the list of eligible occupations.
• Be paid the minimum eligible salary required for the job.

Extension of this visa

This visa can only be extended for 12 months after the time given to you on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days.

This visa does not lead to a permanent settlement in the UK also known as an Indefinite leave to remain, however, you may be able to switch to another category for example, a Skilled worker visa.

• They are 18 or over.
• They intend to visit the UK for no more than 6 months (or 12 months if they are an academic visitor).
• They intend to leave the UK at the end of their UK visit.
• They have enough money to support and accommodate themselves without working or help from public funds, or they and any dependents will be supported and accommodated by relatives or friends.
• They are based abroad and do not intend to transfer their base to the UK, even temporarily.
• They receive their salary from abroad (although it is acceptable for them to receive reasonable travel and subsistence expenses while they are in the UK).
• They are not replacing someone in the UK, including for temporary leave periods.
• They can meet the cost of the return or onward journey.
• They are not in transit to a country outside the ‘Common Travel Area’ (Ireland, the UK, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands).

This visa cannot be extended beyond the maximum periods listed above unless the applicant is a doctor taking the PLAB test (in which case they can apply to extend the stay and undertake a clinical attachment if they pass the PLAB test).

Extension of this visa

• Take paid or unpaid employment, produce goods or provide services, including the selling of goods or services directly to members of the public.
• Undertake any other activity which would require a different type of visa.

They must also be able to show that, during the visit, they do not intend to:

The applicant must be able to show that:

Basic Rules Overview

This visa is for applicants who intend to make a short-term visit for business purposes.

This visa cannot be extended beyond the maximum periods listed above.

Extension of this visa

• Take paid or unpaid employment, produce goods or provide services, including the selling of goods or services directly to members of the public.
• Undertake any other activity which would require a different type of visa.

• Are 18 or over.
• Intend to visit the UK for no more than 6 months (or 12 months if they will be accompanying an academic visitor).
• Intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit.
• Have enough money to support and accommodate themselves without working or help from public funds.
• They and any dependents will be supported and accommodated by relatives or friends.
• Can meet the cost of the return or onward journey.

They must also be able to show that, during the visit, they do not intend to:

The applicant must provide evidence that they:

Basic Rules Overview

This visa is for applicants who intend to make a short-term visit for tourism or for visiting friends.

• you’ve been formally invited by a UK-based organisation to attend a pre-arranged event or other permitted engagement
• the event or engagement relates directly to your expertise, qualifications and main job in your home country
• you’re 18 or over
• you’re visiting the UK for no more than 1 month
• you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit
• you’re able to support yourself during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you)
• you’re able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey)
• you’ll not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home
• You must show the event or engagement relates to your expertise, qualifications and main job in your home country.

This visa cannot be extended beyond the maximum periods listed above.

Extension of this visa

• as a professional artist, entertainer or musician
• as a professional sportsperson
• as a qualified lawyer - to represent a client
• to give a lecture or series of lectures
• as an academic - to be a student examiner or assessor
• as an air pilot examiner

You can be invited and paid by a UK-based organisation or client:

The applicant must be able to show that:

Basic Rules Overview

You can visit the UK for up to 1 month. You cannot extend your stay in the UK.

This visa is for applicants who intend to visit the UK for a paid engagement having been invited as an expert in your profession by a UK-based organisation or client.

The original visa is valid for 5 years. At the end of this period, and subject to certain requirements, it is possible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Extension of this visa

This visa allows full rights to work with no restrictions.

before 31 March 1922 in what is now the Republic of Ireland.

• you are a Commonwealth citizen
• you are aged 17 or over
• you are able to work and you plan to work in the UK
• you can adequately support and accommodate yourself and your dependants without help from public funds
• You must also show that at least 1 of your grandparents was born:
  

before 31 March 1922 in what is now the Republic of Ireland.

in the UK (including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man).

The fundamental requirements are:

Basic Rules Overview

or

or

This visa is for applicants who can claim a connection with the UK through at least one grandparent.

This visa is for applicants who are skilled workers and will fill vacancies that the employer cannot fill with resident workers.

