Foreign nationals wishing to live in the United Kingdom require immigration permission. This permission is sometimes known as a residence permit. There are many different residence permits through the complex UK immigration system, so you must understand the differences between the various routes and their purposes.
This article will outline the various types of residence permits to live in the United Kingdom on a short-term or long-term basis. It will explain the differences and similarities between immigration routes and identify which visas lead to permanent residence.
What is a UK residence permit?
A UK residence permit allows individuals to live in the United Kingdom for a specific purpose according to their background, family ties, and professional experience. Residence permits are also known as the following terms:
- Visa
- Immigration route
- Immigration permission
- Leave to Remain
Regardless of the terminology, all residence permits allow individuals to live in the United Kingdom with different rules and time limits. You will want to consider the correct route for your circumstances. You will also need to consider whether you need to apply for your visa within the United Kingdom or outside the United Kingdom.
What is a Biometric Residence Permit?
A biometric residence permit (BRP) is a physical card used by individuals to prove their identity, their right to study and, if applicable, to access state benefits.
BRPs are generally issued to people who are applying to either:
- Settle in the UK
- Come to the UK for longer then 6 months
- Extend their stay in the UK for more than 6 month
- Obtain a Home Office travel document
- Transfer their visa to a new passport
Who needs a UK residence permit?
You will need a UK residence permit unless you have preexisting immigration permission to live in the United Kingdom, such as a British passport, Irish passport, or valid visa. Some individuals may be able to visit the United Kingdom without a visa, but some will require a visit to enter the country as a visitor. Anyone seeking to live in the United Kingdom for more than six months at a time will require a residence permit. You will also need a residence permit to work, study, or do business in the United Kingdom. You cannot become a permanent resident in the United Kingdom without living in the UK on a valid residence permit.
What are the different kinds of UK residence permits?
There are many different kinds of UK residence permits appropriate for people of various professions, family structures, nationalities, ancestries, and other characteristics. If you want to move to the United Kingdom on a short-term or long-term basis, you will want to consider the different routes available within the UK immigration system for applicants worldwide.
EU Settlement Scheme – Settled Status
Through the EU Settlement Scheme, citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein with Settled Status can live in the United Kingdom with Indefinite Leave to Remain. To obtain Settled Status, you must have lived in the United Kingdom for a continuous 5-year period. You can apply to naturalise as a British citizen after holding Settled Status for at least 12 months. The deadline to apply for new Settled Status claims has closed for most people, but you can switch from Pre-Settled Status to Settled Status.
EU Settlement Scheme – Pre-Settled Status
Through the EU Settlement Scheme, citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein with Pre-Settled Status can live in the United Kingdom with limited Leave to Remain. You can live in the United Kingdom for up to five years but will lose Pre-Settled Status if you leave for more than two consecutive years. After living in the United Kingdom for a continuous 5-year period, you can apply for Settled Status. The deadline to apply for new Pre-Settled Status claims has closed for most people.
Family Route Visas
There are several different routes to live in the United Kingdom on a long-term basis as the family member of a British citizen or settled person. These include the following types of residence permits:
Fiancé(e)/Proposed Civil Partner Route
This visa allows fiancé(e)s and proposed civil partners of British citizens and settled persons to enter the United Kingdom to get married and build a life. You must get married within six months of receiving your visa and submit an in-country Spouse/Civil Partner Visa within this time.
Spouse/Civil Partner Route
This visa allows spouses and civil partners of British citizens and settled persons in the United Kingdom to live and work in the United Kingdom. The visa is 2.5 years in length and can be renewed. After living in the United Kingdom for at least five years, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence (also known as settlement or Indefinite Leave to Remain).
Unmarried Partner Route
This visa allows unmarried partners of British citizens and settled persons in the United Kingdom to live and work in the United Kingdom. You must have lived with your partner for at least two years to be eligible for this visa. The visa is 2.5 years in length and can be renewed. After living in the United Kingdom for at least five years, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence (also known as settlement or Indefinite Leave to Remain).
Parent Route
This visa permits parents of minor British citizens and settled children to live and work in the United Kingdom. You must have sole or shared responsibility for your child to be eligible for this route. The visa is 2.5 years in length and can be renewed. After living in the United Kingdom for at least five years, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence (also known as settlement or Indefinite Leave to Remain).