Basic Rules Overview

To qualify, you must satisfy four criteria:

Offer of Employment:

• You must have an offer of employment and a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed sponsor in the UK

Salary:

• There are minimum salary levels

English Language:

• You must provide evidence to prove that you speak English to the required standard.

Maintenance:

• You must possess a certain amount of funds to support yourself (and any dependants) in the UK.

Extension of this visa

The original visa lasts for a duration it was given, after which it is possible to apply for an extension with the same sponsor or a different sponsor. After spending 5 years in this category, you can apply to settle permanently in the UK.

This visa is for applicants with an offer of short-term work in the UK.

Basic Rules Overview

There are two fundamental requirements:

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

• You must have an offer of employment from a licensed sponsor.

Maintenance:

• You must possess a certain amount of funds to support yourself in the UK.

There are five categories of eligible employment:

• Seasonal Worker Visa
• Worker visa
• Charity worker visa
• Religious worker visa
• Government Authorised Exchange worker visa
• International Agreement worker Visa

Extension of this visa

The visa is valid for a maximum of either 12 or 24 months, depending on the exact category. It cannot be extended further.

This visa is for applicants whose employer wishes to transfer them from an overseas branch to work in a UK branch.

This visa has replaced the Intra-company Transfer visa, previously the Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa.

Basic Rules Overview

To qualify, you must satisfy four criteria:

Employee Status:

• be an existing employee of an organisation that’s been approved by the Home Office as a sponsor

Offer of Employment:

• You must have an offer of employment and a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed sponsor in the UK, to do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations.

Salary:

There are minimum salary levels. For the visa, you must be paid at least £42,400 per year

Maintenance:

You must possess a certain amount of funds to support yourself (and any dependants) in the UK.

The maximum total stay allowed for a Senior and Specialist Worker visa is:

• 5 years in any 6 year period if you’re paid less than £73,900 a year
• 9 years in any 10 year period if you’re paid £73,900 a year or more

Any time you spend in the UK on one of the following visas will be included in your maximum total stay:

• Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa
• Intra-company Transfer visa
• Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility)
• Secondment Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
• Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
• Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility)
• UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)

Extension of this visa

You can usually apply to extend your Senior or Specialist Worker visa from inside the UK if all of the following are true:

• you have the same job as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK
• your job is in the same occupation code as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK
• you’re still working for the employer who gave you your current certificate of sponsorship
• you have not reached the maximum total stay

The Youth mobility scheme visa is for people aged 18 to 30, who want to live and work in the UK for 2 years. You must have a savings of £2,530 and can apply if you have certain types of British Nationality or you come from certain countries or territories.

Basic Rules Overview

Youth Mobility Scheme Ballot

British Nationality includes:

• British overseas citizen
• British Overseas Territories citizen
• British national (overseas)

The Ballot is only open to people from certain countries. If you are from any of the countries listed below, you would need to enter a ballot before you can apply for the Youth mobility scheme visa. Ballots are open for 48hrs in January and July each year. If you are successful with the ballot, you then have 30 days to submit your application and pay the fee for the Youth mobility scheme visa.

Other Countries or territories:

• Australia
• Canada
• Monaco
• New Zealand
• San Marino
• Iceland

Extension of this visa

This visa has a maximum stay of 24 months, it is not extendable and does not lead to an indefinite leave to remain.

Basic Rules Overview

The Global Talent visa is open to people who want to work in the UK. You should be at least 18 years old and a leader or potential leader in one of the following fields:

• Academia or research
• Arts and Culture
• Digital technology

You can apply for a Global Talent visa if you have successfully applied for an endorsement to prove that you are a leader or potential leader or without an endorsement if you’ve won an eligible award.

With a Global Talent visa, you can live and work in the UK for 5 years with no limit on how long you can stay in the UK as long as the visa is renewed (extended) before it expires.

Extension of this visa

This visa can be extended for 1 to 5 years, and it gives you a part way to getting an Indefinite leave to remain in the UK after 3 or 5 years, depending on how you apply and the field you work in.