Child Route
This visa allows children of British citizens and settled persons to live in the United Kingdom with their parent(s).
Adult Dependent Route
This visa allows adult dependents, such as elderly parents or close family members, to come to the United Kingdom and live with their family member who is a British citizen or settled person. You will need to demonstrate that you have significant reasons that you cannot live in your current country, such as long-term health conditions that cannot be treated abroad.
Private Life Visas
Individuals with significant ties on the basis of their private life in the United Kingdom may be able to apply for a Private Life Visa. You can only apply for this route if you already live in the United Kingdom.
Study Visas
The United Kingdom is a global leader in international education. There are three types of residence permits that are for the explicit purpose of studying in the UK:
Student Visa
The Student Visa allows foreign national students over the age of 16 to study for a course at an eligible college or university. Your college or university must hold a valid Student Sponsorship licence and issue you with a Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) before applying for your visa. You can stay in the United Kingdom for the duration of your course and switch to a different route after successfully finishing your course, if eligible.
Child Student Visa
This visa allows foreign national students between the ages of 4 and 17 to study at an independent school in the United Kingdom. Your independent school must hold a valid Child Student Sponsorship licence and issue you with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) before applying for your visa. You can stay in the United Kingdom for the duration of your course and switch to a Student Visa if you are accepted to a British college or university, if eligible.
Short-Term Study Visa
This visa allows foreign national students to study a short-term English language course in the United Kingdom. It is intended for English language courses between 6 months and 11 months in length. You must have already been accepted to attend an English language course with an accredited institution.
Long-Term Work Visas
There are a number of different routes to live in the United Kingdom on a long-term basis through skilled jobs. These include the following types of residence permits:
Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker Visa allows foreign national workers who have specific professional skills to work in an eligible job with an employer approved by the UK Government. Your future employer must offer you a job included on a list of eligible occupations and pay you the correct salary in line with that job. Your prospective employer must also hold a valid sponsorship licence and issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship before applying for the visa. You can work in the United Kingdom for up to five years, and you can extend the visa if you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. You may be eligible to apply for permanent residence through this route after living in the United Kingdom for at least five years.
The Health & Care Worker Visa
The Health and Care Worker Visa allows foreign national workers with skills in the health and care sectors to work in an eligible health and care job with an employer approved by the UK Government. This list includes qualified doctors, nurses, adult social care professionals, and health professionals. Your future employer must offer you a job included on a list of eligible occupations in the health and care sectors and pay you the correct salary in line with that job. Your future employer must also hold a valid sponsorship licence and issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship before applying for the visa. You can work in the United Kingdom for up to five years, and you can extend the visa if you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. You may be eligible to apply for permanent residence through this route after living in the United Kingdom for at least five years.
Senior or Specialist Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility)
This visa allows foreign national employees of approved companies to work for a UK branch of your company. Your job must be included on a list of eligible occupations, and your employer must pay at least £42,400 per year. Your employer must also hold a valid sponsorship licence and issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship before applying for the visa. You can work in the United Kingdom for up to five years, and you can extend the visa if you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. You may be eligible to apply for permanent residence through this route after living in the United Kingdom for at least five years.
Minister of Religion Visa
This visa allows foreign nationals to work for a faith community in the United Kingdom. This route includes jobs such as members of religious orders, missionaries, and ministers of religion. Your employer must hold a valid sponsorship licence and issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship before applying for the visa. You can work in the United Kingdom for up to three years and one month, and you can extend the visa if you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. You may be able to apply for permanent residence through this route after living in the United Kingdom for at least five years.
International Sportsperson Visa
This visa allows foreign national elite sportspersons and qualified coaches to compete and train in the United Kingdom. You must demonstrate that working in the United Kingdom will help you develop as an athlete or coach. Your sport’s governing body must hold a valid sponsorship licence and issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship before applying for the visa. You can work in the United Kingdom for up to 3 years, and you can extend the visa if you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. You may be able to apply for permanent residence through this route after living in the United Kingdom for at least five years.
If you are granted Indefinite Leave to Remain on a long-term work visa route, you may be eligible to naturalise as a British citizen.
Short-Term Work Visas
There are a number of different routes to live in the United Kingdom on a short-term basis as a temporary worker. These include the following types of residence permits:
Temporary Work – Charity Worker Visa
This visa allows foreign nationals to do unpaid volunteer work with a UK-based charity. The charity must hold a valid sponsorship licence and issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship. You can volunteer in the United Kingdom for up to 12 months. You cannot become a permanent resident through this route.
Temporary Work – Creative Worker Visa
This visa allows creative workers such as musicians, actors, dancers, and film crew members to work in the United Kingdom with a licenced company. The company must hold a valid sponsorship licence and issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship before applying for the visa. You can work in the United Kingdom for up to 12 months on this route, and you may be able to extend your visa. You cannot become a permanent resident through this route.
Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange Visa
This visa allows individuals who want to come to the United Kingdom to participate in an authorised work experience programme, training, research, fellowship, or an Overseas Government Language Program. The authorised exchange must hold a valid sponsorship licence and issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship before applying for the visa. Depending on the scheme you use, you can stay in the United Kingdom for 12 or 24 months. You cannot become a permanent resident through this route.
Temporary Work – International Agreement Visa
This visa allows individuals whose work falls under international laws and treaties to live in the United Kingdom as required by their employer. These jobs include working as a private servant in a diplomatic household, working for an international organisation or overseas government, or working as a household employee of an employer who works for a ‘recognised international organsation’. Your employer must hold a valid sponsorship licence and issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship before applying for the visa. You can work in the United Kingdom for up to two years. You cannot become a permanent resident through this route.
Temporary Work – Religious Worker Visa
This visa allows religious workers in non-pastoral roles and religious orders to live and work in the United Kingdom. Your religious organisation must hold a valid sponsorship licence and issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship before applying for this visa. With this residence permit, you can work in the United Kingdom for up to 24 months. You cannot become a permanent resident through this route.
Temporary Work – Seasonal Worker Visa
This visa allows seasonal workers in the horticultural sector to come to the United Kingdom for a job. Your employer must hold a valid sponsorship licence and issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship before applying for this visa. With this residence permit, you can work in the United Kingdom for up to six months. You cannot become a permanent resident through this route.
Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
This visa allows Commonwealth citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 to live in the United Kingdom on a short-term basis. You can work or study in the UK for up to two years with this visa, and you may be able to switch to a different visa if eligible. You cannot become a permanent resident through this route.
High Potential Individual Visa
This visa allows foreign nationals from eligible international universities to live in the United Kingdom on a short-term basis. You must have graduated from an elite university identified by the UK Government within the past five years. You can work in the UK for up to two years with this visa, and you may be able to switch to a different visa if eligible. You cannot become a permanent resident through this route.
Graduate Visa
The Graduate Visa allows foreign nationals who successfully completed a course on a Student Visa to work in the United Kingdom for any employer on a short-term basis. You can work in the UK for up to two years with this visa, and you may be able to switch to a different visa if eligible. You cannot become a permanent resident through this route.
Graduate Trainee Visa (Global Business Mobility)
This visa allows foreign national workers to participate in a UK-based graduate training programme for an existing employer. You must have worked for your employer for at least three months before applying for your visa. Your employer must offer you a job included on a list of eligible occupations and pay at least £23,100 per year. Your employer must also hold a valid sponsorship licence and issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship before applying for the visa. You can work in the United Kingdom for up to 12 months, and you cannot extend your visa. You cannot become a permanent resident through this route.
UK Expansion Worker Visa
The UK Expansion Worker Visa allows foreign national workers to come to the United Kingdom and set up a branch of an overseas business that is not currently trading in the UK. Usually, you must have worked for your employer for at least 12 months as a specialist employee or senior manager. Your employer must offer you a job included on a list of eligible occupations and pay you the correct salary in line with that job. Your employer must also hold a valid sponsorship licence and issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship before applying for the visa. You can work in the UK for up to two years. You cannot become a permanent residence through this route.
Secondment Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility)
This visa allows foreign national workers to be transferred to the UK by an overseas complete a secondment for a different company. Your overseas employer must be able to demonstrate that they have a high-value contract worth at least £50 million with the UK-based company. You must have worked for your overseas employer for at least 12 months. The UK-based company must offer you a job included on a list of eligible occupations. Your UK employer must also hold a valid sponsorship licence and issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship before applying for the visa. You can work in the UK for up to two years. You cannot become a permanent resident through this route.
Service Supplier Visa (Global Business Mobility)
This visa allows foreign nationals with contracts to provide services for a UK company to work as an employee or self-employed professional. You must have a valid contracted covered by an international trade agreement and have worked for your employer for at least 12 months outside the UK. If you are self employed, you must have at least 12 months of professional experience. Your UK sponsor must hold a valid sponsorship licence and issue you with a Certificate of Sponsorship before applying for the visa. You can work in the UK for 6 or 12 months, depending on your trade agreement. You cannot become a permanent resident through this route.
These immigration routes do not lead to permanent residence (also known as settlement or Indefinite Leave to Remain). You may be able to switch to a different visa which permits permanent residence if you are eligible.
Business Visas
There are a number of different routes to live in the United Kingdom on a short-term or long-term basis through a business visa. These include the following types of residence permits:
Global Talent Visa
The Global Talent Visa allows leaders and potential leaders in academia or research, arts and culture, and digital technology to live and work in the United Kingdom. You must be endorsed by an eligible body or have won an eligible award. You can live in the United Kingdom for up to five years. Depending on your field of work, you may qualify for permanent residence after living in the UK for three or five years.
Innovator Route
The Innovator Route allows foreign national businesspersons with endorsement from an approved body to run an innovative business in the United Kingdom. You must be able to demonstrate that your business idea is new, innovative, and viable within the UK market. You can live in the UK for three years, and if eligible extend your visa for an unlimited number of times if you meet the eligibility criteria. You may qualify for permanent residence after living in the UK for three years.
Start Up Route
The Start-up Route allows foreign national entrepreneurs to create a start-up business in the UK. You must be able to demonstrate that your business idea is new, innovative, and viable within the UK market. Your start-up must be endorsed by a UK university or business organisation eligible to support UK entrepreneurs. You can live in the UK for up to two years, and you cannot extend this visa. You may be able to switch to an Innvator Visa if your business meets eligibility criteria. You cannot qualify for permanent residence on this route.
Other Visas & Schemes
There are a few other types of visas and immigration routes to live in the United Kingdom on a short-term or long-term basis.
Ancestry Visa
The Ancestry Visa allows individuals with recent British ancestry may be eligible to live in the United Kingdom based on their ancestral heritage. You must hold a relevant nationality, such as Commonwealth citizenship, and have at least one grandparent born in the United Kingdom. You can work and study in the UK on this route for up to five years. After living in the United Kingdom for at least five years, you may qualify for permanent residence.
BNO Visa
The British National Overseas (BNO) Visa allows individuals with British National Overseas (BNO) nationality to live, work, and study in the United Kingdom for up to five years, with the option to extend your visa if you continue to meet eligibility criteria. After living in the United Kingdom for at least five years, you may qualify for permanent residence.
Ukrainian nationals
Routes for Ukrainian nationals and family members fleeing the country include the Ukraine Family Scheme visa, a three-year visa for Ukrainian nationals and family members to join relatives already living in the UK, and Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme visa, athree-year visa for Ukrainian nationals that have a named sponsor who is able to accommodate them. Both of these visas are free and entitle the holder to work, study and access public funds in the UK. Check the UK government website for support with visa applications and information on what to do when coming to the UK.
UK residence permits FAQs
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Legal disclaimer
The matters contained in this article are intended to be for general information purposes only. This article does not constitute legal advice, nor is it a complete or authoritative statement of the law, and should not be treated as such. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information is correct, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and no liability is accepted for any error or omission. Before acting on any of the information contained herein, expert legal advice should be sought.
Author
Gill Laing is a qualified Legal Researcher & Analyst with niche specialisms in Law, Tax, Human Resources, Immigration & Employment Law.
Gill is a Multiple Business Owner and the Managing Director of Prof Services - a Marketing & Content Agency for the Professional Services Sector.
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